Download C4, S1 (Geography and Ancient Egypt)

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C4, S1 (Geography and Ancient Egypt)
I.
The Gift of the Nile
A. Geography was key in Egyptian civilization.
B. Nile R. brought life to Egypt
II.
Location & Physical Features
A. Nile R. is the longest river in the world.
1.
Begins in central Africa, runs 4,000 miles north to the
Mediterranean Sea (travels south to north).
B. Ancient Egypt is made up of 2 regions
1.
Southern region = Upper Egypt
2.
Northern region = Lower Egypt
C. Cataracts, strong rapids, made sailing the Nile difficult.
D. In Lower Egypt, The Nile R. was divided into several branches called a
delta, a triangle-shaped area of land made of soil deposited by a river.
III.
The Floods of the Nile
A. The Nile floods were easier to predict than those of the Tigris &
Euphrates Rivers.
B. Flooding in Upper Egypt – midsummer
Flooding in Lower Egypt – fall
C. Silt from the Nile made the soil ideal for farming.
IV.
Civilizations develop along the Nile
A. Farmers developed an irrigation system w/ basins to collect the H2O &
canals to distribute the H20 during the dry months
B. The Nile provided an abundance of food – fish, cattle, sheep, ducks,
geese, wheat, barley, fruits, veggies
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C. Nile was a natural barrier for invasions – desert, Med. And Red Seas &
cataracts of the Nile were difficult to cross.
V.
Kings Unify Egypt
A. Lower Egypt (Pe) – king wore red crown
Upper Egypt (Nekhen) – king wore white cone-shaped crown
B. 3100 BC – Menes rose to power in Upper Egypt, and wanted to unify
Upper & Lower Egypt.
C. Menes invaded & united the 2 kingdoms by marrying a princess of
Lower Egypt. He wore a double crown (red & white cone-shaped).
1.
Menes is Egypt’s 1st pharaoh, a ruler of Egypt.
2.
Menes founded the 1st dynasty, a series of rulers from the
same family.
3.
Menes built the capital of Memphis.
4.
The 1st dynasty lasted 200 years until they were challenged.