Chapter 11 Section 1 Geography and Early Egypt

 The water and fertile soils of the Nile Valley enabled a great civilization to develop in Egypt.

 Egypt was called the gift of the Nile because the Nile River was so important.  Civilization developed after people began farming along the Nile River.  Strong kings unified all of Ancient Egypt.

 Nile River- important river in Egypt  Upper Egypt- southern part of Egypt  Lower Egypt- northern part of Egypt  Cataracts- river rapids  Delta-a triangle-shaped area of land made from soil deposited by a river  Pharaoh- ruler of ancient Egypt, literally means “great house”  Dynasty- series of rulers from the same family

 The Nile River is the longest river in the world.  It helped Egyptians to THRIVE! The civilization of ancient Egypt developed along a 750-mile stretch of the Nile.

 Ancient Egypt included two regions, southern and northern. Southern Egypt was called Upper Egypt because it was upriver in relation to the Nile’s flow. North Egypt, or Lower Egypt, was downriver.

 South of Egypt, rocky terrain caused cataracts, or rapids, to form. The first cataract marked the southern border of Upper Egypt. Five more cataracts lay farther south.

< Lower Falls in December 2013 Upper Falls in December 2013 >

 In Lower Egypt, the Nile divided into several branches that fanned out and flowed into the Mediterranean Sea. These branches formed DELTAS. Two-thirds of Egypt’s fertile farmland was located in the Nile Delta.

 Each year rainfall south of Egypt caused floods in Upper Egypt in mid-summer and in Lower Egypt in the fall. The Nile’s flooding coated the land around it with a rich silt. Without the Nile’s regular flooding, people never could have farmed in Egypt.

 Hunter-gatherers first moved to the Nile Valley 12,000 years ago.  By 4500 BC farmers living in small villages grew wheat and barley.  Over time farmers in Egypt developed an irrigation system.  Egyptians enjoyed a varied diet, with wheat, barley, fruits, vegetables, cattle, sheep, fish, wild geese, and ducks.

 Egypt’s location had natural barriers, which made it hard to invade Egypt. To the west, the desert was too big and harsh to cross. To the north, the Mediterranean Sea kept many enemies away. To the east, more desert and the Red Sea were barriers. To the south, Nile cataracts made sailing into Egypt hard.

Too Harsh to cross Sea kept enemies away Barriers Difficult to sail into

 Villages grew– wealthy farmers became village leaders– strong leaders controlled several villages– villages banded together to form two kingdoms.

 Capital of Lower Egypt was Pe in the Nile Delta  Capital of Upper Egypt was Nekhen on the Nile’s west bank.

 According to tradition, Menes rose to power in Upper Egypt around 3100 BC. Invaded Lower Egypt and married one of their princesses to unify the two kingdoms. Many consider Menes to be Egypt’s first pharaoh. Founded Egypt’s first dynasty. Built a new capital city, Memphis, at the southern tip of the Nile Delta.

 Egypt’s first dynasty lasted for about 200 years.  In time, some 30 dynasties would rule ancient Egypt over a span of more than 2500 years.