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Pyramids on the Nile
Objectives:
1.
Summarize the effect of geography on the development of Egyptian
culture.
2.
Explain how Egypt united into a kingdom.
3.
Describe ancient Egyptian religion, social structure, and technology.
4.
Explain the decline of the Old Kingdom.
The Geography of Egypt
 Egypt’s settlements
arose along the Nile
river
 The river made the
dry desert fertile for
farming
 Yearly flooding also
contributed to rich
soil
 Provided ease of
transportation
A tomb relief depicts workers plowing the
fields, harvesting the crops, and threshing
the grain under the direction of an overseer.
Environmental Challenges
 Reduced flooding
led to agricultural
failure
 Over flooding
destroyed houses
and granaries
 The vast deserts on
either side of the
Nile acted as a
barrier to other
cultures
 Implications?
Egypt is often referred to as the gift of
the Nile. How does this picture
illustrate that?
The Rule of Ancient Egypt
 The region along the
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southern part of the Nile was
known as Upper Egypt due
to its elevation
Lower Egypt was the region
along the northern portion of
the Nile
For years, Egyptian villages
lived under the rule of two
separate kingdoms, Upper
and Lower Egypt
Eventually the two kingdoms were united under King
Narmer
Unification occurred around 3000 B.C.
Established the capitol at Memphis, where the two kingdoms
met
 Why?
Pharaohs Rule as Gods
Pharaoh – King of Egypt
Viewed as living gods
Established a theocracy
Theocracy – Type of
government in which rule
is based on religious
authority
 Egyptians believed that
their king ruled even after
death
 Pyramid – Structure
designed to serve as a
tomb for deceased
pharaohs
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Egyptian wall painting of the gods Ra
and Osiris.
Egyptian Culture
 Egyptians were polytheistic
 Egyptians believed in the afterlife
Weighing of the soul
 Royal and elite Egyptians would have
their bodies preserved
 Mummification – Embalming and
drying of a corpse to prevent decaying

Anubis was the ancient Egyptian god associated
with mummification and burial rituals; here, he
attends to a mummy.
Tutankhamun coffinette and mummy.
Life in Egyptian Society
 Egyptian Social Classes
Egyptian society formed a
pyramid
 Royalty at the top, peasants at
the bottom
 Social mobility
 Women had many rights
 Egyptian Writing
 Hieroglyphics – Form of
pictographic writing
 Papyrus – Reeds used to
make a paper like sheet
 Egyptian Science and
Technology
 Calendar
 Mathematics
 Architecture
 Medicine

Egyptian hieroglyphics.