Ancient Egypt life along the Nile Date: Pages 510-512 CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS: “The Cradle of Civilization” Date: Ancient Egypt life along the Nile Pages 510-512

Ancient Egypt A - Egypt grew out of a river valley -The Nile River (longest in the world at 4,160 miles) B – Hunter-gathers first began to farm in the Nile Valley at its delta around 5000 B.C. Eventually, two kingdoms formed, Upper Egypt to the south and Lower Egypt around the delta. These kingdoms united under a great ruler called a pharaoh. C – Pharaohs were both kings and gods. The pharaoh ruled as a god, so Egypt’s government was a theocracy.

Religion Polytheistic (worshipped many Gods) Examples: Horus – god of light, Re – sun god, Osiris – god of eternal life Believed in life after death. To preserve a body for the next life, it was embalmed as a mummy. Bodies of poor people were often buried in caves or desert sand. Rich people’s mummies were placed in coffins in elaborate tombs. The biggest tombs belonged to the pharaohs and were called pyramids. Largest of these is the Great Pyramid of Khufu.

Ancient Egypt Egyptian Society - Social Pyramid A A= Pharaoh B B= Priests, Government C C= Soldiers, Scribes D= Merchants, Artisans D E= Farmers E F= Slaves F

Ancient Egypt Economy was based on farming. They also expanded trade and spread ideas and accomplishments. Writing Hieroglyphics was basic form of writing using pictures (~800 signs) and the Rosetta Stone was used to decode the hieroglyphs. Signs were cut into stone or painted on walls and papyrus (plant used to make paper) Scribes were royal officers who recorded the government’s business.

Ancient Egypt Egypt conquered many lands during its long history but also suffered defeats. In the 1700s B.C., invaders from Asia conquered Egypt and ruled for 150 years. Egypt’s trade routes stretched far and wide. Egypt sought more gold and gems in the African kingdom of Kush. The first female pharaoh, Hatsheptsut, sent a trading expedition to Punt (Somalia) to trade for hard woods, incense, ivory, and other products. Egypt, like all great empires of the past, grew weak and was eventually conquered by greater empires – the Greeks and Romans.