1. Era 1 Unit 2
Egypt

2. Bell Ringer Agenda Why did civilizations develop in river valleys?
When did these civilizations exist?
Lecture
Map Activity
Crash course

3. Egypt Geography
Nile River flows north and empties into the Mediterranean Sea.  ​
The fertile marshy land of lower Egypt is called the Nile River Delta.  This area of rich soil was good for farming.​
Flooding was predictable.​
The deserts provided protection from invaders.

4. Geography Cont. Just beyond the river, the land is desert.
Farming was good only along the banks of the river and in the delta because only the river banks were fertile.​
Notice the desert just beyond the river? 

5. Politics
the first dynasty arose when upper and lower Egypt were united into a single kingdom. 
The capital was Memphis
Egypt’s government was a dynasty
“Heredity rule”
Ruled by Pharaohs
Strong rulers led to stability in Egypt

6. Features of Egypt Political System
Divine rule
Pharaohs were god-kings ​
Pharaohs had absolute rule
The bureaucracy
Many departments to carry out the functions of government.​
Theocracy
Religious rule

7. Economy Farming Traded Made paper Made linen cloth
Along the narrow strips of land bordering the Nile River​
 Traded 
Along the Nile (Nubia) and into Mesopotamia​
goods included gold, ivory, paper and linen and granite blocks​
Paid taxes to the Pharaoh in the form of crops and forced labor on building projects​
Made paper
From papyrus​
Made linen cloth

8. Religion A wonderful afterlife awaited upon death
Pyramids were final resting place for dead Pharaoh’s
Filled with pleasures of life.​
The human soul needed to be judged and then reconnected with the body.  ​
The body had to be mummified (preserved) so it would be recognized.​
Worldly goods such as jewelry, pottery and gold were buried with the body to be enjoyed in the afterlife.

9. Religion Cont. The Egyptians were polytheistic
There were 2,000 gods and goddesses​
Sun god Re
Very important as were river and land deities,
Osiris
God of the dead
Isis
Help dead Egyptians
Horus
Thought to be manifestation of Pharaoh’s reign

10. Society
Largest group of people fall into these two categories

11. Society Cont.
Pharaoh Hatshepsut
Egyptians could move up or down in society and slaves could buy their freedom. 
To win the highest positions, one needed to be able to read and write. ​
Women had as many rights as men.
There were one or two women who served as Pharaoh
Egyptian society enjoyed stability and cultural​ continuity because the kingdom was united and​ because of its political stability over long ​periods of time.​

12. Intellectual Hieroglyphics A pictographic language
First written on stone or clay.​
later developed a paper-like product called Papyrus. 
It came from reeds that grew in the Nile River delta.​

13. Achievements
Egyptians were skilled mathematicians.  They used a number system and geometry. 
Why would these be useful to the Egyptians?
Medicine
Advanced in developing medicines, performing surgery and in setting broken bones

14. Achievements
The Egyptians would develop a 365- day calendar that was comprised of 12 months, each comprised of 30 days with one 5-day celebration.​
Why would the Egyptians need a calendar?​
They needed to know when to plant crops which was based on regular flooding of the Nile.  The floods came each year at the same time.    As the floods receded, rich silt was left behind which made the soil very fertile –the perfect time for planting crops. ​

15. Crash Course