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The Nile River Valley
Settling the Nile
• Earliest Egyptians move into the Nile River Valley from less fertile
areas. They farmed and built villages along the riverbanks.
• ______________– longest river in the world (4,000 miles)
– Used it for water, farming, bathing and fishing
– Narrow green valley in Egypt.
– Nile Delta, fertile area at end of river
Settling the Nile continued
• The ____________, the largest desert in the world, lies west of the
Nile Valley
• Egypt had several natural borders to protect them
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–
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West – Sahara desert
East – Eastern desert
South – dangerous rapids
North – Mediterranean Sea
The River People
• Floods along Nile River predictable. Left behind dark fertile soil
along its banks.
• Farmer grew wheat, barley and flax seeds.
• Irrigation canals
• _____________, a reed plant that grew along the Nile, was used to
make baskets, sandals, and paper.
• __________________ – Egyptian system of writing consisting of
thousands of picture symbols.
• Some Egyptian men learned to read and write – attended schools to
become scribes.
The United Egypt
• Since the people of Egypt had a surplus of food, some people
became artisans instead of farmers.
• Egyptians traded with each other and with others in Mesopotamia
• Strong chiefs united villages into kingdoms. Eventually, stronger
kingdoms overpowered weaker ones.
– Two Kingdoms emerged:
• Lower Egypt
• Upper Egypt
• _________ –united the two kingdoms and ruled from the city
of Memphis.
• His descendants passed the ruling power from father to son
to grandson, forming a _________________.
• Ancient Egypt was ruled by 31 dynasties that historians have
grouped into three time periods: ____________, _______________,
___________________
Early Egyptian Life
Social Class Division
Pharaoh
Upper Class
Ruling Class
clergy,Royal family
Middle Class
Lower Class
Merchants,Artisans,Scribes
Farmers
Slaves
• _____________ had more rights in Egypt than in any other ancient
civilizations
• Women could own property, buy and sell goods, make wills, obtain
divorces.
• Few children went to school in ancient Egypt
• Egyptian girls learned how sew, cook, and run a household. Boys
learned to farm or a skilled trade.
Ch.2 Sec.2
Egypt’s Old Kingdom
Old Kingdom Rulers
• The Old Kingdom lasted from about 2600 B.C. until about 2300 B.C.
• _____________ were all-powerful Egyptian kings who guided every
activity in Egypt.
• Pharaohs appointed officials to carry out their commands
• Pharaohs were the son of ____, the sun god. They thought
pharaohs were gods on earth.
Egypt’s Religion
• Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses, or ______.
These deities controlled every human activity and all natural forces.
• ____ – sun god; _______– god of the Nile River; ______ – god of
fertility
• Egyptians believed in life after death. The Book of the Dead
contained a collection of spells that Egyptians believed they needed
to enter the afterlife.
The Afterlife
•
•
Egyptians believed in the afterlife, or life after death.
Humans as well as some animals had to be prepared for the afterlife
• ____________________ – The process of removing organs and
treating the body with chemicals for preservation.
• Jewelry, tools, weapons, figures, etc. would be place in the tomb so
they could use it in the “next” life.
•The soul of the person deceased would
be weighed against the sacred feather,
symbol for truth.
• _______________ process
Science, Math, and Medicine
• Solar calendar – “________” – star that appeared before the annual flood
• Developed number system based on “____” – Decimal System today
• Diagnosed diseases; created remedies for cures; set broken bones,
wrote the 1st medical book
The Great Pyramids
• Egyptians built ___________ to protect the bodies of dead
pharaohs.
• Pyramids to thousands of people and years of work to complete
• They used astronomy and mathematics to create pyramids.
• While studying the sky, Egyptians developed the 365 day calendar
that we use today.
• The Great Pyramid is the largest pyramid in Egypt. It was built for
King Khufu and it is located near Cairo.
Built during Old Kingdom
Egyptian Tombs
Valley of the Kings
The Middle Kingdom
• Pharaohs lost control of Egypt in about 2300 B.C. A new dynasty of
pharaohs created a capital at _________. This began the Middle
Kingdom.
• A time of stability, prosperity and achievement
• Arts, literature and architecture blossomed.
• Middle Kingdom ended when the ________ attacked and conquered
Egypt.
• Egyptian prince _________ led a revolt to drive the Hyksos out of
Egypt
The New Kingdom
• Egypt grew richer and more powerful.
• _______________was one of the few women rulers.
• Trade grew during her rule. Beads, tools, wood, ivory and incense
were traded.
• _________________became pharaoh after Hatshepsut died. Egypt
conquered more land and became even richer.
• Slavery was very common. They did have some rights: could own
land, marry, and eventually gain freedom
Legacy of Two Pharaohs
• Amenhotep IV (___________ ) came to power in 1370 B.C.
• He felt priest were gaining too much power. He introduced a new
religion with one god. Priests who do not follow were removed from
power.
• Most refused to follow new religion.
• Hittites invaded and greatly reduced their power.
• _____________, a.k.a. King Tut, ruled for only 9 years – “Boy King”
– Took power after Akhenaton died
Treasures of Tutankhamen (8 min)
Discovered by British Archaeologist Howard Carter
Died at 20 years of age
Sarcophagus
The End of the New Kingdom
• _______________was one of the most powerful rulers of all of
Egypt.
• Under his rule, many temples were built
• After Ramses II died, Egyptian influence began to decline.
• Egypt was attacked by neighboring groups – Libyans, Kush and
finally the Assyrians
The Civilization of Kush
• Region of ________, later known as Kush, was located south of
Egypt on the Nile River
• The 1st people to arrive in Nubia were cattle herders who grazed on
the _____________.
• More powerful Nubian villages took control of weaker ones, and the
kingdom of __________ was created.
• Egypt invaded Kerma, eventually taking it over.
The Rise of Kush
• Nubians broke away from Egypt and formed their own kingdom
called __________.
• Ruled from the city of Napata, which was located on the upper Nile
River.
• A king named __________ and his son, Piye conquered Egypt in
728 B.C.
• The __________ later invaded Egypt and forced out the Kushites.
• Kusk moved their ruling city south to the city of Meroe – important
iron working city (learned from the Assyrians)
• The kingdom of _______ overthrew Kush and burned it to the
ground.
Kushite Empire
700B.C.