EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

The Gift of the Nile

LESSON ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What were the main features and
acheivements of Egypts three kingdoms?
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom New Kingdom
THE IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHY
The Nile is the longest river in the world flowing
northward from the heart of Africa to the
Mediterranean Sea
The Nile splits into 2 major branches before
reaching the Mediterranean, forming a triangular
territory, also known as a delta
The Nile Delta is also called Lower Egypt
Egypts important cities developed
The land upstream, to the south, is called Upper
Egypt
THE IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHY (CONT)
The most important feature of the Nile is its
yearly flooding
Very predictable
Left mud and silt creating an area of rich soil
Black Land
Served as a unifying factor in Egypt
Fastest way to travel
Made transportation and communication easier

THE IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHY (CONT)
Egypt was blessed by natural barriers which
lessened the threat of invasion
Deserts to the east and west
Red Sea to the East
Rapids on the southern part of the Nile
Mediterranean Sea to the North
The regularity of the floods and relative isolation
of the Egyptians created a feeling of security
and changelessness
Confidence in stability and continuity


THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Explain how flooding patterns of rivers in
Egypt and Mesopotamia caused the two
civilizations to develop differently.
Flooding patterns were regular in Egypt, leading
to a feeling of stability. The flooding in
Mesopotamia was unpredictable, leading to a
belief that the world was at the mercy of harsh
and unreliable gods
THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION
Religion helped provide a sense of security
polytheistic
2 groups of gods had special importance
Sun god- Atum/Re
Sun was worshipped as the source of life
Ruler was called Son of Re, the sun god in earthly from
Land Gods- Osiris and Isis
Osiris- important role as a symbol of rebirth
Led Egyptians to place dead in tombs to await rebirth
Isis- symbolized new life brought by the floods each year


THE COURSE OF EGYPTIAN HISTORY
Historians have divided Egyptian history into three
major periods
Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom
These periods were characterized by long-term
stability marked by strong leadership, freedom from
invasion, the building of temples and pyramids, and
considerable intellectual and cultural activity
Between these periods were intermediate periods,
periods of chaos and invasion
THE COURSE OF EGYPTIAN HISTORY (CONT)
Begins around 3100 BC
King Menes
United the villages of Upper and Lower Egypt
into a single kingdom and created the first
dynasty- a family of rulers whose right to rule is
passed on within the family
THE OLD KINGDOM
2700-2200 BC
Age of prosperity and splendor
Egyptian pharaohs (rulers) possessed absolute
power- complete unlimited power to rule their people
However, did have help in ruling
Bureaucracy
Administrative organization with officials and regular
procedures
Vizier- steward of the whole land
Directly responsible to the pharoah
In charge of the government bureaucracy


THE OLD KINGDOM (CONT)
Tombs were well prepared for their residents
Stocked with all necessities for life
Egyptians believed humans had two bodies, one
physical and one spiritual (ka)
Believed even though the physical body was dead,
the ka could return and continue its life as long as
the physical body was properly preserved and tomb
was furnished with objects of regular life
Mummification- slowly drying a dead body to
prevent it from rotting

THE PYRAMIDS
Building of pyramids occurred during the Old
Kingdom
Built as part of a larger complex of buildings
dedicated to the dead
Large pyramid- pharaohs burial
Smaller pyramids- pharaohs family
Mastabas ( rectangular structures with flat roofs)-
pharaohs officials

THE GREAT PYRAMID
Built under King Khufu at Giza around 2540
BC
Took more than 20 years to complete
Built with incredible precision
Guarded by the Great Sphinx
240 feet long, 66 feet high
Face thought to be of Khafre, Khufus son
Largest pyramid ever built
Could be seen for miles and served to remind
people of the glory, might, and wealth of the ruler
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM
2050-1652
Egypt began a period of expansion
Conquered Nubia; Sent armies to Palestine and Syria
Sent traders to Kush, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Crete
New concern of the pharaohs for the people
Pharaohs portrayed as the shepherd of his people
Expected to build public works and provide for the public welfare
Pharaohs undertook many helpful projects
Drained swampland in Nile Delta
Provided thousands of acres of new farmland
Dug canal linking Nile River to Red Sea
Aided transportation and trade
THE MIDDLE KINGDOM (CONT)
The Middle Kingdom ended around 1652 BC,
when it was invaded by the Hyskos
Western Asia
Used horse-drawn war chariots
Egyptians fought from donkey cart
Egyptians learned a great deal from the Hyskos
Learned to use bronze in making farm tools and
weapons
Mastered many of the military skills of the Hyskos
Horse-drawn chariots
THE NEW KINGDOM
1567-1085 BC
Egypt created an empire and became the
most powerful state in Southwest Asia
Massive wealth boosted the power of the
New Kingdom Pharaohs
Showed wealth by building new temples
Hatshepsut-first woman pharaoh

THE NEW KINGDOM (CONT)
Amenhotep IV introduced the worship of
Aton, god of the sun disk as the sole god
Changed his name to Akhenaton (it is well with
Aton)
Closed temples of other gods
Tutankhamen (Akhenatons son) restored the
old gods
Become pharaoh at age of 9 and ruled for 10
years before his death

THE NEW KINGDOM (CONT)
Akhenatons religious revolution caused
upheavals that led to a loss of Egypts empire
Under Ramses II (1279-1213 BC), the
Egyptians regained control of Palestine but
were unable to reestablish the borders of their
earlier empire
New invasions in the thirteenth century BC by
the Sea People drove the Egyptians back
within their old frontier, and ended the Egyptian
Empire
The New Kingdom collapsed in 1085 BC
Egypt was dominated by Libyans, Nubians,
Persians, and Macedonians for the next 1000 years
THINK-PAIR-SHARE
What were the major differences between the
Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the
New Kingdom?
Old- divine rulers, built pyramids
Middle- pharaohs concerned about people,
expanded
New- militaristic, created an empire, religious
upheavals
READING ACTIVITY
Read the Section titled Society in Ancient
Egypt.
After reading make a graphic organizer to list
the different social classes and the
contributions each made to society.
DAILY LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT
Very positive attitude
Married young and monogamous (one wife)
Arranged marriages
Purpose was to produce children, especially
sons
The husband was master of the house
Wives were respected, in charge of the
household and the education of the children
Marriages could end in divorce
Compensation for the wife

WRITING AND EDUCATION
Writing emerged around 3000BC
Hieroglyphics- priest-carvings or sacred
writings
Used for painting on temple walls and in tombs
Very complex
Used both pictures and abstract forms
Took much time to learn
Hieratic script- a highly simplified form used fro
business transactions, record keeping, and
general needs of daily life
WRITING AND EDUCATION
Hieroglyphs were first carved in stone
Hieratic script was written on papyrus
Scribes-masters of the art of writing
Taught reading and writing
At age of 10, boys in upper classes went to
schools run by scribes
Took many years to become a scribe
Learned to read and write by copying texts
ACHEIVEMENTS IN ARTS AND SCIENCES
Pyramids, temples, and other monuments are some of
the artistic achievements of the Egyptians
Also made advances in mathematics
Helped in building massive monuments
Able to calculate area and volume and used geometry to
calculate flooded area
Developed an accurate 365 day calendar
Based on movement of the moon, as well as the bright star
Sirius, which rises in the sky just before annual flooding of the
Nile
Medical advancements
Embalming
Directions for using splints, bandages, and compresses for
treating fractures, wounds, and disease

EXIT TICKET
Using your notes and the book, answer the
following question.

What were the main features and
achievements of Egypts three
kingdoms?