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Ancient Egypt
Part 2
Rosetta Stone
• Ancient Egyptian Artifact
(196 BC)
•
Helped modern people
understand hieroglyphics
• Discovered by the French in
1799 in Rosetta, Egypt
•
Translated in the 1800s
• Currently in the British
Museum
A United Egypt
1. Because the people in
Egypt had plenty of food,
some people became
artisans instead of
farmers. Remember,
artisans made stuff such
as pottery, weapons, and
tools.
2. Egyptians traded with each
other and with others in
Mesopotamia.
3. A few strong chiefs united
groups of villages into
kingdoms. Eventually, the
strongest kingdoms
overpowered the weaker
ones.
4. As a result, two large
kingdoms emerged—Lower
Egypt and Upper Egypt.
5. Lower Egypt was located
around the mouth of the Nile
River, near the
Mediterranean Sea. The king
wore a Red Crown.
6. Upper Egypt was located
near the mountains to the
South. Their king wore a
White Crown.
7. These two kingdoms had
much in common. They
spoke the same language.
They worshipped the same
gods. They had the same
culture. But, they did not get
along. They were always
fighting.
8. Around 3000 BC, King
Menes (also known as King
Narmer) ruled Upper Egypt.
He conquered Lower Egypt.
These two groups continued
to fight.
One day, King Menes had an idea.
If the color of a crown was so
important, why not invent a new
crown?! His idea worked. Both
Lower and Upper Egypt
respected the Double Crown
that was red and white. They
called their land "The Two
Lands". Over time, The Two
Lands became known as Egypt.
9. King Menes (Narmer) united
the two kingdoms. He ruled
from the city of Memphis, and
his kingdom lasted long after
his death. Narmer’s
descendants passed the ruling
power on from father to son to
grandson, forming a dynasty.
Early Egyptian Life
(Read pages 45, 46)
1. Ancient Egypt had social
classes. The pharaoh was
the highest power.
2. The upper class consisted of
nobles, priests, and government
officials. The middle class
included merchants, artisans,
shopkeepers, and scribes.
Farmers were the largest group
of people and were considered
the next to lowest class.
3. The absolute lowest class
of people in Egypt consisted
of unskilled workers.
(Turn to page 45 for more
details)
4. Although men were the
heads of households,
women had more rights in
Egypt than in other ancient
civilizations. They could
own and pass on property,
buy and sell goods, make
wills, and get divorces.
5. Few children went to
school in ancient Egypt.
Children had time to play
games and had toys.
6. Egyptian girls learned to
sew, cook, and run a
household. Boys learned
farming or a skilled trade.