2. Egyptian Laborers

3. The Nile River The Life-Saver, “Life-Source” Predictable Flooding
Fertile Land
Reliable Food Supply
Transportation
Natural Defense Barrier

4. What was the “miracle” of the Nile?

5. Egyptian History 5000BCE - First Farming Villages emerge
~3100 BCE – Civilization begins when King Narmer (Menes) of Upper Egypt conquers Lower Egypt & unified Egypt
Egypt skips from the “pre-civilization” stage to powerful governments (no city-states like in Mesopotamia) 5

6. Egyptian History 3 periods of ancient history Old/Middle/New Kingdoms
The Old Kingdom
(River Valley Civ.)
Pyramids Built !
The Old
Kingdom 6

7. Egyptian History The Middle Kingdom Improved trade and transportation
Wealthier & more powerful 7

8. Egyptian History The New Kingdom Few Important Pharaohs:
1472 BCE - Hatshepsoot declared herself Pharaoh – promoted trade. 8

9. Government & Religion were related…
Polytheistic
Theocracy – rule of religious leaders
Pharaoh – the God-King

10. Religion Polytheistic Very important aspect of society
Based upon the belief that the sun is the chief deity
Ra – the Sun God

11. Images of Ra

12. Images of Ra

13. Religion Belief in Afterlife: Land of the Dead*
Egyptian Book of the Dead
Concepts of life after death discussed
Leads to mummification

14. Egyptian Culture & Society

15. Egyptian Culture & Society
Social Hierarchy
1. Pharaoh
2. Priests
3. Nobles & Warriors
4. Craftsmen & Merchants
5. Peasant Farmers
6. Slaves

16. Language Spoken: Egyptian Written: Hieroglyphics
Slaves often spoke a different language.
Written: Hieroglyphics

18. The __Rosetta Stone helped decode hieroglyphics

19. Lasting Achievements Hieroglyphics Pyramids Papyrus (paper)
Calendar – based on Nile flooding patterns

20. Pyramids

21. Pyramids