Expanding Knowledge LEARNING GOAL Students can describe in detail the religious beliefs, government, and scientific/cultural contributions of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Organize your notebook page with the following 4 terms: ASTRONOMY GEOMETRY MEDICINE WRITING Leave enough space between to write. As we talk about each section, you will be writing a 1-2 sentence summary explaining how the Egyptians used each of these.

Much like many ancient societies, much of the knowledge of Egypt came about as priests studied the world to find ways to please the gods. Other advances came about because of practical discoveries.

Astronomy Egyptian priests studied the sky as part of their religion. About 5,000 years ago, they noticed that a star now called Sirius appeared shortly before the Nile began to flood. The star returned to the same position in the sky 365 days later. Based on that, Egyptians developed the world’s first practical calendar. Sirius is the brightest star in the nigh sky and is twice as massive as the sun.

The ancient Egyptians created a calendar that was 12 months, of 30 days each (360 days). Because of this, as the years passed, the Egyptian calendar became out of sink with the solar system. Later civilizations such as the Roman Empire created new calendars that were more in line with the solar system. The Gregorian Calendar, which is what we used today wad developed in Ancient Egyptians laid the ground work for how we view the idea of a year.

LET’S SUMMARIZE THIS SECTION: Use the section in your textbook to help you create a 1-2 sentence summary about ancient Egyptian astronomy. POSSIBLE SUMMARY: The ancient Egyptians observed that the return of the star Sirius came at the same time as the Nile flood. Based on this, the ancient Egyptians developed the world’s first practical calendar.

Geometry The Egyptians developed some of the first geometry. Each year the Nile’s floods washed away land boundaries. To restore property lines, surveyors measured the land by using ropes that were knotted at regular intervals. Geometric shapes such as squares and triangles were sacred to Egyptians. Architects used them in the design of royal temples and monuments. Ancient Egyptians used precise measurements on their monuments and land boundaries.

LET’S SUMMARIZE THIS SECTION Use the section in your textbook to help you create a 1-2 sentence summary. POSSIBLE SUMMARY Geometric shapes were important to the ancient Egyptians. Shapes were used to create monuments and land boundaries.

Medicine Egyptian doctors often prepared dead bodies for burial, so they knew the parts of the body. That knowledge helped them perform some of the world’s firs t surgery. Some doctors specialized in using medicines made from herbs. (Coriander, Garlic, Onion, etc). Egyptian medicine was far from perfect. Doctors believed that the heart controlled thought and the brain circulated blood, which is the opposite of what is known now. Some Egyptian treatments would raise eyebrows today. One “cure” for an upset stomach was to eat a hog’s tooth crushed inside sugar cakes.

LET’S SUMMARIZE THE SECTION Use the section in your textbook to help you create a 1-2 sentence summary. POSSIBLE SUMMARY Egyptian doctors were some of the first to perform surgery and use herbs as medicine, but also were incorrect in some of their medical beliefs.

Writing Beginning about 3,000 B.C, Egyptians developed a writing system using hieroglyphs. These were pictures that stand for different words or sounds. Early Egyptians created a hieroglyphic system with about 700 characters. Over time the system grew to include more than 6,000 symbols. The Egyptians also developed a paper-like material called papyrus from a reed of the same name. Egyptians cut the stems into strips, pressed them, and dried them into sheets that could be rolled into scrolls. Papyrus scrolls were light and easy to carry. With them, Egyptians created some of the first books.

How are the hieroglyphs similar/different to Mesopotamian writing? Notice anything strange within these ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs?

SUMMARIZE THE SECTION IN 1-2 SENTENCES. POSSIBLE SUMMARY Egyptians developed a writing system called hieroglyphs which eventually included more than 6,000 different symbols. They also crated a paper like material called papyrus which were used to create some of the world’s first books.

Other Ancient Egyptian Inventions Still Used Today High Heeled Shoes The Pen Makeup The Bathroom Vending Machines