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Egypt Geography • Nile River – 4,100 miles long, flows northward from eastern central Africa • The Nile is the longest river in the world! • Every year in July the river flooded REGULARLY leaving behind rich soil. Geography Continued • Forbidding Deserts on either side of the Nile = Natural barriers • Ancient Greek historian Herodotus called Egypt “the gift of the Nile.” Environmental Challenges • If the Nile flood was just a few feet lower than normal, the amount of silt and water for crops was greatly reduced. (Many people starved.) • If the Nile flood was higher that usual, it destroyed houses, granaries, and seeds for the new crop. • The vast deserts on either side of the Nile acted as natural barriers protected Egypt from invaders and limited contact with other peoples. Environmental Challenges Ancient Egyptians’ solution Nile flooded too low They created machines to raise the water from the Nile to the fields Nile flooded too high They built dams around cities and dikes on the side of the river to keep flood water out of certain areas. Vast deserts on either side of the Nile The Egyptians used the Nile to travel down to the Mediterranean and up to the first cataract to trade. The deserts protected the Egyptians from invasion. • Ancient Egyptians lived along the Nile from its delta well into the interior of Africa. • River travel was common, but could only travel as far south as the first cataract (area of churning rapids in the river) Transportation on the Nile • The Nile provided a reliable system of transportation between upper and lower Egypt. The Nile flows north, so northbound boats simply drifted with the current. The prevailing winds in Egypt flow from north to south. Boats wishing to sail south would hoist their sails and allow the wind to power them up the river. Upper and Lower Egypt • Egypt contained two very different regions: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. • Because its elevation is higher, the area in the south is referred to as Upper Egypt. The fertile land is only a narrow strip very near the Nile. • The area closer to the mouth of the Nile is lower and marshier. The Nile river fans out into a delta and the area of fertile becomes much wider. Lower Egypt Upper Egypt Egypt Unites • The kingdoms of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt were united by either a king named Scorpion or a king named Narmer around 3000 BCE. (The most solid evidence points to Narmer.) Narmer: • Established a capital, Memphis • Established first Egyptian Dynasty • United Upper and Lower Egypt The crown above and to the left is the crown of Upper Egypt. The crown above and in the middle is the crown of Lower Egypt. The crown to the right shows the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Pharaohs • Egyptian kings were called pharaohs • The Egyptians viewed their pharaohs the same as the gods –KINGS WERE GODS • Stood as center of religion as well as government and army • Type of Government is a Theocracy Theocracy – a type of government in which rule is based on religious authority. Pyramids • Egyptians believed their kings ruled even after death. • For the kings of the Old Kingdom, the resting place after death was a pyramid. • Pyramids demonstrate the Old Kingdom dynasties had developed the economic strength, leadership, government organization and technologies to support massive public works projects. Trade • By 3200 BC, Egyptians were trading with the Mesopotamians • Also traded up and down the Nile –Gold –Ivory –Cattle –Granite blocks Religion • Polytheistic • 2,000 gods and goddesses • Built huge temples to honor gods • Believed in afterlife –Osiris – god of the dead Social • Very different from the citystates of Mesopotamia • Egypt’s united kingdom allowed –High degree of unity –Stability –Cultural continuity (staying the same) Life in Egyptian Society Pharaoh, Queen, royal family (Royal Advisor) Priests Wealthy landowners, Government Officials Traders/Merchants Ordinary Citizens Slaves Intellectual • Early writing was a form of pictographs, but scribes developed hieroglyphics (which comes from the Greek for sacred carving) • Originally written on stone, but developed papyrus, a paper-like substance made from reeds. • Developed a calendar to keep track of the time between floods and when to plant. • Developed written numbers for recording taxes –Addition, subtraction • Used geometry to survey land after the floods. • Built pyramids, palaces, stone columns • Most advanced medicine in the ancient world – could take pulse, set bones, had effective treatments for wounds and fevers, also performed surgery to treat some conditions. History • The history of Egypt is broken down into three major periods known as the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. • Periods known for peace, productivity and longterm stability. • The Intermediate periods were known for