Ancient Egypt The Gift of the Nile

The Impact of Geography The Nile is the longest river in the world, over 4,000 miles long. It begins at Lake Victoria and runs north through the Sahara Desert to the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in the world, over 4,000 miles long. It begins at Lake Victoria and runs north through the Sahara Desert to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Impact of Geography (continued) The northern part is called Lower Egypt and the southern part is Upper Egypt. The northern part is called Lower Egypt and the southern part is Upper Egypt. The Nile floods annually. Irrigation systems were built. A machine called a shadoof was used to lift the water out of the river. The Nile floods annually. Irrigation systems were built. A machine called a shadoof was used to lift the water out of the river.

The Impact of Geography (continued) The Nile was used for transportation, becoming a unifying force in Egypt. The Nile was used for transportation, becoming a unifying force in Egypt. Egypt was protected by desert, the Mediterranean and Red Seas and cataracts (rapids) along the Nile. Egypt was protected by desert, the Mediterranean and Red Seas and cataracts (rapids) along the Nile.

The Importance of Religion Egypt was polytheistic. One of the main gods was the sun god, Atum or Re (also called Amon- Ra). The main temple to Amon-Ra was at Karnak, near Thebes. Egypt was polytheistic. One of the main gods was the sun god, Atum or Re (also called Amon- Ra). The main temple to Amon-Ra was at Karnak, near Thebes. The pharaoh (“Great House”) was the king of Egypt and believed to be the son of Re. The pharaoh (“Great House”) was the king of Egypt and believed to be the son of Re. Two land and river gods were Osiris and Isis. They were husband and wife. Isis brought Osiris back to life after his brother Seth killed him and cut him into 14 pieces. Two land and river gods were Osiris and Isis. They were husband and wife. Isis brought Osiris back to life after his brother Seth killed him and cut him into 14 pieces.

The Temple at Karnak The Temple at Karnak Obelisk at Karnak

The Book of the Dead The Book of the Dead was a description of the ancient Egyptian conception of the afterlife and a collection of hymns, spells, and instructions to allow the deceased to pass through obstacles in the afterlife. The Book of the Dead was a description of the ancient Egyptian conception of the afterlife and a collection of hymns, spells, and instructions to allow the deceased to pass through obstacles in the afterlife. A solar ship was to take pharaohs to heaven. A solar ship was to take pharaohs to heaven. The bodies would be embalmed for the afterlife and the book of the dead was most commonly written on a papyrus scroll and placed in the coffin or burial chamber of the deceased. The bodies would be embalmed for the afterlife and the book of the dead was most commonly written on a papyrus scroll and placed in the coffin or burial chamber of the deceased.

Egyptian History Three periods: Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. Three periods: Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms BC, Menes became the first pharaoh when he united Lower and Upper Egypt creating the first Egyptian dynasty, family of rulers. There were 30 separate dynasties of Egypt BC, Menes became the first pharaoh when he united Lower and Upper Egypt creating the first Egyptian dynasty, family of rulers. There were 30 separate dynasties of Egypt. The ancient capital of Egypt was Thebes. The ancient capital of Egypt was Thebes.

The Old Kingdom, 2700 – 2200 BC. (Pyramid Age) A bureaucracy developed to help the pharaoh rule. The vizier was second in command only to pharaoh with the governor of each of the 42 provinces reporting to him. A bureaucracy developed to help the pharaoh rule. The vizier was second in command only to pharaoh with the governor of each of the 42 provinces reporting to him. The pyramids and mummification developed during the Old Kingdom. The pyramids and mummification developed during the Old Kingdom. The mummy of Ramses the Great has remained intact for 3,000 years. Symbols of Osiris decorate his coffin. The mummy of Ramses the Great has remained intact for 3,000 years. Symbols of Osiris decorate his coffin.

Rise of the Old Kingdom - The Third Dynasty of Egypt was the first truly notable Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. - Under Djoser( ) Egypt began to prosper. - His vizier (highest ranked official) Imhotep, controlled all of Djoser's official business.

The Old Kingdom - art, technology and architecture flourished in the time of the Old Kingdom. - During the reign of Djoser, the first pyramid; the Step Pyramid, was ordered to be built. - It was built in the Necropolis of Memphis, known as Sakkara.

The Old Kingdom -The Fourth Dynasty of Egypt presided over it's Golden Age. - Sneferu ( ) was the Pharaoh that began the great age of the Pyramids. - Sneferu ordered the building of three pyramids; a collapsed pyramid at Meidum, the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid at North Dahshur.

The Old Kingdom - Sneferu's son, Khufu reigned after Sneferu's death, and ordered the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx built. - The Fifth Dynasty took over, and initiated reforms to weaken the Pharaoh and it caused the downfall of the Old Kingdom.

