Ancient Egypt & the Nile ValleyAncient Egypt & the Nile Valley

Chapter NotesChapter Notes

A River Valley & Its PeopleA River Valley & Its People One of the world’s first

civilizations developed along the banks of the Nile In northeastern Africa Nile = world’s longest river

People of the Nile relied on the river’s yearly floods to bring them water

Green Nile Valley = stark contrast to deserts surrounding it on either side

One of the world’s first civilizations developed along the banks of the Nile In northeastern Africa Nile = world’s longest river

People of the Nile relied on the river’s yearly floods to bring them water

Green Nile Valley = stark contrast to deserts surrounding it on either side

A River Valley & Its PeopleA River Valley & Its People Rich black soil in Valley =

good for farming 5000 BCE = farmers began to

settle down in the Valley Grew cereal crops (wheat,

barley) Hunted ducks & geese; fished

Early Egyptians harvested papyrus Used for rope, sandals, baskets,

and paper

Rich black soil in Valley = good for farming

5000 BCE = farmers began to settle down in the Valley Grew cereal crops (wheat,

barley) Hunted ducks & geese; fished

Early Egyptians harvested papyrus Used for rope, sandals, baskets,

and paper

A River Valley & Its PeopleA River Valley & Its People Early farming villages

prospered --> WHY?? Because they were protected from foreign invasions by deserts and cataracts (waterfalls) in the Nile

Strong leaders united the farming villages into kingdoms or monarchies ruled by a king

Early farming villages prospered --> WHY?? Because they were protected from foreign invasions by deserts and cataracts (waterfalls) in the Nile

Strong leaders united the farming villages into kingdoms or monarchies ruled by a king

A River Valley & Its PeopleA River Valley & Its People

By 4000 BCE, Egypt had 2 large kingdoms Lower Egypt (in the north) Upper Egypt (in the south) 3000 BCE = Narmer (king of

Upper Egypt) attacked Lower Egypt and united the 2

Capital = Memphis 1st of the Egyptian dynasties Egyptian dynasties divided into 3

periods: Old, Middle, New

By 4000 BCE, Egypt had 2 large kingdoms Lower Egypt (in the north) Upper Egypt (in the south) 3000 BCE = Narmer (king of

Upper Egypt) attacked Lower Egypt and united the 2

Capital = Memphis 1st of the Egyptian dynasties Egyptian dynasties divided into 3

periods: Old, Middle, New

The Old Kingdom(2700 BCE to 2200 BCE)

The Old Kingdom(2700 BCE to 2200 BCE)

People saw their kings as gods Called a theocracy = same person

is the political AND religious leader King gave many responsibilities to a

bureaucracy = groups of government officials

King controlled trade & taxes King supervised building of canals,

dams, grain storehouses

People saw their kings as gods Called a theocracy = same person

is the political AND religious leader King gave many responsibilities to a

bureaucracy = groups of government officials

King controlled trade & taxes King supervised building of canals,

dams, grain storehouses

The Old Kingdom(2700 BCE to 2200 BCE)

The Old Kingdom(2700 BCE to 2200 BCE)

Egyptians built pyramids as burial places for their kings Great Pyramids in

Giza King’s bodies were

mummified for preservation

Egyptians built pyramids as burial places for their kings Great Pyramids in

Giza King’s bodies were

mummified for preservation

Pyramids as TombsPyramids as Tombs

MummificationMummification

The Middle Kingdom(2050 BCE to 1800 BCE)

The Middle Kingdom(2050 BCE to 1800 BCE)

Old Kingdom ended with violence & a new dynasty reunited Egypt

Capital moved to Thebes Theben kings = seized new territory &

added thousands of acres to their civilization

Built canals and irrigation systems

Old Kingdom ended with violence & a new dynasty reunited Egypt

Capital moved to Thebes Theben kings = seized new territory &

added thousands of acres to their civilization

Built canals and irrigation systems

The Middle Kingdom(2050 BCE to 1800 BCE)

The Middle Kingdom(2050 BCE to 1800 BCE)

Local leaders began to challenge the kings’ power, which threatened peace At same time = 1st real threat

to Egypt = invasion by Hyksos (people from western Asia)

Hyksos swept through with new tools for war --> bronze weapons & horse-drawn chariots

Easily conquered the Egyptians & set up a new dynasty (for about 110 years)

Local leaders began to challenge the kings’ power, which threatened peace At same time = 1st real threat

to Egypt = invasion by Hyksos (people from western Asia)

