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ANCIENTEGYPT
CH4:Section1:pp.86–89inWorldHistorytextbook
THEGEOGRAPHYOFANCIENTEGYPT
THEBIGIDEA:Thewater,fertilesoils,andprotectedsettingoftheNileValleyallowed
agreatcivilizationtoariseinEgyptaround3200BCE.
THEMAINIDEAS:
1. EgyptwascalledthegiftoftheNilebecausetheNileRivergavelifetothedesert.
2. CivilizationsdevelopedalongtheNileafterpeoplebeganfarminginthisregion.
3. StrongkingsunifiedallofEgypt.
VOCABULARY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
cataracts[p.87]:strongrapids;waterfalls
delta[p.87]:atriangle-shapedareasoflandmadefromrichsoildeposits
Menes[p.89]:EgyptiankingwhounifiedUpperandLowerEgypt
pharaoh[p.89]:titleusedbytherulersofEgypt
5. dynasty[p.89]:aseriesofrulersfromthesamefamily
I.
TheGiftoftheNile
a. LocationandPhysicalFeatures
i. Nile:spans4,000milesfromcentralAfricatotheMediterraneanSea
1. Longestriverintheworld
2. Civilizationdevelopedalong750milestretch
ii. Regions:
1. SouthernRegion:UpperEgypt(upriver)
2. NorthernRegion:LowerEgypt(downriver)
iii. PhysicalFeatures:
1. Cataracts:madesailingtheNiledifficult
2. Delta:2/3offarmlandlocatedhere
3. Swampsandmarshes
b. TheFloodsoftheNile
i. Flooding:mostofEgyptwasmadeupofdesertduetolittlerainfall
1. Everyyear,rainfallinsouthernhighlandswouldcauseNiletoflood
2. NilewaseasiertopredictthanTigrisandEuphratesinMesopotamia
ii. Silt:madesoilinNileRiverValleyidealforfarming
1. Becausesiltwasblack,Egyptianscalledtheirland“blackland”vs.the
landofthedrydesertcalled“redland”
2. Egyptiansconsideredthefloodstobemiraculousandlife-giving
II.
CivilizationDevelopsAlongtheNile
a. Hunter-gatherers:
i. LivedinNileRiverValleyover12,000yearsago
ii. Foundplants,wildanimals,andfishtoeat(diet)
iii. Learnedhowtofarmandestablishedsmallvillages
b. Mesopotamia:
i. Developedirrigationsystemsandbasinstocollectwater
ii. Builtcanalstodirectwaterflowtowaterfields
c. Diet:
i. Farmersgrewwheat,barley,fruits,andvegetables
ii. Raisedcattleandsheep
iii. Riverprovidedfish,geese,andducks
iv. Dietwas,therefore,variedandhealthy
d. NaturalBarriers:
i. MadeEgyptdifficulttoinvade
1. Deserttothewest
2. MediterraneanSeatonorthandRedSeatoeast
3. CataractsontheNiletothesouth
ii. Protectedfrominvaders,Egyptgrew.Wealthyfarmersheldpowerover
multiplevillages.
iii. 2Kingdomsformed:LowerEgyptandUpperEgypt
III.
KingsUnifyEgypt
a. 3100BCE:
i. MenesrosetopowerinUpperEgypt
ii. MenessoughttofinishunificationstartedbytheScorpionKing
b. InvasionofMenes:
i. MenesunitedbothUpperandLowerkingdomsandmarriedLowerEgyptian
princesstostrengthencontrolovertheregion
ii. Menesworebothkingdomcrowns(white“bowlingpin”crownandredcobra
crown)incombinationtoshowunity.
c. Memphis:
i. MenesbuiltcapitalcityofMemphisatthesoutherntipoftheNileRiverDelta
ii. MemphisbecamethepoliticalandculturecenteroftheFirstDynasty.
d. FirstDynasty:
i. Lasted200years