Download I. The Egyptians - Eldred Central School

I. The Egyptians
A. “The Gift of the Nile”-The Nile River is the
longest river in the world. It runs northward for
more than 4,000 miles and empties into the
Mediterranean.
1. Before the Nile empties into the
Mediterranean, it splits. This split forms a
triangular territory called a delta.
2. Gift of the Nile-The river rose in the summer from
heavy rains in central Africa, reached its highest point
in early autumn, and left a deposit of mud that
created an area of rich soil.
Picture of the
Nile from space
3. Farmers in the Nile Valley grew a surplus of food,
which made Egypt prosperous. The river was also the
fastest way to travel through land. North winds
pushed sailboats south (upstream).
B. Religion
1. The Egyptians were polytheistic and believed
in sun gods and land gods. This Egyptian belief
symbolized their relationship with the source of
life (sun) and land.
Ra-His preferred method of
transportation was boat.
Why???????
2. The Afterlife
a) Osiris-God who brought civilization to Egypt
1) Osiris’s brother cut Osiris into pieces
and tossed them into the Nile.
2) Osris’s wife, found the pieces, and
helped bring Osiris back to life.
3) This story symbolized the new life Egyptians hoped
to gain after death and the life the Nile brought.
Osiris judging
whether people
gain entrance to
the underworld
C. Hieroglyphics-Form of writing used by the
Egyptians. Was used for writing on temple walls and
tombs.
1. Hieratic Script-Was a simpler form of
hieroglyphics
2. Papyrus-Hieratic script was written on papyrus.
This was paper made from papyrus reed that grew
along the Nile.
D. The Old Kingdom (2700 B.C.E.-2200 B.C.E.)Pharaohs (monarchs) ruled over Egypt. Pharaohs
had absolute power, but they did receive help from a
government bureaucracy.
1. Bureaucracy-An administrate organized with
officials and regular procedures. Egypt’s 42
provinces were ruled by governors responsible
to the pharaoh.
2.
The Pyramids-Built for a dedication to the
dead. The large pyramids were for the
pharaoh’s burial.
a) Tombs-Contained rooms stocked with supplies,
including chairs, boats, weapons, games, dishes, and
foods. Egyptians believed human beings had two
bodies-a physical and spiritual one, which they called
ka. If the physical body was preserved and the tomb
furnished with all objects of life, the ka could return.
The spiritual ka could then continue its life.
b) Steps of Mummification-A process of slowly drying
a dead body to prevent it from rotting.
1) Workers first removed the liver, lungs,
stomach, and intestines and placed them in jars
that were put in the tomb with the mummy.
2) Next, they covered the corpse with a natural salt
that absorbed the body’s water. Later, they filled the
body with spices and wrapped it with layers of linen
soaked in resin. At the end of 70 days, a lifelike mask
was placed over the head and shoulders of the
mummy.
D. The Middle Kingdom (2055 B.C.E.-1650 B.C.E.)1. Built a canal that connected the Nile River to the Red
Sea
2. Drained a swampland in the Nile Delta
F. The New Kingdom (1550 B.C.E.-1070 B.C.E.)-A
period of massive wealth in Egypt. Ramses II, who
reigned from 1279-1213, built grand temples. For
instance, he built the Ramesseum at Thebes.