Chapter 4 Ancient Egypt

Section 1 Geography and Early Egypt What is the Nile River? It is the longest river in the world, over 4000 miles long. Ancient Egypt developed along a 750 mile stretch of the Nile. The southern region was known as Upper Egypt and the northern region was known as Lower Egypt. Section 1 Geography and Early Egypt There are 13 miles of fertile river valley on each side of the Nile. The rest is desert!

What is a cataract? A cataract is a rapid in the river caused by rough terrain. The 1st is located 720 miles south of the Mediterranean Sea. Five more are farther south. These made sailing on that portion of the Nile very difficult.

Cataracts of the Nile Cataract 4 Kush Cataract 1 Aswan Cataract 5

The Blue Nile Source of The Blue Nile… Lake Tana

The White Nile White Nile Source… Lake Victoria Awesome rapids

Where the Blue and White Nile Converge

What is a Delta? A delta is triangle-shaped area of land made from soil deposited by a river. In ancient Egypt, some of the delta was marsh and swamp. 2/3 was fertile farmland.

The Flooding of the Nile Without the yearly floods there would be no farming in Egypt!! Every year the annual rains in Africa bring huge amounts of water to the Nile. These floods bring new silt that coats the land of the river valleys and delta area. This new soil enriches the land, making it ideal for farming… Mother Nature’s fertilizer!!!! Love that silt!!!!

Civilization Develops in Egypt Hunters and gathers arrived in the Nile River Valley more than 12,000 y. a. Farming began in the Nile Valley around 4500 BC. Farmers grew wheat, barley, fruits, veggies and raised cattle and sheep.

Two Kingdoms Around 3200 BC, groups of villages banded together, one group forming Upper Egypt, and the other forming Lower Egypt. Each had its own capital and ruler.

Kings Unify Egypt Menes (Narmer) Around 3100 BC, Menes, also named Narmer, rose to power. He unified both Upper and Lower Egypt. Many consider Menes to be Egypt’s first pharaoh. Pharaoh is the title used by the rulers of Egypt… it means “great house”.

The white crown of Upper Egypt and the red crown of Lower Egypt unite

What is a Dynasty? A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family. Menes created the first dynasty with the capital in the city of Memphis. The First Dynasty lasted about 200 years. Ruins of Ancient Memphis

Summary Ancient Egypt began in the fertile Nile River Valley. Two kingdoms developed, Upper and Lower Egypt. The two kingdoms were later united under one ruler and Egyptian territory grew.