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Geography of Egypt Bell Ringer What is one thing you learned about the Assyrian Empire and one thing you learned about the Chaldean Empire? 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, 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 Valley Settling the Nile • The earliest Egyptians moved into the Nile River valley from less fertile areas. • They farmed and built villages along the riverbanks. • The Nile River is the longest river in the world, about 4,000 miles long. • Egyptians used the Nile River for many things. (pages 39–40) Blue Nile White Nile The Nile Valley Settling the Nile (cont.) • They used river water to drink, clean, farm, and cook. • They ate fish from the river. • The Nile valley is a narrow, green valley in Egypt. • The northern end of the valley is a fertile area of land called a delta. (pages 39–40) 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 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 The Nile Valley Settling the Nile (cont.) • The Sahara, the largest desert in the world, lies west of the Nile Valley. • The Eastern Desert lies to the east of the valley. • Egypt has several natural borders to protect it. • The deserts, the dangerous rapids of the Nile, and marshes in the delta kept enemies from entering Egypt. (pages 39–40) Great Sahara Desert The Nile Valley Settling the Nile (cont.) • The Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east allowed trade with other peoples. • Within Egypt, people traveled on the Nile to trade with each other. (pages 39–40) The Nile Valley The River People • Floods along the Nile were predictable and were not devastating. • Each spring the Nile would flood and leave a dark, fertile mud along its banks. • Farmers learned about the waters of the Nile. • They used the soil left behind by the floods to grow wheat, barley, and flax seeds. (pages 41–42) The Nile Valley They used irrigation. They dug holes in the earth to trap the floodwaters. They built canals and dikes to strengthen the basin walls. Other technology: – Shadoof: a bucket attached to a long pole to carry water – Geometry: to measure land – Used papyrus, a reed plant, to make baskets, sandals, and river rafts – Later used papyrus to make paper Shaduf To lift water from the canal Egyptians used a shaduf, a large pole balanced on a crossbeam with a rope and bucket on one end and a heavy counter weight at the other. When the rope was pulled, the bucket would be lowered into the canal. The counterweight would raise the bucket. The farmer would then carry the bucket to the field and water it. The Nile Valley The River People (cont.) • The Egyptian system of writing was called hieroglyphics. • This system consisted of thousands of picture symbols. • Some Egyptian men learned to read and write. • They attended schools to learn to be scribes. (pages 41–42) The Nile Valley WHAT WERE HIEROGLYPHICS? Egyptians used papyrus rolls as writing paper. Hieroglyphics: a complex writing system that combined sounds and pictures Only few people could read and write. Some men went to special schools to study reading and writing. They became scribes. Scribes: kept records, worked for the rulers and priests, and traders Writing Making paper from papyrus What is hieroglyphics? Hieroglyphics is the picture writing used in ancient Egypt. The word hieroglyphics is made up of two Greek words - hieros, which means sacred, and glyphe, which means carving. The Egyptian hieroglyphic writing system consists of several hundred picture signs. 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. Agriculture Herodotus called Egypt the “Gift of the Nile” Egyptians took advantage of the Nile’s annual floods to become an especially productive agricultural region – After the floods receded in late summer, cultivators could go into the floodplains and sow their seeds without extensive preparation of the soil Nile River Delta The Nile Valley A United Egypt • Because the people in Egypt had surplus food, some people became artisans instead of farmers. • Artisans wove cloth, made pottery, carved statues, and crafted weapons and tools. • Egyptians traded with each other and with others in Mesopotamia. • A few strong chiefs united groups of villages into kingdoms. (pages 43–44) The Nile Valley A United Egypt (cont.) • Eventually, the strongest kingdoms overpowered the weaker ones. • In this way, two large kingdoms emerged—Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. • Narmer united the two kingdoms. • He ruled from the city of Memphis, and his kingdom lasted long after his death. (pages 43–44) The Nile Valley A United Egypt (cont.) • Narmer’s descendants passed the ruling power on from father to son to grandson, forming a dynasty. • Ancient Egypt was ruled by 31 dynasties that historians have grouped into three time periods—Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom. (pages 43–44) The Nile Valley EGYPT’S RULING FAMILIES Narmer, also known as Menes, united the Upper and Lower Egypt. He wore a double crown: – White represented Upper Egypt – Red represented Lower Egypt Dynasty: a line of rulers from one family EGYPT’S SOCIAL CLASSES Top: King (pharaoh) and