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ANCIENT
EGYPT
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Egypt
today
Geographical features
• Nile River
– Flows northward
– Delta empties into the
Mediterranean Sea
• Surrounded by desert
• Climate
– hot, dry summers with
moderate winters
Settlements /
buildings
• mud brick buildings
• limestone pyramids
Nile River
The Nile River has played an extremely important role in the civilization,
life and history of the Egyptian nation. One of the most well known river
Nile facts is the river's ability to produce extremely fertile soil, which made
it easy for cities and civilizations to spring up alongside the banks of the
Nile. The fertile soil is contributed by the annual spring floods, when the
Nile River overflows onto the banks.
This waterway also
provided a source of
drinking water, and
source of irrigation for
farming as well as
papyrus reeds that could
be used for a variety of
purposes such as paper
and building materials.
The Nile delta is irrigated by the Nile and its many distributaries
and has some of the richest farm land in the world. It is home to
some 45 million people, over half of Egypt's population.
Cairo is at the apex of the delta. Just across the river from Cairo
you can see the three big pyramids and the sphinx at Giza. The
Suez Canal is just to the right of the delta.
Buildings
• Wood was extremely scarce, almost non-existent in ancient
Egypt. The two construction materials that the ancient land of
Egypt seemed capable of producing in multitude was sand and
papyrus reeds; with some stone quarries. Therefore, for the
most part, the majority of ancient Egyptian houses were
constructed of mud brick.
• Ancient mud houses in Egypt were made by first mixing a
compound of mud and straw. The mixture could then be formed
into bricks that were allowed to bake and dry under the hot
Egyptian sun.
• While the mud might be plentiful, it was not particularly sturdy. In
a very short amount of time, usually just a few years, an ancient
Egyptian house constructed of mud brick would begin to
deteriorate and crumble.
• Ancient mud houses in Egypt were primarily constructed and
lived in by the commoners on the lowest social strata in Egypt,
who could afford little else.
Buildings
Wood was extremely scarce, almost non-existent in ancient
Egypt. The two construction materials that the ancient land of
Egypt seemed capable of producing in multitude was sand
and papyrus reeds; with some stone quarries. Therefore, for
the most part, the majority of ancient Egyptian houses were
constructed of mud brick. Ancient mud houses in Egypt were
made by first mixing a compound of mud and straw.
Mud model
Stone foundations
Buildings
In ancient Egypt temples were
constructed to house the
numerous deities, both male
and female, that were at the
center of Egyptian mythology
and religion. The beliefs held
by the ancient Egyptians were
more than just the foundation
of a religion, these beliefs were
central to the everyday life of
Egyptian citizens.
Buildings
The Egyptian pyramids remain one of the most
beautiful and complex mysteries of the modern world.
Set against the exotic backdrop of the Egyptian desert,
these stone temples hearken our memories back to the
days of pharaohs and mummies. Throughout history
there have been many theories regarding the exact
manner in which the Egyptian pyramids were built.
Buildings
One of the most profound
mysteries relating to the ancient
world of Egypt regards why was
the sphinx made. No one
seems to be quite sure why this
great statue was constructed,
however; theories abound. It is
believed to have most likely been
constructed during the Fourth
Dynasty. Located in the same
proximity as King Khufu's Great
Pyramid, many scholars have
hypothesized that the Sphinx
was constructed in order to guard
the great pyramid.
Important Cities
• Memphis
• Thebes
• Alexandria
• Cairo
Economic life
• agriculture
• river trade
Religious beliefs
• polytheism
• pharos held godlike powers
• afterlife – hearts
are weighed
Government / rulers
• dynasties
• theocracy – gov’t by
religious authority
• theocracy
Isis
Isis the goddess of magic,
was also considered to be
the goddess of fertility.
One of the most famous
legends involving Isis
putting the body of her
husband back together after
he was killed by Seth the
Egyptian god, impregnating
herself with his body and
giving birth to their son
Horus Egyptian falcon god.
Anubis
Among all the ancient
Egyptian gods Anubis is
the one who was chosen
to be the god of death
and dying. He is also
considered to be the god
of the underworld. His
image is often seen as the
guardian of tombs and
the bodies held within.
Science /
technology
• canals
• medicine
• mathematics,
geometry
Writing system
• hieroglyphics –
pictures stand for
words
Inventions
• Black Ink
• First Ox-Drawn Plows
• 365 Day Calendar and Leap
Year
• Paper from papyrus plant
• First Triangular Shaped
Pyramids
• Organized labor
• Hieroglyphics as an early
system of writing
• Sails
Hieroglyphics
The ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics are a fascination
to many people. The term hieroglyphics refers to a
system of writing using ancient Egyptian symbols.
The hieroglyphics involved a series of 'picture' words.
Consisting of several hundred words, this system of
writing was intensely complex and very labor
intensive. The first hieroglyphics were used on
buildings and tombs. It is believed that the Egyptians
first began developing this system of writing about
3000 BC.
Hieroglyphics
One of the most famous
discoveries containing
hieroglyphics is the Rosetta
Stone, which was discovered in
1799. The Rosetta Stone is
dedicated to Ptolemy V and also
contains the king's cartouche. This
discovery proved to be historically
important because it helped to
unlock the key to translating
ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Social Classes
1. pharaoh
2. land owners, priests,
govt officials, generals
3. merchants, artisans
4. peasants
5. slaves
Famous leaders
• Rames II
• Tut
• Cleopatra
Ramses II
Ramses II, during his 67 year reign
of Egypt, seemed to do everything
over the top. He is probably the
most prolific of the ancient
Egyptian pharaohs, siring over 100
children with more than a dozen
wives. He is well regarded as the
builder of more temples and
statues than any of the other
ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
King Tutenkomen
Perhaps the most well known of famous Egyptian
pharaohs is Tutankhamen, commonly referred to as
King Tut. The mysterious death of this boy king has
interested the world since his tomb was first
discovered in 1922. Only 18 when he died, it is
speculated that both is wife and grandfather might
have played key roles in the mysterious and probably
fatal blow to the back of his head.
Nefertiti
Nefertiti, the wife of Akhenaten,
is also one of the most famous
of the queens of Egypt.
Renowned for her beauty,
numerous busts and status
have been found bearing
Nefertiti's likeness. It is believed
that Nefertititi was the chief
queen of Egypt during her
husband's reign, at least up until
the twelfth year. The mummy of
Nefertiti remains missing. To
date, only jewelry bearing her
insignia has been found.
Cleopatra
Commonly referred to as the last of the
ancient Egyptian pharaohs before the
nation tumbled into the hands of the
Roman Empire, Cleopatra has been the
subject of many novels and movies and is
often portrayed as extremely beautiful
and seductive. While her affair with Mark
Anthony has become legendary,
Cleopatra's intelligence and political
astuteness may be the most interesting
pieces of information of all regarding this
female pharaoh.