The Nile Valley

The Land of the Nile World’s longest river Empties into Med. Sea Lower Egypt – at Nile’s mouth – the delta Delta = piece of land formed by soil deposits at mouth of river Upper Egypt – higher land to the south – narrow fertile Nile Valley Cataracts – 6 waterfalls in southern part of Nile

The Nile Valley The Land of the NileArid = dry Nile cuts across arid Sahara desert Heavy rains in mountains at Nile’s source Yearly flooding deposits silt = fertile soil By 4000 BC farming villages lined Nile from delta to 1 st cataract

Nile River

Nile River – 1 st Cataract

Controlling the River To control water, Egyptians developed irrigation systems Also dams built to control yearly flooding Stored in ponds for later use Population increased along river Gov’t began to control farming and irrigation Authority based on ability to provide water for crops Surplus crops stored and used to feed laborers on public works projects

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A Source of Religion Couldn’t predict flooding – when, how much To find order in their world, they created stories to explain events in nature Polytheistic gods and goddesses controlled specific parts of nature Ra – sun god – one of most important Thought sun was born each morning and died each night Cycle led to belief in an afterlife for people

Ra Sun god

A Source of Religion Hapi – god of the flood Festivals held to honor Hapi – hoping he would reward with good harvests Horus – the sky god Osiris – god of the next world Each city had 1 or more special god or goddess Thebes became powerful city, so belief in their god – Amon – grew Eventually Amon and Ra combined to become Amon-Ra – the most powerful god.

Hapi – god of flooding

Horus – god of the sky

Osiris – god of the next world

Toward Civilzation By 3100 BC, developing an advanced civilization Built temples Stone tombs to bury rulers Writing Pottery painted with scenes from daily lives Mined copper for tool making Mined gold for decorative art Surplus made of of this possible

Toward Civilzation Wheat ground to flour – bread became main part of diet Trade began across Sinai Penninsula Egypt southwestern Asia Trade along Nile – highway – so became expert ship builders First used reeds for boats – then wood from what is now Lebanon for sailing ships Sailing ships made travel up the Nile possible Entire Nile – except for cataracts of Nubia – could be traveled.

Toward Civilzation Trade and travel led to towns growing to cities Some cities became trade centers By 3100 BC – Egypt had 2 kingdoms Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt

The Big Idea: Just like in Mesopotamia – a water source people settled and farmed surplus trade larger cities

4000 BC 3000 BC 2000 BC Farming spreads throughout Mesopotamia Farming along Nile City-states develop in Sumer Upper and Lower Egypt Kingdoms form (Old Kingdom) Hammurabi’s Code written Middle Kingdom begins