Ancient Egypt

Geography of Egypt The Nile River is the longest river in the world and flows north. Located in northeast Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east. Natural barriers include vast deserts on both sides which help keep invaders at bay. Egypt develops along the Nile on fertile strips of land made fertile by the river. Nile links Upper and Lower Egypt unifying the are and promoting trade.

“Gift of the Nile” Egyptians worshipped the Nile because it brought life. Floods yearly caused by July rains and melting snow from the east and central African mountains; reliable like clockwork. Floods leave behind fertile deposits of silt. From “black to red”… soil that is … the change from fertile soil to desert clay & sand was so abrupt a person could stand with a foot on each. Before the land dries out the Egyptians would plow and plant crops. Relied on irrigation the rest of the season

Upper and Lower Egypt Lower Egypt Lower Egypt in located down river on the Nile. Delta – broad, marshy, triangular shaped of land formed by the depositing of silt at the mouth of the river. Upper Egypt Upper Egypt is located up river on the Nile. More difficult to access because of cataracts; rapids/natural barriers making travel upriver more difficult.

Movement of Goods and Ideas Caravans traveled back and forth between Egypt and Mesopotamia to trade goods. Egyptians also traveled upriver (south) on the Nile in search of gold, ivory, cattle, and granite blocks to build their massive temples and tombs. Egypt was culturally and racially diverse; Borrowed from Mesopotamian culture Blended cultures of peoples who migrated in from other areas of Africa.

Egypt Unites as One Kingdom Egypt evolves from farming villages along the river into two separate kingdoms; Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Menes/Narmer is the first pharaoh of a united Egypt. The Narmer Palette is one of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions ever found; depicts the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. 1 st of 31 dynasties spanning 2600 yrs Little info on the 1 st and 2 nd dynasties

Pharaohs Pharaohs ruled as a god Mesopotamian king = link to the gods Egyptian pharaoh = human embodiment of a god. Pharaohs or “god kings” is seen as splendid as the gods in the heavens. Causes the sun to rise, Nile to flood, and crops to grow. Center of Egyptian religion, government, and army. Governed by divine approval = theocracy

Builders of the Pyramids Egyptians believed that when the pharaoh died, part of the spirit ruled for eternity; in the afterlife. This is what is known as kah. Tombs were more important that the temple, the contained everything the pharaoh, his relatives, officials, and priests who were buried near him would need in the afterlife. The shape of a pyramid is thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun. All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile; the site of the setting sun was associated with the realm of the dead in Egyptian mythology.

Egyptian Culture Religion Polytheistic; more than one god/goddess Geb – God of the Earth Ra – Sun God Horus – God of Light Isis – Represents mother and wife Osiris – God of the underworld/dead Anubis – God of the dead/embalming Seth/Set – God of Chaos Built huge temples to honor these gods Strong belief in the afterlife Osiris was the god that would judge their deeds Planned their burials to ensure the were to reach the afterlife Pyramids for kings and queens Preserved the body through mummification Placed items they could use in the afterlife in their tombs; including their internal organs.

Egyptian Society was like a pyramid Social mobility/could move from one class to another through marriage or through building wealth. Slaves could earn their freedom though loyal service Women had the same rights as men Could propose marriage or seek divorce If granted a divorce she received 1/3 of the combined wealth Could own property

Egyptian Writing From crude pictographs to hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics – “sacred carving” pics stand for ideas later pics will stand for sounds Owl = m and others making an early alphabet First written on stone and clay like in Mesopotamia. Papyrus – reeds that grow in marshy Nile Delta, split and pressed together making paper like material for writing.

Science and Technology Need necessitates invention Numbers for counting; addition and subtracting used for tax collection Geometry to survey food plots Math for engineering great structures; pyramids, sphinx, palaces, etc. Calendar for planting; very accurate only 6 hrs off todays calendar Medicine – checked heart rate, splints for broken bones, performed surgery, extensive knowledge of human anatomy

Decline of the Pharaohs Pharaohs power decline around 2180 BC = End of the “Old Kingdom” Middle Kingdom restores order and accomplishes many public works projects Asian nomads will end prosperity in horse drawn chariots and Egypt will fall, until the New Kingdom emerges.