Hyksos swept through with new tools for war --> bronze weapons & horse-drawn chariots

Easily conquered the Egyptians & set up a new dynasty (for about 110 years)

The New KingdomThe New Kingdom

Egyptian prince named Ahmose raised an army & drove the Hyksos out

Ahmose & those that came after him used the title pharaoh Rebuilt Egypt &

conquered more land

Egyptian prince named Ahmose raised an army & drove the Hyksos out

Ahmose & those that came after him used the title pharaoh Rebuilt Egypt &

conquered more land

The New KingdomThe New Kingdom 1480 BCE = Queen Hatshepsut

came to power in Egypt = 1st female pharaoh After her death, her stepson

Thutmose III took over Thutmose III created an army,

conquered neighboring Syria, and expanded the Egyptian empire

Empire = many territories under one ruler

Egyptian empire grew rich & benefited from cultural diffusion

1480 BCE = Queen Hatshepsut came to power in Egypt = 1st female pharaoh After her death, her stepson

Thutmose III took over Thutmose III created an army,

conquered neighboring Syria, and expanded the Egyptian empire

Empire = many territories under one ruler

Egyptian empire grew rich & benefited from cultural diffusion

The New KingdomThe New Kingdom 1370 BCE = ruler named

Amenhotep = created new religion with just 1 god Changed his named to

Akhenaton = “spirit of Aton” Aton = sun-disk god = only

1 to be worshipped Controversial, so after his

death the priests went back to old religion

King Tut took over for him

1370 BCE = ruler named Amenhotep = created new religion with just 1 god Changed his named to

Akhenaton = “spirit of Aton” Aton = sun-disk god = only

1 to be worshipped Controversial, so after his

death the priests went back to old religion

King Tut took over for him

King Tut’s TombKing Tut’s Tomb

The New KingdomThe New Kingdom 1200s BCE =

Ramses II (Ramses the Great) Built large statues of

himself, temples, and tombs

After his death, Egypt weakened under attacks from invaders & was taken over by foreigners

1200s BCE = Ramses II (Ramses the Great) Built large statues of

himself, temples, and tombs

After his death, Egypt weakened under attacks from invaders & was taken over by foreigners

Life in Ancient EgyptSocial Order

Life in Ancient EgyptSocial Order

Upper class = kings, nobles, priests

Middle class = artisans, scribes, merchants

Lower class (majority of Egyptians) = farmers, poor

Lowest of the low = slaves

Upper class = kings, nobles, priests

Middle class = artisans, scribes, merchants

Lower class (majority of Egyptians) = farmers, poor

Lowest of the low = slaves

Life in Ancient EgyptFamilies

Life in Ancient EgyptFamilies

In cities & upper class = husband, wife, children

Outside the city & poor families = also included grandparents & other relatives

In cities & upper class = husband, wife, children

Outside the city & poor families = also included grandparents & other relatives

Life in Ancient EgyptWomen

Life in Ancient EgyptWomen

In the beginning = property of their husbands

By the time of the Egyptian Empire = they could own property and divorce their husbands; had more rights

In the beginning = property of their husbands

By the time of the Egyptian Empire = they could own property and divorce their husbands; had more rights

Life in Ancient EgyptReligion

Life in Ancient EgyptReligion

Very important to early Egyptians

Polytheistic = believed in more than one god

Gods were often half human, half animal

Believed in an afterlife – burial rituals reflect this

Very important to early Egyptians

Polytheistic = believed in more than one god

Gods were often half human, half animal

Believed in an afterlife – burial rituals reflect thisThe ankh =

symbol of life

Some Egyptian GodsSome Egyptian Gods

Ra = Sun God

King of the Gods

Osiris = God of the Dead

Iris = Queen of the

Goddesses

Horus = Son of Iris & Osiris

Anubis = God of

Embalming

Life in Ancient EgyptWriting

Life in Ancient EgyptWriting

Used hieroglyphics (picture symbols) for writing

Few people could read or write

Language remained a mystery until discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 (Greek writing matched the

hieroglyphs on the Stone)

Used hieroglyphics (picture symbols) for writing

Few people could read or write

Language remained a mystery until discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 (Greek writing matched the

hieroglyphs on the Stone)

Life in Ancient EgyptScience

Life in Ancient EgyptScience

Developed a number system

Used geometry to calculate volume and area

Created a 365-day calendar

Developed medical expertise used splints, bandages, etc.

Developed a number system

Used geometry to calculate volume and area

Created a 365-day calendar

Developed medical expertise used splints, bandages, etc.