Ancient Egypt

Benefits of the Nile River Provided water Drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, fishing Built irrigation canals & basins Shadoof Papyrus Provided a barrier for invading armies Cataracts- blocked boats from coming North Delta – no harbors for invading armies

Benefits of the Nile River Transportation Used to travel to other villages Trade – developed friendly relations with others along the Nile Rich soil Kemet- “the black lands” Rich soil left behind from floods Allowed the people to become skilled farmers

United Kingdom of Egypt

United Egypt Skillful farming leads to a surplus Less workers needed in the fields and skilled workers develop( artisans make pottery, cloth, copper tools and weapons, and carved statues) Trading develops because of an excess of goods( agricultural and manufactured)

United Egypt Government needed to: Build and maintain irrigation systems, store and distribute grain, and settle land disagreements Earliest rulers were chiefs from villages- stronger chiefs take over weaker ones 4000B.C.- Egypt is consolidated into two large Kingdoms- Upper and Lower 3100B.C. – Namer leads armies North and takes control of Lower Egypt

Narmer’s Rule Formed a dynasty( line of rulers from one family) Egypt had - 31 dynasties – 2, 800 years Historians divide dynasties into 3 groups Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom New Kingdom

Egyptian Social Classes

Egypt’s Social Classes Pharaoh and family Lived in large palaces with servants Vizer Closest advisor to the Pharaoh Upper Class- high priests, nobles and army commanders Lived in city estates along the Nile, elegant homes and gardens, servants, dressed in white linen and wore heavy make-up and jewlery

Egypt’s Social Classes Middle Class- skilled workers, traders, artisans and scribes Smaller homes, dressed simply Provided many goods for society ( linens, jewelry, pottery and metal goods) Farmers Largest group, most worked for nobles, lived in villages along the Nile in small huts

Egypt’s Social Classes Unskilled workers- peasants& laborers Provided physical labor Lived in crowded city neighborhoods Small houses with flat roofs( played games, women worked )

Family Life in Egypt Father Mother Children Head of the family Taught sons to be farmers or skilled artisans Mother Taught daughters to sew, cook, and run the household Women had many rights Upper class women in charge of temples Children Did not attend school Played board games, dolls, spinning tops and with stuffed leather balls