Ancient Egypt: an Overview

Geography Egypt is located in northeastern Africa The Nile River runs the length of the country flowing south to north The river begins in the mountains of Africa and empties into the Mediterranean Sea The climate is hot and dry, part of the Sahara Desert

Geography Ancient Egypt was divided into two regions: Upper and Lower Egypt Lower (northern) Egypt consisted of the Nile River's delta made by the river as it empties into the Mediterranean. Upper Egypt was the long, narrow strip of ancient Egypt located south of the Delta.

The Nile River The Nile was the lifeblood of ancient Egypt It made life possible in the otherwise barren desert of Egypt. It is the longest river in the world (over 4,000 miles). It served as a source of food for the people of ancient Egypt It was the major source of water for bathing and drinking The Nile was crucial for farming

Blue Nile

White Nile

White & Blue Nile Meet in Sudan

Floodplain

The low strip of fertile land located on either side of the Nile River The river flooded during the annual inundation When the inundation subsided, it left the earth soaked and overlaid with a fresh layer of black silt. Most of the farming occurred here

Nile Delta Located in northern Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and empties into the Mediterranean Sea 240 km of coastline, 106 km in length Rich agricultural region Most fertile soil in Africa

Great Sahara Desert

Bordered on the south, east and west by the Sahara Desert, and on the north by the sea, ancient Egypt was protected from outside influences.

Facts About the Nile River Length4,184 miles 2 SourcesLake Victoria, Uganda (White Nile); Lake Tana, Ethiopia (Blue Nile) MouthMediterranean Sea, off Egypt Countries Flows Through Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi Name OriginGreek word Nelios, which means "River Valley"

Religion Belief that many gods and goddesses ruled the world and the afterlife Amon-Re: sun god Osiris: god of the underworld and of the Nilegods and goddesses The pharaoh was believed to be a god as well as a ruler Falcon Headed Sun God

Religion Belief in eternal life after death. Relied on the Book of the Dead to help them through the afterworld. Practiced mummification, the preservation of the body for use in the next life.

Book of the Dead Collection of spells, hymns, and prayers intended to secure a safe passage to the underworld for the deceased

Writing Making paper from papyrus

What is hieroglyphics? Hieroglyphics is the picture writing used in ancient Egypt. The word hieroglyphics is made up of two Greek words - hieros, which means sacred, and glyphe, which means carving. The Egyptian hieroglyphic writing system consists of several hundred picture signs. The signs can be divided into two classes, phonograms and ideograms

Phonograms represent sounds, much as alphabet letters do. Ideograms are signs that represent whole words or concepts.

Pyramids

The Great Sphinx

Mythology Egyptian goddess Isis, tomb painting, ca BC.

HIGH PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES Served gods and goddesses PHARAOH Earthly leader; considered a god NOBLES Fought pharaoh’s wars MERCHANTS, SCRIBES, AND ARTISANS Made furniture, jewelry, and fabrics for pharaohs and nobles, and provided for other needs PEASANT FARMERS AND SLAVES Worked in the fields and served the pharaoh Social Classes 2

Daily Life The Egyptians - Daily Life Daily Life in Ancient Egypt