political chaos and invasion. The Old Kingdom (2700 - 2200 B.C.E.) • Many of the greatest and largest pyramids were built during this time period. • The title of pharaoh was given to the leader of Egypt. • Egypt was divided into 42 provinces, which were run by governors appointed by the pharaoh. The Middle Kingdom (2050 - 1652 B.C.E.) • Followed a 150 year period of chaos. • This period was marked by expansion of the empire. • The period was also known for compassionate pharaohs. • Public works projects replaced pyramid and idol construction. The New Kingdom (1567 - 1085 B.C.E.) • The Hyksos, using war chariots defeated the Egyptians and ruled for 100 years prior to the New Kingdom. • The New Kingdom was a period of military expansion and construction. Egyptian and Nubian Empires (Chapter 4, Section 1) • Several weak pharaohs and power struggles between rival nobles caused a decline in the prosperity of the Middle Kingdom, Egypt descended into war and violence. • Because Egypt was weak, the northern and central regions fell to Hyksos invaders. The Hyksos were from the land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea and were probably of mixed heritage. • The Hyksos used chariots in their warfare (War chariots were unknown to the Egyptians.) • Historians believe that sometime during this period Hebrews settled in Egypt. • Around 1600 B.C.E. a series of warlike Pharaohs began to restore Egypt’s power. These rulers forced the Hyksos out of Egypt and pursued them across the Sinai peninsula into modern day Palestine. • Scholars believe that the Hebrews remained in Egypt and were forced into slavery. The Hebrews didn’t leave Egypt until sometime between 1500 and 1200 BCE. The New Kingdom of Egypt • After the chaos, New Kingdom Pharaohs became conquerors using an army of infantry soldiers, charioteers using two-wheeled chariots, and archers. • Unlike other pharaohs of the period, Hatshepsut encouraged trade instead of war. – She sent a trading expedition to Punt (Somalia) that brought back myrrh, frankincense, fragrant oil, gold, ivory, and unusual plants and animals. • Hatshepsut’s stepson, Thutmose III, led a number of victorious invasions into Palestine and Syria, and his armies pushed south into Nubia (south of Egypt along the Nile River). • Egypt became incredibly powerful and rich during the New Kingdom. • The Egyptian incursion into Palestine brought them into conflict with the Hittites • The Hittites had moved into Asia Minor around 1900 BCE and had expanded south into Palestine. • After several battles the Egypt Pharaoh Ramses II and the Hittite king signed a peace treaty. • Pharaohs of the New Kingdom built grand buildings. • In fear of grave robbers, these Pharaohs dug their splendid tombs beneath cliffs in the Valley of the Kings. • Shortly after the death of Ramses II, strong civilizations arose and the entire eastern Mediterranean suffered a wave of invasions. • Both the Egyptian empire and the Hittites were attacked by invaders referred to as the “Sea Peoples” that caused great destruction. • The Sahara to the west no longer protected Egypt and it was repeated raided by Libyans. • The Libyan invaders established independent dynasties. Libyan Pharaohs ruled Egypt and erected cities, but instead of imposing their own culture, they adopted the Egyptian way of life. • For centuries, Egypt had traded with and dominated Nubia and the Nubian kingdom of Kush which was located less than 600 miles south of the Egyptian city of Thebes. During this time Egyptian armies had invaded and even occupied Kush for brief periods. During these periods Egyptian governors, priests, soldiers, and artists greatly influenced the Nubians. • The Nubian kingdom of Kush became the center for the spread of Egyptian culture into to Kush’s African trading partners. • Kushite princes went to Egypt where they learned Egyptian language, adopted Egyptian culture, and worshiped Egyptian gods. When they returned home they brought back Egyptian culture. • As Egypt fell into a decline, Kush began to emerge as a regional power. • The Kush saw themselves as better guardians of Egyptian values than the Libyans. • In 751 BCE a Kushite king, Piankhi, overthrew the Libyan dynasty that that had ruled Egypt for over 200 years. • He united the entire Nile Valley from the Nile delta in the north to Napata in the south and founded Egypt’s 25th Dynasty The Golden Age of Meroe • In 671 BCE, the Assyrians from SW Asia conquered Egypt and forced the Kushites to retreat south along the Nile • The Kushite royal family moved south to Meroe. • Meroe had abundant mineral resources especially iron ore. They used caravans to take their iron weapons and tools to the Red Sea where they traded extensively with Saudi Arabia and India. • After about 4 centuries of prosperity Meroe began to decline. • Aksum, with a seaport on the Red Sea, began to dominate North African trade. • By 250 CE Aksum had defeated Meroe.