Chapter 4 The nile valley

Essential questions How does the Nile River impact life in ancient Egypt? What innovations affected the people of the Nile Valley? How has trade changed society in ancient Egypt and today?

Key terms Inundation Deity Afterlife Cataract Nation-state dynasty Hieroglyphics Papyrus Pyramid Vizier Heir pharaoh Ceramic Trade route Obelisk Trading network

The gift of the nile As Mesopotamian civilizations flourished, so too did Egypt. Egypt is located in the northeast corner of Africa Egypt is known as “the gift of the Nile.”

The gift of the nile The Importance of the Nile A source of water For transportation Deposited fertile soil The Nile flooded pretty regularly, so Egyptians were able to use its fertile deposits for farming!

A source of new ideas Development of the calendar allowed Egyptians to predict when the Nile River would flood. The Three Seasons: Inundation: fresh supply of kemet from the floodwaters Emergence: the growing season Harvest: time when the crops were ready Crops included: wheat, barley, lettuce, beans, figs, grapes, cucumbers, and flax.

A source of religion The ancient Egyptians believed in many deities, or gods. They used stories to explain why acts of nature took place. Re was the sun god. He was born and died each day. Most Egyptians believed in the afterlife and built tombs.

Making a mummy How do you think mummies were made?

How to make a mummy Making a mummy took about 70 days STEP 1: remove all major organs, EXCEPT the heart. STEP 2: salt the organs and place them into jars. STEP 3: cover the body with powdered salt. STEP 4: rub the dried out body with special oils. STEP 5: wrap the body in linen from head to toe. STEP 6: place in the tomb with special items they will need in the afterlife.

A Source of Unity Most of the farming settlements developed between the delta and the first of six cataracts. Upper and Lower Egypt was united by King Menes in 3100 B.C. forming the first nation-state.

A Source of Unity The capital was Memphis. Some stories tell that King Narmer united the two kingdoms forming the first dynasty.

RECIPE FOR A MUMMY Recipe for a Mummy Ingredients: Procedure: XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX

RECIPE FOR A MUMMY

The dynasties of ancient egypt What is a dynasty? A series of rulers who belong to the same family. The Early Period: Innovations included: Irrigation Plows pulled by animals Hieroglyphics Papyrus What we know about Ancient Egypt is because of written records

hieroglyphics Ancient Egyptian writing uses more than 2,000 hieroglyphic characters. Each hieroglyph represents a common object in ancient Egypt. Hieroglyphs could represent the sound of the object or they could represent an idea associated with the object.

papyrus 1. Cutting down stalks of the plant Cyperus papyrus. 2. Peeling away the outer green fibers. 3. Slicing the core fibers into thin strips that are as broad as possible. (Strips from the yellow-white center pith are the best quality.) 4. Soaking the strips in water for several days and periodically rolling them out. 5. Draining off the water and pounding or rolling the strips, so that they are as thin as possible. 6. Creating a first layer of paper by laying some of the strips side by side and overlapping them slightly. 7. Making a second layer on top of the first by laying more strips at right angles to the first layer. 8. Placing the sheet between two cloths to make a sandwich. 9. Placing the sandwich under heavy weights, a C-clamp, or a press for several days until it is dry. 10. Rubbing the sheet smooth with a stone.

The rosetta stone Discovered in A.D. 1799 Helped scientists decode the ancient hieroglyphic writing

Old kingdom It is known as the “Age of Pyramids” Imhotep designed the first pyramid The pyramids were tombs that looked similar to the ziggurat. The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed They cut stone, built ramps, and moved them on rollers. Dynasty 1-6.

Middle kingdom King Mentuhotep II ruled for 50 years King Amenemhet It was a time of great prosperity and cultural strength He expanded Egypt’s borders beyond the Nile Valley King Amenemhet Moved the capital from Thebes to Memphis Introduction of horses, chariots, new weapons and fortification. Dynasties 7-17.

New kingdom Egypt became the strongest world power during this time Rulers came to be called pharaohs Pharaoh means “great house” Kings were viewed as gods in the human form. Changes in religious beliefs led to the creation of much art but caused great unrest. Aton replaced “Re/Ra” Dynasties 18-30.

Nubia & kush Located between the 1st and 6th cataract Egyptians, Nubians, and Kushites all influenced each other.

Nubia Nubian culture began in the 7000s B.C. along the upper Nile River Valley Built villages with crops and livestock Ceramic pottery Leopard skins, ostrich eggs, feathers, ivory tusks, spices, gold and hardwood Because of Nubia’s location, it became a great trading center…

Nubia In about 2000 B.C. Egypt conquered Nubia Egypt wanted to control the trade routes Egypt wanted to gain wealth from Nubia’s minerals, such as granite.

kush 1600s B.C. Egypt is controlled by the Hyksos. Free Nubians establish Kush and are allies of the Hyksos. 1500s B.C. Egypt regains control, but loses it again in the 700s B.C.

kush Cultural changes brought by the Kushites New temples built Return of religious ceremonies Scribes copied writings Kushite history restored In 671 B.C. Assyrians invade Kush Meroe, an important trading center, is made the capital IRON ORE was important to Meroe

USE TB p. 132-137 to answer these!!! Q: Why was Nubia an ideal trading center? A: It was located between Egypt and Central Africa. Q: How did kings’ burials in Kerma demonstrate wealth? A: They were buried in a gold-covered funeral bed, surrounded by treasures. Q: How were the Kushites able to capture Egypt? A: Egypt was in a time of disorder. Q: How did iron change the Kushites’ way of life? A: They traded their valuable iron products and their economy prospered. Q: How did Meroe become wealthy? A: Its merchants set up a trading network.