1. Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile
Mr. Stowinsky
World History

2. Nile River Valley
Had deposits of granite, sandstone, and limestone – building materials
Surrounded by ocean and desert – natural barriers from invaders
Isthmus of Suez allowed trade from Asia, and also eventually invasion

3. The Nile River Flows from south to north
Provided transportation and a shipping route
Gave water to the Egyptians
Gave rich soil for growing crops

4. Early Steps Toward Civilization
Hieroglyphics – over 600 picture symbols used for writing
Translated using the Rosetta Stone
Papyrus – paper-like material made from the papyrus plant

5. Egyptian Kingdoms Lower Egypt – in the north
Upper Egypt – in the south
REMEMBER! The Nile flowed from south to north.
Menes united Upper & Lower Egypt
Dynasty – family of rulers
Pharaoh – “great house.” Egyptian leader with absolute power.

6. The Old Kingdom About 2680 BC – 2180 BC
The Great Sphinx and the largest pyramids were built
Two classes:
Lower class – peasants & farmers
Upper class – royalty, priests, scribes, government officials
Ended by civil wars, the First Intermediate Period

7. The Middle Kingdom 2050 BC – 1650 BC
“The Golden Age” of Egypt – stability and prosperity
Ended by the invading Hyksos who conquered much of egypt with new weapons
Bow
Chariot
Second Intermediate Period

8. New Kingdom
1570 BC – 1080 BC
Strong pharaohs threw the Hyksos out of Egypt
Egypt became an empire – A single person or nation rules over many other people or nations

9. New Kingdom Hatshepsut – The first woman pharaoh
Thutmose III – Grew the Egyptian empire to its largest size
Amenhotep IV – changed Egyptian religion to believe in only one god, Aton
Changed his name to Akhenaton
Polytheism – belief in many gods
Monotheism – belief in one god
After Amenhotep’s death, they changed back to the old religion

10. Egypt’s Decline
Ramses II – the last great pharaoh – kept the empire strong and had many temples built
Many people began attacking Egypt – Sea Peoples, Assyrians, Nubians, Persians
By 300 BC Egyptians no longer had power over Egypt