his family The Nile Valley Upper Class: nobles, priests, and other wealthy Egyptians Middle Class: artisans, people who ran businesses and produced goods Farmers made up the largest group of early Egyptians. The city dwellers were unskilled workers who did physical labor. They were at the very bottom. Early Egyptian Life (cont.) The Nile Valley (pages 45–46) Social Hierarchy Pharaoh – Egyptian kings of a centralized state – Claimed to be gods living on earth in human form Bureaucrats – Because the pharaoh was an absolute ruler there was little room for a noble class as in Mesopotamia – Instead professional military forces and an elaborate bureaucracy of administrators and tax collectors served the central government Patriarchal – Vested authority over public and private affairs in men – However, more opportunities for women than in Mesopotamia as evidenced by Queen Hatshepsut reigning as pharaoh Peasants and slaves – Supplied the hard labor that made complex agricultural society possible – Among the slaves were the Hebrews Pharaohs and Queens Who were the Pharaohs? They were the kings or Queens of Egypt. They were the head of the government and high priest of every temple. The pharaoh owned all of Egypt. He or she decided what was right or wrong and their word was law. The people of Egypt considered the pharaoh to be a halfhuman and half-god. Priests Priests were very important people in Egyptian times. Besides serving the gods, priests did many other jobs, such as teaching, or even helping with the harvest. Priests had to be pure and clean. They shaved their heads and bodies and washed four times a day. This statue of a priest has a bald head, a fake beard and he is in the praying position Nobles Court Officials and Noblemen held high office in Ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country. The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land, so that they would earn their own money from taxes. Being a noble was one of the best jobs in Egypt. Nobles were rich and could enjoy themselves hunting and having banquets. Noble on a hunting trip with his family Scribes What is a Scribe? Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how to read and write. Being a scribe was an extremely difficult job because in total, there were hundreds of different hieroglyphs to remember. Scribes were very wise A scribe's job was highly regarded in Ancient Egypt. Although being a scribe was rewarding, the training could take as long as twelve years. This statue of a Scribe was found in his tomb A peasant making papyrus Craftsmen Egyptian craftsmen were highly skilled. They learned their trade from their fathers and, in turn, taught their sons. They used simple techniques and tools to make all sorts of useful things. The Pharaoh, government or temples often employed them. Craftsmen carving statues and ornaments Carpenters using a bow drill Metal workers making precious objects Specialization Brewing and Bread making Sailing Plowing and Sowing Harvesting papyrus and Herding Specialization Nile societies were much slower than their Mesopotamian counterparts to adopt metal tools and weapons Did develop pottery, textile manufacture, woodworking, leather production, stonecutting, and masonry occupations Egyptian pottery makers Specialization Building a pyramid would require – Laborers – Architects – Engineers – Craftsmen – Artists Peasants The most important business in Egypt was farming. Most of the people who worked in the fields and barns were peasants. During the flood season when no farming could be done the peasants did building work on temples and palaces. Peasants herding cattle for the Pharaoh Peasants preparing food for a banquet The Nile Valley FAMILY LIFE Father headed the family. Egyptian women had more rights than most other early civilizations. They could own and pass property. They could buy and sell goods, make wills, and obtain divorces. Mothers taught their daughters household chores. Fathers trained their sons to farm or trade. Mesopotamia and Egypt Mesopotamia Egypt Agriculture +“Land between the rivers” (Tigris and Euphrates forms Fertile Crescent +Artificial irrigation +”Gift of the Nile” +Artificial irrigation Specialization +Pottery, textiles, woodworking, leather, brick making, stonecutting, masonry +Pottery, textiles, woodworking, leather production, stonecutting, masonry Cities -Numerous, densely populated city-states (Ur and Babylon) -Fewer cities with high centralization (Memphis and Thebes) Social Hierarchy -Noble class -Patriarchal +Slaves -Absolute authority of the pharaoh made a noble class unnecessary (had bureaucrats instead) -Patriarchal, but the presence of Queen Hatsheput may indicate greater opportunities for Mesopotamia and Egypt Mesopotamia Egypt Religion and Education -Polytheism -No afterlife -Polytheism, but brief period of monotheism under Akhentan -Afterlife and judgment (mummification) New Technologies -Superior in metallurgy -Papyrus, shipbuilding, pyramids Economic exchange -Trade by land and water -Trade principally by water along the Nile -Trade more important because Egypt lacked natural resources beside the Nile Art and Writing -Cuneiform -Hieroglyphs (more pictorial than cuneiform)