Download Chapter 8 - TeacherWeb

Chapter 4
Key Terms & Ideas
cataracts
delta
Section 1: Geography of Early Egypt
Notes


Menes

pharaoh
dynasty
The Gift of the Nile




Civilization Develops
in Egypt


Kings Unify Egypt



Summary
rapids
a triangle-shaped area of land made from soil deposited by a
river
3100 BC he rose to power, some think he is a myth. Wanted
to unify Upper and Lower Egypt, first pharaoh
the title used by the rulers of Egypt
series of rulers from the same family
Location and Physical Features
o The Nile is the longest river in the world, 4,000
miles
o 750-mile stretch of the Nile is in Egypt
o Upper Egypt is in the North and Lower Egypt is in
the South, the Nile runs North
o Fertile river valley along the Nile about 13 miles
wide
The Floods of the Nile
o Most of Egypt was a desert
o Flood rains came from East Africa, which caused the
Nile to flood
o Coated the land with rich silt
o Called the silt land Black Land and the desert Red
Land
Increased Food Production
o 4500 BC farmers in the Nile grew wheat and barley
o Developed irrigation system, series of canals
o Raised animals, fished, hunted birds
Two Kingdoms
o Protected from all sides from invasion by natural
barriers, deserts, seas, and cataracts (rapids)
o Because of the protected villages, Egypt grew
wealthy
o 3200 BC two kingdoms had grown and banded
together, Upper (capital Pe, cone-shaped red crown)
and Lower Egypt (capital Nekhen cone-shaped white
crown)
Menes (3100 BC) army invaded Lower Egypt and then he
married a princess from Lower Egypt
Combined the two crowns into one, Menes became the first
pharaoh of Egypt
Expanded the Egyptian territory southward along the Nile.