6th Grade World History Ancient Egypt

The Nile Valley Essential Question: How did the geography of the Nile River valley lead to the growth of a civilization there?

A Mighty River Nile River Drank from it Bathed in it Cooking and cleaning Fish

A Sheltered Land Before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile forms a delta Desert located on either side – keeps armies away from Egypt’s territory Traded in the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea

The River People Nile floods were predictable and consistent Leave behind a layer of dark, fertile mud Irrigation Techniques Dug canals to carry water to fields beyond the river’s reach Papyrus – reed plant Baskets, sandals, river rafts and paper!

Hieroglyphics Created symbols that stood for objects, ideas and sounds Few people could read and write Scribes: Few Egyptian men Kept records for rulers, priests and traders Carved hieroglyphics into stone monuments

The Rise of Government in Ancient Egypt Irrigation systems had to be built and maintained Surplus grain had to be stored and passed out in the case of need Disputes over land ownership had to be settled Earliest rulers were village chiefs who would gradually take over neighboring villages

Upper and Lower Egypt 4000 B.C.E. – Egypt was made up of 2 large kingdoms Lower Egypt Upper Egypt 3100 B.C.E. – Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt Egypt was ruled by 31 dynasties grouped into 3 categories Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom New Kingdom

Egypt’s Social Classes Pharaoh Priests and Nobles Traders, Artisans, Shopkeepers and Scribes Farmers and Herders Unskilled Workers

Family Life Men were often considered the head of the household However, Egyptian women enjoyed more rights than females in almost every other early civilization Few Egyptian children attended school Mothers taught daughters Fathers taught sons

Making Connections 1. What is papyrus and how did the Egyptian’s use it? 2. Cause and Effect: Name three things that led to the growth of government in Ancient Egypt. 3. Answer the Essential Question: How did the geography of the Nile River valley lead to the growth of a civilization there?

Egypt’s Old Kingdom Essential Question: What characterized the religious beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians?

Old Kingdom Rulers – 2600-2300 B.C.E. Pharaoh All powerful ruler who guided all activity Lived in grand palaces Appointed officials to carry out their wishes Considered to be the son of Re – The Sun God

Egypt’s Religion Worshipped many deities who were believed to control nature and human activities Re – The Sun God Isis – Worshipped as the ideal wife and mother Osiris – God of the Dead Hapi – Ruled the Nile River

Life After Death Hopeful view that life after death would be better than the life before it Book of the Dead Collection of spells and prayers to obtain life after death For centuries, Egyptians believed only the pharaohs and elite few could enjoy the afterlife and their spirit would travel to the afterlife after death Body could not be decayed for this journey

Enbalming and Mummification Protection for the Pharaoh’s Body Egyptians learned much about the human body through embalming Apply natron, a special salt to the body Remove organs from body Body is stored for several days to dry Body is filled with spices and perfumes Body is sewed shut Mummy is placed inside wooden coffin inside tomb Body is tightly wrapped in linen Body cleaned with special oils

The Pyramids Protected bodies of dead pharaohs from floods, animals and grave robbers Held supplies pharaohs would need in the afterlife Clothing Furniture Jewelry Food Skilled artisans used copper tools to cut stone into huge blocks Pulled stone on sleds to pyramid site Dragged and pushed them up ramps to be set in place Great Pyramid at Giza

Making Connections 1. What might Egyptians have learned from embalming bodies? 2. Answer the Essential Question: What characterized the religious beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians?

The Egyptian Empire Essential Question: How did Akenaton upset the traditional order of the New Kingdom?

The Middle Kingdom 2050-1670 B.C.E. New dynasty came to power Moved Egyptian capital to Thebes Golden Age of stability, prosperity and achievement Forced conquered people to send tribute to the pharaoh

The Arts Blossom Painters covered walls of tombs and temples with colorful scenes of the deities and daily life Sculptors created large statues of pharaohs Tombs were cut into the side of cliffs – Valley of the Kings

The New Kingdom Queen Hatshepsut More interested in trade than conquest Traded beads, gold, ivory, ebony and incense for wood Trade under her rule brought great wealth to Egypt

Expanding the Empire Thutmose III’s armies expanded Egypt North of Mesopotamia and into Africa Enslaved prisoners of war Could own land, marry and eventually be granted freedom

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs Amenhotep/Akhenaton Introduced one god worship of Aton Removed priests who resisted the changes People saw this as an attack on Egypt itself Devotion to a new religion caused him to ignore the attack of the Hittites who took over much of the empire

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs Tutankhamen – The Boy King Restored the old religion Died unexpectedly – murder? Most famous of all pharaohs because of his brilliant gold funeral mask

End of the New Kingdom Ramses II – rebuilt the empire and constructed new temples Karnak Thebes Temples were the homes of gods and goddesses

Egypt’s Decline and Fall Later pharaohs have difficulty controlling a large empire Egypt was attacked by people from the Mediterranean Iron weapons Egypt changed hands several times 670B.C.E. – Egypt is taken over by the Assyrians

Making Connections 1. What improvements did the Middle Kingdom rulers make? 2. Answer the Essential Question: How did Akenaton upset the traditional order of the New Kingdom?