WHILE PEOPLE OF MESOPOTAMIA FOUGHT WARS, PEOPLE ALONG AFRICA’S NILE RIVER FORMED RICH AND POWERFUL CIVILIZATIONS. Ancient Egypt

Classroom Objectives I can  Explain how the Nile River aided in the development of the Egyptian civilizations.  Describe the class systems that developed in Egypt.  Discuss the religious practices of the Egyptian people.  Compare and contrast the three kingdoms of Egypt in terms of accomplishments, as well as important pharaohs that ruled.

Geography (The Nile)

Settling Along the Nile People from Africa and Asia all left their nomadic state and settled along the Nile. Due to little rainfall, the Egyptians had to rely on the Nile River, the longest river in the world at 4,000 ft.  Would be like traveling from Georgia to California and back !! Papyrus, a reed plant that grew along the Nile, was used to make baskets, sandals, rafts, and eventually Paper.  Paper scrolls led to Egyptian writing, Hieroglyphics!

The Importance of the Nile River The people used the Nile to : Drink, Bath, Fish, etc. Protection:  West: Sahara Desert (World’s Largest Desert!)  East: Eastern Desert  North: Delta, branches of rich fertile soil  South: Cataracts, wild rapids Trading & Transportation Farming  Flooding was dependable and gentle  Nile Flooded creating rich fertile mud called “kemet”

Delta Cataracts Sahara Desert

Daily Life

Social Classes Top: Pharaoh (King) 2 nd : Priests & Nobles 3 rd : Artisans & Traders 4 th : Farmers & Herders Bottom: Unskilled workers

Family Roles Father = Head of the Household Women had more rights than other Civilizations!  Own or Sell Property  Buy or Sell Goods  Obtain a Divorce Children were typically taught in the home  Female: sewing, cooking, and running a household  Male: Learned farming or family trade Families gathered on rooftops to talk, play games, and sleep!

Daily Life Pictures

(Gods) Religion

Beliefs Egyptians believed in many deities or Gods  Re: “Sun God” (Main God)  Hapi: Ruled the Nile River  Isis: Loyal Wife and Mother  Osiris: Ruled over the dead Life after Death = Peaceful & Hopeful! “Book of the Dead”, a collection of spells and prayers

Mummification For centuries it was believed that only Pharaohs could enjoy afterlife as long as body was preserved Embalming was developed to protected the body After embalming process the body was wrapped in linen and was known as a MUMMY! This process led to huge developments in modern medicine.

Pyramids Pyramids were large tombs built to protect the bodies of dead pharaohs Included clothing, furniture, jewelry, a food that Pharaoh would need in afterlife Each pyramid sat on a square base with the entrance facing north Largest Pyramid = “The Great Pyramid”. It was built for King Khufu and is still standing in Giza

Government

Need for Government Advancements in farming created a need for government in Egypt. The earliest rulers were village chiefs Overtime, strong chiefs over powered weaker chiefs creating two kingdoms: Lower & Upper Egypt In 3100 b.c. the two kingdoms became one when Narmer, also known as Menes, united them Narmer’s son ran the kingdom after his death creating the first dynasty. Dynasties grouped in three time periods: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, & New Kingdom.

Old Kingdom Egypt grew and prospered  Built cities & expanded trade Pharaohs, or Egyptian Kings, was a all powerful ruler whose word was law and had to be obeyed! WHY did they obey: believed Pharaoh was the son of Re and that without him Kingdom would suffer Lived in the capital city, Memphis Ended when pharaohs lost control as nobles battled for power.

Middle Kingdom Started when a new dynasty of Pharaohs moved the capital from Memphis to Thebes Golden Age of stability, prosperity, and achievements Achievements  Took control of new lands  Art, literature, and architecture blossomed The End of the Middle Kingdom came from people known as the Hyksos from western Asia  Chariots and Bronze Weapons made them too powerful

New Kingdom An Egyptian Prince named Ahmose drove the Hyksos out of Egypt starting the New Kingdom. The New Kingdom = Well Known Pharaohs: Hatshepsut  Female Pharaoh that focused on Trade  Trading brought great wealth to Egypt  Built monuments with wealth Thutmose III  Expanded Egypt’s border  Conquered many people = Increase in Slavery

New Kingdom Continued… Amenhotep IV(Akhenaton)  Tried to Reform religion and took power from priests  So focused religion that he neglected basic duties = Egypt attacked and lost lots of land Tutankhamen (King Tut)  Pharaoh at 10 years old  Famous Pharaoh due to Pyramid left untouched! Ramses II  Most effective Pharaoh (Great Warrior/Built temples)  Created first Banks!

Pharaohs

End of the Egyptian Empire Ramses II death led to poor leadership Egyptians didn’t have strong enough weapons to keep out invaders (No Iron) From the South, the people of Kush seized power and ruled Egypt 70 years followed by the Assyrians.

The End