1. Egypt

2. Settling the Nile
When: From 6000 B.C. – 5000 B.C., the earliest hunter gatherers settled villages along the Nile River valley.

3. A Mighty River Egypt: warm and sunny with little rain
The Egyptians had to rely upon the world’s longest river, the Nile River, for water. They drank from it, bathed in it, and used it farming, cooking, and cleaning.
The Nile really began as two separate rivers – the Blue Nile and the White Nile. These two meet and form the Nile just south of Egypt.

4. A Mighty River II
Narrow cliffs and boulders in the Nile form wild rapids, called cataracts.
Because of these cataracts, large ships can only use the Nile for its last 650 miles, where it flows through Eygpt.

5. A Sheltered Land
From the air, the looks like the stem of a flower that blooms just as it reaches the Mediterranean Sea.
These “blooms” are the branches of the Nile that fan out over an area of fertile soil called a delta.
On both sides of the Nile, the land stretches into a vast desert that forms part of the Sahara, the largest desert in the world, to the west.
On the eastern side, stretching to the Red Sea, is the Eastern Desert.

6. A Sheltered Land II
“The Red Land” helped keep outside armies away from Egypt’s territory.
The Nile’s dangerous cataracts blocked enemy boats from reaching Egypt to the south.
To the north, the delta marshes did not offer any safe harbors for invaders approaching from the sea.
Because of these natural barriers, Egypt was rarely faced with invasions and the Egyptians were able to grow and prosper.

7. A Sheltered Land
The Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea gave the Egyptians a way to trade with people outside of Egypt.
Within Egypt, the Egyptians used the Nile for trade and transportation.
Winds from the north pushed sailboats south, and the flow from the Nile carried them north.
Because of this, Egyptians had a good relationship with the villages within the country.

8. The River People Regular Flooding
The Nile floods were much more dependable than the rivers in Mesopotamia, so the Egyptians were able to farm and live securely.
From July to October, the Nile spilled over its banks as the heavy rains from central Africa and melting snows from the highlands of Africa added to the waters from the Nile.
When the waters went down, they left behind a layer of dark, fertile mud called Kemet (KEH-met), which means the “Black Land”.

9. The River People How Did they Egyptians Use the Nile?
They farmed crops and grew enough food for themselves and the animals they raised.
Used irrigation by digging bowl shaped holes and canals to carry water from the basins to fields beyond the river’s reach.
Egyptians also built dikes, or earthen banks to strengthen basin walls.

10. The River People How Did Egyptians Use the Nile?
Egyptians found a way to measure land, or survey.
Papyrus is a reed plant that grew along the shores of the Nile. They used it to make baskets, sandals, river rafts, and later, paper.

11. The River People What were Hieroglyphics?
They Egyptians used papyrus rolls as writing paper.
Their writing was called hieroglyphics, which was made up of hundreds of picture symbols. Some objects stood for objects and idea, some stood for sounds, others just letters.
Scribes would carve hieroglyphics into stone walls and monuments, but there was a simpler script for use on papyrus
Few people in ancient Egypt could read and write.
Egyptian men went to special schools to learn how to read and write and become scribes.

12. How Did We Decipher the Egyptian Alphabet? The Rosetta Stone
History Mystery, p. 42

13. United Egypt
Surplus of food led ancient Egyptians to work as artisans instead of farmers.
The advances in farming and trade created a need for a government in Egypt.
The government oversaw the building of irrigation systems, surplus food had to be stored, and land ownership disputes had to be resolved.

14. A United Egypt Egypt’s Ruling Families
Groups of villages formed smaller kingdoms that ultimately formed Upper and Lower Egypt. Lower Egypt was in the Nile delta; while to the south lay Upper Egypt.
Narmer (also known as Meneez) was credited with bringing these two kingdoms together in 3100 B.C.

15. A United Egypt
Narmer wore a double crown to symbolize Egypt’s unity – the helmet like white crown represented Upper Egypt, the red open crown represented Lower Egypt.

16. A United Egypt
Narmer’s empire held together and the ruling power was passed down from father to son to grandson.
A line of rulers from one family is called a dynasty.
Over time, ancient Egypt was ruled by 31 dynasties. Historians group Egypt’s dynasties into three main time periods: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the new Kingdom.

17. Early Egyptian Life

18. Early Egyptian Life Ancient Egypt had social classes.
The pharaoh was the highest power.
The upper class consisted of nobles, priests, and government officials.
The middle class included merchants, artisans, shopkeepers, and scribes.
Farmers were the largest group of people and were in a lower class than the middle class.

19. Early Egyptian Life
Although men were the heads of households, women had more rights in Egypt than in other ancient civilizations
They could own and pass on property, buy and sell goods, make wills, and obtain divorces.

20. Early Egyptian Life Few children went to school in ancient Egypt
Children had time to play games and had toys.
Egyptian girls learned to sew, cook, and run a household
Boys learned farming or a skilled trade

21. Review
How are U.S. children today like children of ancient Egypt? How are they different?
Both can play with toys and games. However, all children are required by law to go to school in the United States. In ancient Egypt, few children went to school. Also, U.S. girls today can learn farming or a trade skill, and boys can learn to sew and cook.

22. Review What is papyrus and how did the Egyptians use it?
It is a reed plant that was used to make baskets, sandals, river rafts, and paper.

23. Review What rights did women have in ancient Egypt?
Women could own and pass on property, buy and sell goods, make wills, obtain divorces, and take part in religious ceremonies.

24. Review
How did the geography of the Nile River valley lead to the growth of a civilization there?
The Nile River valley had natural barriers for protection, enriched soil for farming, and the river and seas for trade.

25. Review Describe the Egyptian writing system.
Picture symbols, called hieroglyphics, stood for objects, ideas, and sounds.

26. Review What was the significance of Narmer’s double crown?
It symbolized the unity of Upper and Lower Egypt.