1. AIM: Why was Egypt able to maintain centralization for centuries?

2. #5. Egypt -- The role and impact geography had on unification
“Ancient Egyptian history covers a continuous period of over 3,000 years. To put this in perspective - most modern countries count their histories in hundreds of years. Only modern China can come anywhere near this in terms of historical continuity.”

3. GEOGRAPHY THEMES
Location—geographers measure “where” something is
Place—geographers describe places in terms of their physical (landforms, climate, soil, etc.) & human characteristics (culture & activities)
INTERACTIONS:
Human Environment interaction between people & their environment
Movement of people, goods & ideas—migration, trade, ideas spreading & interdependence.
Region —an area with its own unifying characteristics—physical, cultural, political & economic characteristics.

4. Why would the historian Herodotus call Egypt “the gift of the Nile”?
Northeast Africa, longest river in the world!
Rich silt deposited
Egypt’s Early Civilizations—
extended 15 miles on each side of the Nile River
Nile’s fertility encouraged farming.
Only 3% of Egypt is farmable land; the rest is desert!
Natural boundaries—
Deserts, Mountains & Sea—
Partially protected against invasion
Cataracts at base (upper) Nile kept invaders out
HOW WOULD THESE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS LEAD TO ADVANCEMENT?
Shielded settlers;
Able to devote themselves to communal pursuits.

5. Ancient Egyptian History* (dates may vary w/text)
Periods
Time Frame
Nile Culture Begins
3900 B. C. E.
Archaic
3100 – 2650 B. C. E.
Old Kingdom*
2650 – 2134 B. C. E.
Middle Kingdom*
2040 – 1640 B. C. E.
New Kingdom*
1550 – 1070 B. C. E.
Late Period
750 – 332 B. C. E.
Greek Ptolemaic Era
332 – 30 B. C. E.
Roman Period
30 B. C. E. – 395 C. E.
How does this time line compare with that of the Mesopotamia?
Mesolithic to City States Akkadians Babylonians + Assyrians Kassites
Neo-Assyrians + Neo-Babylonians Persians Greeks Romans

6. Menes (a.k.a. Namer): Unifier of Upper & Lower Egypt
THINK: WHY IS THE “CROWN” BOTH RED + WHITE?
c B. C. E. ?

7. Egyptian Social Hierarchy WHAT WERE THE SOURCES OF STATE POWER?

8. Why was Egypt able to maintain centralization for centuries?

9. TEAM WORK! LET’S GATHER EVIDENCE
HISTORIANS DIVIDE EGYPT’S HISTORY INTO 3 PERIODS OR KINGDOMS (30 DYNASTIES OR FAMILIES RAN EGYPT DURING THIS TIME!)
OLD KINGDOM (2695 bce-2160 bce)
MIDDLE KINGDOM ( bce)
NEW KINGDOM (1550 bce-1100 bce)
TEAM WORK! LET’S GATHER EVIDENCE
TEAMS ARE TO OUTLINE KEY FEATURES—CONTRIBUTIONS + CHALLENGES— OF EACH OF THESE KINGDOMS.
Refer to the following resources for this assignment:
-HW reading notes + Class notes; today’s handout.

10. HOW MIGHT RIVERS BOTH UNITE & DIVIDE PEOPLES?
HOW DOES THE MANAGEMENT OF RIVERS LEAD TO SOCIAL ORGANIZATION & ADVANCEMENT?
Food for thought………..
HOW MIGHT RIVERS BOTH UNITE & DIVIDE PEOPLES?