1. Egypt Land of the Pharaohs

2. Geography of ancient Egypt
Located in northern
Africa
Nile River
Source: Lake Victoria
Longest river in
the world
Only river to flow
south to north
Begins in central Africa
where the Blue and White
Nile begin

3. Nile River con’t The river flows for 4,145 miles
The Nile is the lifeblood of Egypt
The river flows for 4,145 miles
Empties into the Med Sea
Mostly navigable
Except for 6 rapids/waterfalls or cataracts

4. Nile Delta
Triangular shaped piece of land at the mouth of the river that is the most fertile area of Egypt
Provides 10,000 miles of rich farmland

5. Nile River Valley
Long, narrow strip of fertile land usually from 1 mile to 12 miles wide until it reaches the lower portion of the Nile Delta
Land is made fertile by deposits of silt, sand and small stones during the yearly flooding
Egyptians called their land “Kemet” (the Black Land)‏

6. Sahara Desert Largest desert in the world
About 4 inches of rainfall each year
The deserts are referred to as the “red land” because of burning heat
Provided protection
Other natural barriers:
Cataracts in the south and delta marshes in the north

7. Upper and Lower Egypt Upper Egypt Lower Egypt
Fertile lands to the south
Lower Egypt
Fertile lands to the north
Ancient Egypt ran all the way into Nubia. It was much larger than modern Egypt

8. Egypt: “The Gift of the Nile”

9. Provided natural resources
Provided water
Fertilized soil
Provided protection
Provided natural resources
Sandstone, limestone, papyrus, gold & flax
Provided transportation
Along with the Med Seaand Red Sea

10. Regular Flooding
Egyptians relied on the yearly flooding of the Nile—called the inundation
Happens between July and October
Leaves behind dark fertile mud
Egyptians called the land Kemet: “The Black Land”
Flooding more reliable than that of T and E Rivers
The inundation would replenish the soil allowing farmers to plant crops to feed the people
Developed irrigation to create thousands of more miles of farmland
Often called the Breadbasket of the ancient world because of the surplus of food

11. How did the Egyptians use the Nile?
Planted barley, wheat and flax seed
Success depending on the use of irrigation
-basins, canals and dikes
-Shadouf: bucket attached to a long pole to lift water from the basins
-Developed geometry to survey the land and mark off fields
-Papyrus was harvested to make baskets, sandals, rafts and eventually paper

12. Irrigation
Created streams,canals and storage pools

13. What were hieroglyphics?
Comes from the greek hieros=sacred
glyphe=carving
More than 100's signs, symbols or pictures to indicate words or sounds
Records were kept by scribes for priests, rulers and traders
Written on stone or papyrus
Typically used for religious purposes

14. Rosetta Stone -stone discovered by Napoleon’s troops in 1798 AD
-contained 3 languages (greek, hieroglyphics and demotic)‏
-deciphered by Jean Francois Champollion

15. The Rise of Government
The rise in farming, crafts and trade resulted in need for government
-as did maintaining of irrigation systems, surplus goods and land disputes
-Egypt was first ruled by village chiefs
-The unification of Egypt led to a development of a monarchy

16. Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt
Developed first dynasty: family of rulers
Menes (Narmer) the king of Upper Egypt defeated the King of Lower 3,200 B.C.
The crown of the pharaoh shows the unification
Crown of a united Egypt
Red Crown White Crown

17. Egypt would be ruled by 31 dynasties
Pharaoh
Means “great house”
Egypt would be ruled by 31 dynasties
last 2800 years.

18. Crook and Flail
Crook: emblem of royalty. Tool of a shepherd: Represents pharaoh leading his people
Flail: emblem of royalty. Tool used to keep insects away. Represents pharaoh protecting his people

19. Pharaoh Was thought of as a god Believed to have power over the Nile
Had total power over the welfare of the people, conditions of the land and the laws
Farmers had to pay taxes to rent the land
3/5 of crops given to pharaoh
% of livestock
Donation of months of work to pharaoh’s projects

20. Egypt's Social Classes Pharaoh Priest and nobles
Traders, artisans, shopkeepers and scribes
Farmers and herders
Unskilled workers

21. Social Pyramid explained
Slaves
Largest class, worked for pharaoh, priests, merchants and wealthy nobles
Farmers
Farmed land that pharaoh provided. Largest section of Egyptian society
Artisans
Middle class, worked in sculpture, copper, bronze, stone, wood, and gold. Also produced linen cloth
Scribes
Attended special schools, learned literature and history of Egypt, math, bookkeeping, mechanics, surveying & law

22. Family Life -Father was the head of the household
- Egyptian women did have rights
-could own and pass on property, buy and sell goods, make wills and obtain divorces
- Few children went to school
-girls were taught at home to sew, cook and run household
-boys learned farming or a skilled trade