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Nile Civilizations
Section 1
MAIN IDEA
Egypt was one of the most stable and long-lasting civilizations of the ancient
world.
Key Terms and People
delta an area at the mouth of a river, often triangle-shaped, made up of silt deposits
cataracts rocky stretches of water marked by rapid currents and waterfalls
Menes ruler who may have united Upper and Lower Egypt to found Egypt's first dynasty
pharaoh an Egyptian king whom ancient Egyptians believed was a god in human form
theocracy a state ruled by religious figures
bureaucracy a highly-structured organization managed by officials
Hatshepsut one of the few women to rule Egypt as a pharaoh
Ramses the Great Pharoah of the New Kingdom who agreed to a truce with Hittite
invaders
Taking Notes
As you read the summary, take notes about Egyptian history. Use a graphic
organizer like the one below to record key events from each period.
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Nile Civilizations
Section 1
Section Summary
GEOGRAPHY AND EARLY EGYPT
The Nile River is the longest river in the world, and
the most important physical feature in Egypt. Without
its waters, no one could live there.
Egyptian civilization depended on the Nile for two
main reasons. People farmed the fertile soil called silt
that was left behind when the river flooded. The best
soil was found in the delta, the area at the mouth of
the river that is made up of silt deposits. The Nile also
protected the Egyptians from invasion. Its cataracts,
or rocky stretches marked by rapid currents and
waterfalls, kept invaders’ boats out.
The early Egyptians formed two kingdoms. Lower
Egypt, in the north, occupied most of the Nile Delta,
where the climate was mild. Upper Egypt lay along
the river's southern upper stretches. The two kingdoms
were first unified around 3100 BC. According to
legend, this happened when Menes (MEE-neez) a
ruler from Upper Egypt, conquered the north. Menes
founded the first of Egypt’s 31 dynasties.
THE OLD KINGDOM
The Old Kingdom in Egypt was a period of stable rule
that began in about 2650 BC and lasted for 500 years.
Most of the Egyptian pyramids were built during
the Old Kingdom. The pyramids served as tombs for
Egypt's rulers. Pyramids were designed by architects
and built by professional craftspeople and decorated
by artists. Peasants provided most of the labor.
Egypt's government also took shape during the Old
Kingdom. The pharaoh (FER-OH), or king, was
believed to be a god in human form. Pharaohs had
absolute power, owned all the land, and acted as
judges and leaders of the army. The government was a
theocracy, a state ruled by religious figures. To aid
him in ruling, the pharaoh was surrounded by a
bureaucracy, a highly-structured organization
managed by officials.
Why did Egyptian
civilization depend on the
Nile River?
_______________________
_______________________
Underline the powers of
Old Kingdom pharaohs.
What is the term for this
form of government?
_______________________
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM
The government of the Old Kingdom collapsed
around 2100 BC. Afterward, the country suffered
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Nile Civilizations
Section 1
from economic problems, invasions, and civil wars. In
about 2055 BC, a new dynasty rose to power and the
Middle Kingdom began.
The leaders of the Middle Kingdom encouraged
trade and made the routes safer, built fortresses along
the Nile, and enlarged the kingdom. Around 1650 BC,
the Middle Kingdom ended when the Egyptian army
was defeated by the better-armed Hyksos (HIK-sos)
from Syria.
THE NEW KINGDOM
The Hyksos ruled Egypt for almost 100 years before
the Egyptians rose up and drove them out. The army
that defeated the Hyksos was led by nobles from
Thebes. They became the new rulers of Egypt, and
with this, the New Kingdom began.
During the New Kingdom, Egyptians realized that a
permanent army and more land would help keep the
kingdom safe. They attacked and took over Nubia, the
Sinai Peninsula, and parts of Phoenicia and Syria.
The pharaohs of the New Kingdom made important
changes in Egyptian society. Hatshepsut, one of the
few women to rule Egypt, took power in around 1500
BC when her husband, the pharaoh, died.
Around 1353 BC, the pharaoh Amenhotep IV, also
known as Akhenaten, forbid the Egyptian people from
worshipping many gods. He forced them to worship
only the sun god Aten, and built a new capital,
Akhenaten. The very next pharaoh, Tutankhamen, or
Tut, restored Egypt's worship of traditional gods and
brought the capital back to Thebes.
Egypt enjoyed peace until around 1250 BC, when
the Hittites from Mesopotamia invaded. Pharaoh
Ramses II, also called Ramses the Great, eventually
agreed to a truce. Ramses’ long reign of 60-plus years
brought many political and artistic achievements,
making him the most admired and famous pharaoh.
His reign marked the last period of Egypt's greatness.
After Ramses, Egypt lost control of its empire and
broke into small states. It was controlled by many
foreign rulers. In the 330s BC, the Greek armies of
Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and brought an
end to its history as an independent kingdom.
How did the Old Kingdom’s
collapse affect Egypt?
_______________________
_______________________
Underline the event that
marked the beginning of
the New Kingdom.
Circle the names of four
New Kingdom pharaohs.
Which pharaoh changed
Egypt's form of religion?
_______________________
What event brought an end
to Egypt's independence?
_______________________
_______________________
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Full Survey Chapter 3
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