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Ancient Egypt:
an Overview
Timeline
• Old Kingdom
2686 BC – 2181 BC
(Age of the Pyramids)
• Middle Kingdom
2040 BC – 1728 BC
• New Kingdom
(Age of Conquest)
1570 BC – 1085 BC
1
Three Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt
OLD
KINGDOM
Pharaohs
organized a strong
central state, were
absolute rulers,
and were
considered gods.
Egyptians built
pyramids at Giza.
Power struggles,
crop failures, and
cost of pyramids
contributed to the
collapse of the Old
Kingdom.
MIDDLE
KINGDOM
Large drainage
project created
arable farmland.
Traders had
contacts with
Middle East and
Crete.
NEW
KINGDOM
Powerful pharaohs
created a large
empire
that reached the
Euphrates River.
Hatshepsut
encouraged trade.
Corruption and
rebellions were
common.
Ramses II expanded
Egyptian rule to
Syria.
Hyksos invaded and
occupied the delta
region.
Egyptian power
declined.
Geography
• Egypt is located in
northeastern Africa
• The Nile River runs the
length of the country
flowing south to north
• The river begins in the
mountains of Africa and
empties into the
Mediterranean Sea
• The climate is hot and
dry, Egypt is part of the
Sahara Desert
http://www.worldcountries.info/Maps/GoogleMap-Egypt.php
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/explore/ter.html
Geography
• Ancient Egypt was divided into
two regions: Upper and Lower
Egypt
• Lower (northern) Egypt
consisted of the Nile River's
delta made by the river as it
empties into the
Mediterranean.
• Upper Egypt was the long,
narrow strip of ancient Egypt
located south of the Delta.
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/home.html
The Nile River
• The Nile was the
lifeblood of ancient
Egypt
• It made life possible in
the otherwise barren
desert of Egypt.
• It is the longest river in
the world (over 4,000
miles).
• It served as a source of
food for the people of
ancient Egypt
• It was the major source
of water for bathing and
drinking
• The Nile was crucial for
farming
Blue Nile
White Nile
White & Blue Nile Meet in Sudan
Floodplain
Floodplain
• The low strip of fertile land
located on either side of the
Nile River
• The river flooded during the
annual inundation
• When the inundation
subsided, it left the earth
soaked and overlaid with a
fresh layer of black silt.
• Most of the farming occurred
here
Nile Delta
• Located in northern
Egypt where the Nile
River spreads out
and empties into the
Mediterranean Sea
• 240 km of coastline,
106 km in length
• Rich agricultural
region
• Most fertile soil in
Africa
Facts About the Nile River
Length
4,184 miles
2 Sources
Lake Victoria, Uganda (White Nile);
Lake Tana, Ethiopia (Blue Nile)
Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt
Mouth
Countries
Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia,
Flows Through Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda,
Burundi
Name Origin
Greek word Nelios, which means
"River Valley"
Bordered on the south, east and west by the
Sahara Desert, and on the north by the sea, ancient
Egypt was protected from outside influences.
Great Sahara Desert
Religion
Belief that many gods
and goddesses ruled
the world and the
afterlife
Amon-Re: sun god
Osiris: god of the
underworld and of the
Nile
• The pharaoh was
believed to be a god
as well as a ruler
Falcon Headed Sun God
Religion
• Belief in eternal life after death.
Relied on the Book of the Dead to help them
through the underworld.
• Practiced mummification, the preservation of the
body for use in the next life.
Book of the Dead
Collection of spells, hymns, and prayers intended to secure a
safe passage to the underworld for the deceased
Writing
Making paper from papyrus
What are hieroglyphs?
• Hieroglyphs is the picture writing used in
ancient Egypt. The word hieroglyphs is made up
of two Greek words - hieros, which means
sacred, and glyphe, which means carving.
• The Egyptian hieroglyphic writing system
consists of hundreds of picture signs (about 800)
The signs can be divided into two classes,
phonograms and ideograms
Phonograms represent sounds (much as
alphabet letters do) Ideograms are signs
that represent whole words or concepts.
Pyramids
The Great Sphinx
Egyptian goddess Isis, tomb painting, ca. 1360 BC.
2
Social Classes
PHARAOH
Earthly leader; considered a god
HIGH PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES
Served gods and goddesses
NOBLES
Fought pharaoh’s wars
MERCHANTS, SCRIBES, AND ARTISANS
Made furniture, jewelry, and fabrics for
pharaohs and nobles, and provided for other needs
PEASANT FARMERS AND SLAVES
Worked in the fields and served the pharaoh