1. Chapter 4 Ancient Egypt

2. 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 Geography and Early Egypt
There are 13
miles of fertile
river valley on
each side of
the Nile. The
rest is desert!

3. 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.

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

5. The Blue Nile
Source of
The Blue
Nile…
Lake
Tana

6. The White Nile
White Nile
Source…
Lake Victoria
Awesome
rapids

7. Where the Blue and White Nile Converge

8. 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.

9. 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!!!!

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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”.

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

14. 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

15. 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.