Download The Old Kingdom - White Plains Public Schools

The Old Kingdom
In this lesson, students will identify
characteristics of the Old Kingdom of
ancient Egyptian history.
Students will be able to define and/or
identify the following terms:
Lower Egypt
Upper Egypt
Dynasty
Pharaoh
Pyramid
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Ancient Egypt consisted of two regions:
Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt.
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Lower Egypt was located near the
Mediterranean Sea. It was northern
Egypt.
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The people of Lower Egypt lived near
the Nile Delta. A delta is the mouth of
a river where it flows to the sea.
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The Nile delta valley was very fertile.
The people of Lower Egypt were able
to farm and produce agricultural surplus.
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Upper Egypt was located in southern
Egypt. Upper Egypt had its own kingdom.
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Lower and Upper Egypt Unite
• The people of Upper Egypt (southern
Egypt) began to build large irrigation
projects.
• Irrigation is the process of bringing water
from the rivers to the neighboring farms.
• In order to finish these irrigation projects,
the people of Upper Egypt needed to work
together with the people of Lower Egypt.
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Around 3100 B.C., a ruler united Upper
Egypt and Lower Egypt.
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Dynasty
• A dynasty is a ruling family.
• There were many dynasties in ancient
Egypt.
• The Pharaoh was the head of the dynasty.
He was considered a divine ruler or a god.
• The Egyptians believed in many gods.
They were polytheistic.
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During the period of the ancient Egyptian
Old Kingdom, Pharaohs were buried in
Pyramids.
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The ancient Egyptians built pyramids or
tombs for their deceased rulers.
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The Old Kingdom lasted from
3100 B.C. to 2186 B.C.
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The ancient Egyptians mummified their
deceased Pharaohs. Believing in an
afterlife, mummification preserved the
Pharaoh’s body.
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Questions for Reflection:
• Where was Lower Egypt located?
• Where was Upper Egypt located?
• Why did Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
unite?
• Define dynasty, Pharaoh, divine ruler,
mummification, and polytheism.
• Why did the people of the Old Kingdom
mummify their deceased Pharaohs and
build pyramids? E. Napp