A. Located on Northeastern coast of Africa

B. World’s longest river1. 4,000 miles long2. It outlets into the

Mediterranean Sea

Delta

NILE

C. Cataracts-rushing water; foaming rapids1. First cataract on the Nile River-

southern boundary of Ancient Egypt2. The River mostly flows in a single

form; Later it divides to form a triangle of marshy wetlands called the delta.

A.Egypt has very little rainB.There are annual floods

that are very important to the farmers– They measured time

by the river– There are three

seasons 1. Flooding 2. Planting 3. Harvesting

A.Fertile, dark soiled valley- called Kemet meaning “The Black Land”

B.Desert area is called Deshret meaning “The Red Land”

III. The Land

A.The natural barriers protect and isolate Egypt1. Sahara Desert to the East and West2. Mountains in the South3. Mediterranean Sea to the North4. Cataracts blocked enemy boats

from the South from reaching Egypt5. Nile Delta- offered no harbors for

invader’s boats

A. Water for irrigation and farming

B. Mud: thick, black, enriched soil for planting

C. Fish, ducks, and geeseD. Papyrus: a long, thin reed that

grew along the river bank1. Used to make paper, baskets, and

sandals2. Used papyrus to write symbols

called hieroglyphics

Papyrus

Papyrus Paper

Papyrus Sandals

A. Not easy to read (few knew how to read and write)

B. Used pictures to stand for objects, ideas, sounds

C. Over 700 signs1. Very Complex-

Scribes spent many years in schools

A. Earliest rulers were village chiefsB. Chiefs united several villages to form

kingdomsC. 4000 BC- Egypt was made up of two kingdoms

1. Upper Egypt• Southern part of Egypt on the Nile river• Kings crown was tall, white, and pear

shaped 2. Lower Egypt

• Northern part of Egypt on the Nile delta• Kings crown- short, boxy, red with a tall

spike and curlicue at the frontD. King Narmer from Upper Egypt- unified upper

and lower Egypt1. He created a new double crown2. He also formed Egypt’s first dynasty

A. Egypt was ruled by 31 different dynasties which lasted 2,800 years.

B. These dynasties are grouped into three main time periods

1. Old Kingdom2. Middle Kingdom3. New Kingdom

Top:• King and his family

Upper Class:• Priests, army commanders,

nobles

Middle Class:• Scribes, traders, artisans

Bottom:• Farmers, slaves