6.2 Rivers & Mummies Science-y things. 

Egyptian Vocabulary Monarchy: A type of government in which there is one ruler who has control over everything. Theocracy: A type of government, (typically a monarchy) in which the ruler is also thought to be related to the gods or has demi-god status. Dynasty: Monarchies and theocracies are typically also dynasties. It means there are no elections, but rule over government is passed down through families. I.e. when a king/pharaoh dies, their son takes over.

Egypt Unit Vocabulary Ka – Your energy/life force that eats and drinks. It’s the part of your soul that makes your body work, so when it leaves your body, go through a series of challenges in the underworld, you are ‘dead’. It can return to statues of the person or the mummified body/tomb afterwards. Sarcophagus - A type of coffin or box for a body, typically not buried, but decorated. Cartouche – A hieroglyphic name protected by a magic rope written in the shape of an oval. Egyptians considered your name part of your ‘soul’ Book of the Dead – Manual for dead Egyptians; explains how to survive the Egyptian underworld/ what to expect after you die

Ancient Egyptian FarminG The people of ancient Egypt grew everything they needed to eat. Who were the farmers in Ancient Egypt? The pharaoh got the rich peasants to do the farm work on the rich lands. Most villagers were farmers. Farmers lived in towns too, along with craftworkers, traders and other workers and their families.

What crops did the Egyptian Farmers grow? Egyptians grew crops such as wheat, barley, vegetables, figs, melons, pomegranates and vines. They also grew flax which was made into linen. The most important crop was grain. The ancient Egyptians used grain to make bread, porridge and beer. Grain was the first crop they grew after inundation (flooding season). Once the grain was harvested, they grew vegetables such as onions, leeks, cabbages, beans, cucumbers and lettuce. Farmers planted fruit trees and vines along paths, to give shade as well as fruit.

Where did the farmers grow their crops? The Egyptians grew their crops along the banks of the River Nile on the rich black soil, or kemet which was left behind after the yearly floods. The fertile soil was ideal to grow healthy crops. Egyptian farmers divided their year into three seasons, based on the cycles of the Nile River:

How many seasons were there in Ancient Egypt? Akhet - the inundation (June-September): The Flooding Season. No farming was done at this time, as all the fields were flooded. Instead, many farmers worked for the pharaoh (king), building pyramids or temples. Some of the time was spent mending their tools and looking after animals. Peret (October-February): The Growing Season. In October the floodwaters receded, leaving behind a layer of rich, black soil. This fertile soil was then ploughed and seeded. Shemu (March-May): The Harvesting Season. The fully grown crops had to be cut down (harvested) and removed before the Nile flooded again. It was also the time to repair the canals ready for the next flood.