The Old Kingdom, 2700 – 2200 BC. The Great Pyramid at Giza (also spelled Gizeh) was the tomb for King Khofu (Cheops). The base of the pyramid covers 13 acres. The Great Sphinx is there to guard site. The Great Pyramid at Giza (also spelled Gizeh) was the tomb for King Khofu (Cheops). The base of the pyramid covers 13 acres. The Great Sphinx is there to guard site. This was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The Sphinx at Giza

The Bent Pyramid at Sakkara The Step Pyramid at Sakkara

The Middle Kingdom, 2050 – 1652 BC. (Golden Age) Egypt’s Golden Age. Egypt’s Golden Age. Egypt expanded south into Nubia. Egypt expanded south into Nubia. Egypt sets up trade with Mesopotamia and Crete. Egypt sets up trade with Mesopotamia and Crete.

The Middle Kingdom, 2050 – 1652 BC. (continued) -Following the downfall of the Old Kingdom, the vivizer turned Pharaoh Amenemhat I presided over the rebuilding over the empire. -There was a resurgence of art, architecture and literature.

The Middle Kingdom, 2050 – 1652 BC. (continued) -Amenemhat I moved the capital from Thebes to Itjtawy. -The last Pharaoh Amenemhat III allowed settlers from Asia in. - The Middle Kingdom fell due to inadequate flooding and over ambitious building projects, nearly bankrupting the country.

The Middle Kingdom, 2050 – 1652 BC. (continued) – The pharaoh is seen as the shepherd of the people and was expected to provide for their welfare. Swamps were drained and a canal built to connect the Nile River and the Red Sea. – The Hyksos from Western Asia invaded and took over Egypt using bronze weapons and chariots.

The New Kingdom, 1564 – 1085 BC. The New Kingdom was very wealthy. The New Kingdom was very wealthy. The first woman pharaoh, Hatshepsut, began the building of temples. The first woman pharaoh, Hatshepsut, began the building of temples.

The New Kingdom, 1564 – 1085 BC. (continued) Amenhotep (Akhenaton) tried to make Egypt monotheistic and worship only Aton, but Tutankhamen restored the old gods. Amenhotep (Akhenaton) tried to make Egypt monotheistic and worship only Aton, but Tutankhamen restored the old gods. National Geographic rendition of how King Tut would have looked King Tutankhamen holding the symbols of power, a shepherd’s hook and a scourge.

The New Kingdom, 1564 – 1085 BC. (continued) Ramses II, or Ramses the Great ( BC), regained territory lost by Akhenaton and built many temples with his likeness. Ramses II, or Ramses the Great ( BC), regained territory lost by Akhenaton and built many temples with his likeness. The New Kingdom fell by invasions of the “Sea People”. For the next 1,000 years Egypt was ruled by Libyans, Nubians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. The New Kingdom fell by invasions of the “Sea People”. For the next 1,000 years Egypt was ruled by Libyans, Nubians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans.

The New Kingdom, 1564 – 1085 BC. (continued) Cleopatra VII tried to win independence for Egypt with an alliance to Rome, but this brought defeat, her suicide and Roman rule. Cleopatra VII tried to win independence for Egypt with an alliance to Rome, but this brought defeat, her suicide and Roman rule.

Achievements in Writing, Arts and Science Hieroglyphics (picture writing) and papyrus (paper made of reeds). Hieroglyphics (picture writing) and papyrus (paper made of reeds). Scribes were the priests specializing in writing. Scribes were the priests specializing in writing. The Egyptian had a solar calendar of 365 days. The Egyptian had a solar calendar of 365 days.

The Rosetta Stone It was created in 196 BC, discovered by the French in 1799 at Rosetta, a harbor on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt, and contributed greatly to the decipherment of hieroglyphic writing in 1822 by the French scholar Jean- François Champollion. It was created in 196 BC, discovered by the French in 1799 at Rosetta, a harbor on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt, and contributed greatly to the decipherment of hieroglyphic writing in 1822 by the French scholar Jean- François Champollion.

Achievements in Writing, Arts and Science Experts in anatomy and in treating wounds. Experts in anatomy and in treating wounds. A false toe made of out of wood and leather was found on a 3,000-year-old mummified body of an Egyptian noblewoman

Achievements in Writing, Arts and Science Advances in geometry, calculating area and volume. Advances in geometry, calculating area and volume.

Distinctive art style.

Conclusion Because of the Rosetta Stone and recent discoveries, the study of Ancient Egypt (Egyptology) is one of the most exciting fields in archeology and anthropology. Because of the Rosetta Stone and recent discoveries, the study of Ancient Egypt (Egyptology) is one of the most exciting fields in archeology and anthropology.