Download 2016-17 HISTORY-GRADE: VI THE EGYPTIAN

L. R. & S. M. VISSANJI ACADEMY
SECONDARY SECTION - 2016-17
HISTORY-GRADE: VI
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THE EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
The Egyptian Civilization flourished on the banks of river Nile.
The Greek historian Herodotus called Egypt’ the gift of Nile’ because the flooding of the river left a
rich deposit of fertile soil on its banks which enabled Egyptian farmers to produce abundant grain.
The Nile also served as a national highway and the main transportation channel.
This enabled Egyptians to develop trade relations with neighbouring countries making their country
a land of plenty.
The Egyptian deserts served as natural barriers to foreign invasions.
So the early Egyptian settlers enjoyed many years of peace and security during which they learnt to
build huts, grow crops, domesticate animals and establish a society of their own.
Egypt was divided into two parts –Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. These were united and ruled by
Pharaos .Cleopatra was the last pharaoh who died in 30 BCE
Historians divided Egyptian history into three periods:
 The Old Kingdom (extended from 3000-2000 BCE saw the construction of many grand pyramids)
 The Middle Kingdom (extended from 2000-1700 BCE trade flourished and Egyptian empire
expanded further)
 The New Kingdom (extended from 1600-1100 BCE lasted for 500 years and Egyptian power
reached its peak)
 For about 100 years (1700-1600) Egypt was invaded and ruled by Hyksos tribe.
 Alexander the Great invaded Egypt; he was the founder of the city of Alexandria.
Social Structure:
 The Egyptians were divided into three distinct classes:
 The upper class consisted of the royal family, rich landowners, high ranking priests, government
officials and doctors.
 The middle class consisted of merchants, manufacturers, craftspeople and the lower clergy.
 The lower class consisted of the peasants.
 At the bottom of the social hierarchy were the slaves who were mainly prisoners of war.
Family life:
 The families were close-knit groups.
 The father was the head of the family.
 Women were treated with respect and their property rights were protected.
 Children enjoyed carefree and happy lives. The boys were sent to school and the girls stayed at
home and learnt housework.
 Wealthy families lived lives of luxury and pleasure.
Food, dress, shelter:
 The staple diet of the people was bread and beer. They also ate vegetables, fruits and dairy products.
 They wore dresses made of white linen .Both men and women wore jewellery, cosmetics and wigs.
 An Egyptian house was made of sun baked bricks with windows set on high walls.
Occupation:
 Agriculture: The chief occupation of the Egyptians was agriculture as the soil was fertile and there
was abundant water supply from River Nile.
 The chief crops were wheat, barley and millet.
 Domestication of Animals :Animals such as cows sheep ,goats ,donkeys etc. were domesticated
 Art and Craft: There were skilled crafts men such as potters, goldsmiths, carpenters, weavers,
sculptors and painters.
 They built magnificent temples with pillared halls decorated with beautiful paintings of humans,
animals and birds.
Religion:
 The Egyptians worshipped many Gods and Goddesses connected with nature for example Ra, the
sun god, Osiris, the god of the dead. The pharaohs were worshipped as gods.
 The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and so they preserved the body of the dead. Such a
preserved body is known as a mummy. It was mummified by embalming it with spices and
wrapping it in fine linen.
Architecture:
 The Great Pyramid at Giza is one of the seven wonder of the ancient world.
 The Sphinx is carved out of a single block of stone with the body of a lion and the head of a human.
Medicine:
 The Egyptians had advanced knowledge of medicine and human anatomy.
 They are also credited with having made the world’s first medical diagnosis.
Writing:
 The Egyptians developed a form of writing called hieroglyphic script (sacred writing).
 Initially they used picture writing wherein each picture stood for a separate word.
 Later, they developed a simplified alphabet which had 24 consonants and no vowels.
Importance of the Nile:
 The river Nile transformed the entire valley into a vast lake.
 Crops grew easily in the black, fertile soil deposited by the river along the bank, which yielded rich
harvests.
 The Nile provided water for irrigation.
 It also served as a national highway and the main transportation channel.
 This enabled the Egyptians to develop trade relations with neighbouring countries, making their
country a land of plenty.
The Pharaohs:
 Pharaohs were the kings who rules over Egypt.
 The pharaoh was all-powerful and was treated like God.
 He was a hereditary ruler and was believed to be God’s representative on earth.
 He was at the head of an advanced administrative system.
 Pyramids were the tombs of the pharaohs. Food, wine, clothes, furniture, jewellery and weapons
were put into the tombs.