1. Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

2. The Nile River Source of life in an otherwise desert environment
Mediterranean Sea
The Nile River
Source of life in an otherwise desert environment
Floods every year, depositing lots of rich Silt- nutrient filled soil.
Attracted Neolithic farmers to the Black Land-rich silt covered land reaching 10 miles out from the river
Grew wheat for food and Flax for clothing
Outside the black land was the Red Land-a huge sunbaked desert
Protected Egypt from invasion, but limited where its people could live
Gulf of Akaba
Gulf of Suez
Nile River
Red Sea

3. The Nile River
Livable land was wider near the Nile’s Delta- the triangular shape of land where the river meets the ocean
Silt collects here since the river flows south to north, into the ocean

4. Upper and Lower Egypt 2 distinct regions
Upper Egypt is in the South
Lower Egypt is in the North
Separated by the 6th Cataract- or waterfall, of the Nile
Upper and Lower Egypt had separate rulers until B.C.

5. King Menes
In 3100 B.C. King Menes United Upper and Lower Egypt into a single state.
Egypt is the first unified state
Menes used the Nile river as a trade route, sending goods, people, and warriors up and down.

6. The Old Kingdom
Menes wanted his son to rule after him, so he created a Dynasty- a ruling family who would pass down power father to son.
Called the rulers Pharaohs
Centralized government power
Pharaohs were seen as rulers, judges, generals, priests and GODS, they had absolute power.

7. The Old Kingdom
Government was called a Theocracy- because the religious and political leader was the same person.
Relied on Viziers or chief ministers to supervise the day to day business of government.
“Let not your heart be puffed up because of your knowledge; be not
confident because you are wise. Take
counsel with the ignorant as well as
the wise” – Advice to Viziers

8. Tombs of Legend The Old Kingdom is also called the Pyramid Age
The pyramids at Giza were built
Tombs were specifically designed to represent the Pharaoh they were for.
Pyramids were filled with what the rulers would need in the afterlife
Took so long to build, they were often started when a new Pharaoh took the throne

9. Khufu
Khafre
Giza
Menkaure

10. Pyramid Geometry

13. Building Pyramids Made from limestone Each block Weighed 2 ½ tons each
Used earthen ramps to build the structure
Egyptian slaves moved the blocks into position
Showed the strength of the Egyptian Government

16. Fall of the Old Kingdom
Power struggles, crop failures, and the cost of the pyramids caused the fall of the old kingdom.
100 years of unrest later the Pharaohs united the land again and the Middle Kingdom emerges

17. The Middle Kingdom Tough time for Egypt
Nile did not flood regularly
Corruption and rebellion happened often
Egyptian government increased irrigation, creating more farmland
Egyptians occupied Nubia (for its gold) and had to constantly defend it.

18. Invasion of Egypt!
Hyksos invaded Egypt in BC and occupy Northern Egypt
Superior technology of War chariots dominated Egyptians
The Hyksos dominated for 100 years until new Pharaohs rose to create the New Kingdom

19. Egyptian Empire The New Kingdom rises Powerful Empire
Reached the whole way to the Euphrates River
Trade, War, and Migration are spreading culture to Middle East and other parts of Africa
Powerful new rulers emerge

20. Queen Hatshepsut Daughter and Widow of two Pharaohs
Ruled in the name of her son
Named herself Pharaoh
Dressed as a man to show authority
False beard!
Encouraged trade with the eastern Mediterranean
Received medications from Punt

21. Ramses II Many military victories Expansion of the empire to Syria
Signed the first peace treaty to have survived the test of time
After his death The Egyptian Empire slowly declined

22. Egypt and Nubia
After Egypt’s Decline, in 750 B.C. Nubia invaded Egypt and ruled it for 100 years
Saw themselves as restoring Egyptian glory
Observed Egyptian Laws and Customs
Ruled as pharaohs until the Assyrians drove them out with iron weapons