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Geography of Ancient Egypt
The Nile River is the world’s longest river. It flows
over 4,000 miles north from the snowcapped mountains
of East Africa. It passes through present day Uganda,
Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. The Nile River empties into
the warm Mediterranean Sea. This river is the main
reason why the Egyptians survived for thousands of
years.
The Land of Flood and Drought
Egyptian farmers depended on the right amount of
flooding each year to grow successful crops. Too little
flooding meant farmers’ crops failed and people went
hungry. Too much meant people and cattle could be
swept away and homes destroyed. Life was a delicate
balance in the Nile River valley. Egypt’s farmers used a
form of technology called Irrigation. Irrigation is the
watering of land by means of canals or pipes.
Flood season was one of the busiest times to travel on
the Nile. The Nile was the main way people and goods
moved place to place. The 600 mile journey between
Upper and Lower Egypt would take over a month to walk.
In a reed boat, it only took about half that time.
Land of the Pharaohs
I. Egyptians Join Together
a) Ruins around towns of bloody battle scenes spread fear.
a. This lead to the unification of towns for protection
b) Towns in Upper Egypt supported a king with a white crown
c) Towns in Lower Egypt supported a king with a red crown
Menes
a) King of Upper Egypt
b) 3100 B.C. he changed everything when defeated the Nile Delta – beat
Lower Egyptian King
c) Wore a double crown to show victory – red and white
d) He became the first pharaoh – “Great Palace” in which the ruler lives.
Came the name of kings.
Major Periods in Ancient Egypt
a) Old Kingdom – 2686 B.C. until 2181 B.C.
b) Other Periods - Middle Kingdom & New Kingdom
II. Life in the Old Kingdom
a) After unification local leaders in the land were made governors
b) They collected taxes
c) Made sure waters were shared fairly
d) Reported to the Memphis, the pharaohs headquarters
i. Memphis was located in between Upper and Lower Egypt.
III. Religion in Egypt
a) Pharaohs had government power as well as religious powers.
b) Egyptians believed pharaohs were the children of the sun god Ra.
c) They believed Ra gave life to the pharaoh, who gave life to Egypt
a. Ra was the most important
d) Different gods had different roles
a. Osiris represented death
e) They believed you took objects to other worlds
Mummification: Ancient Egyptians preserved the bodies of dead royalty with
this process. Bodies were dried and wrapped in strips of cloth.
IV. Egypt’s Economy
a) Since Pharaohs were considered a god, all things belonged to them. The
center of economy, the way people manage is the way people manage
money and resources for the production of goods
and services.
b) Economy was based on agriculture
c) Surplus of food fed the whole economy, people paid taxes in the form of
crops.
d) Taxes were also placed on everything else in Egypt
e) Craftworkers and artist also depended on the pharaoh for jobs, temples
needed items like golden bowls.
Three seasons of Egypt
a) Inundation – July – Oct. the flooding season
b) Emergence – Nov – Feb The flood waters recede and farming begins
c) Drought – March – June. There is very little rain. Crops are harvested
during this period.
Ancient Egyptian Life
I.
Following the collapse of the Old Kingdom, a new era began in
Ancient Egypt. Historians call this era from about
2100 B.C. – 1700 B.C. was know as The Middle Kingdom.
a) During this time, Egypt contact with other parts of
the world increased.
b) Egyptian armies conquered Nubia to gain control of its
gold mines.
c) Egyptian traders increased their business with the
cities of western Asia.
II.
By 1650 B.C. the Hyksos armies took control of Lower Egypt,
once again dividing Egypt into Upper and Lower Egypt.
a) The Hyksos were able to conquer Egypt because of
better weapons and war technology.
b)The Hyksos used horses, chariots, bronze weapons
and bows and arrows.
III.
IV.
In 1550 B.C. after 100 years of Hyksos rule, Ahmose succeeded
in taking back Lower Egypt.
a) He did this by coping the Hyksos weapons and
military technology.
b) During this period of the New Kingdom, Egypt also
regained of Nubia.
1) Egypt became an empire when it conquered Nubia,
Syria, and Lebanon. These new lands gave Egypt great wealth.
It was during this time period the Pharaoh, Hatshepsut,
expanded trade with Punt – an area in eastern Africa.
a) Hatshepsut was one of a few female pharaohs.
b) Hatshepsut organized the trading expedition to Punt - which
brought great wealth to Egypt.
V.
The Egyptians knowledge of medicine, math, and science became famous
among its neighbors.
a) Egyptian doctors were priests who learned their skill in temple
schools.
1) This vast medical knowledge led to one of the first medical
books to ever be printed.
b) Egyptian priests also knew a great deal about mathematics and
science.
1) They developed mathematical rules for building pyramids.
2) They used this math knowledge to help them understand
the stars – with telescopes they identified 5 of the planets
in our solar system.
VI.
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb in 1922 yielded hundreds
of New Kingdom Artifacts.
a) The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb showed us the vast (large)
amounts of wealth The New Kingdom Pharaoh’s were buried with.
b) It gave us a glimpse of Ancient Egyptian life.
Ancient Egyptian Life
I.
While Egypt became a great empire, ordinary people continued to work
in much the same way they had before.
a) Although agriculture was at the heart of Egypt’s wealth and
economic success farmers were at the bottom of the social
pyramid.
1) only slaves had less rights than farmers.
II.
Enslaved Nubians and Syrians became Key workers in Egypt’s growing
Empire.
a) They held key government jobs and some became scribes. They
were also farmers and craftsmen.
1) Not all captured people became slaves. If they had a
needed occupation the Egyptians used them in the fields.
III.
Most Egyptian farmers worked on large farms owned by powerful
families.
a) Scribes owned and ran most of the farms because of their
ability to read and write.
1) Slaves were allowed to farm small farms for their use,
but they had very little rights.
IV.
Egypt’s town’s and cities were over crowded with craftsman and
merchants. This is how Egyptians made their living.
a) Merchants were becoming Egypt’s middle class and were also
becoming wealthy.
Ancient Egypt’s Social Pyramid