1. Unit Three
Egypt

2. Agenda
Warm-up: India Map
Start India Unit

3. Geography

4. Section One
Geography

5. Geography Like Mesopotamia, Egypt was a river valley civilization
Egypt’s chief river, the Nile, is about 4,000 miles long (longest in the world)
Two parts-the Nile Delta, a triangle looking territory (Lower Egypt), the region upstream to the south is called Upper Egypt.

6. Today: Planning Step
In your groups: 1) Decide who will be traced to serve as the deceased “pharaoh”
2) Talk about important things this person would want to be remembered for when they die.
3) Create a two sentence message that describes the persons life. Write it down on paper.
4) One group at a time will use the computer to type and print their message.
When you finish, work on postcard assignment or other work.

7. Geography Importance of the Nile
Yearly flooding: Summer rains brought the Nile’s water level to it’s highest point by Sept or Oct
Fertile land close to the river was called “Black Land”, while the deserts just beyond the banks were called “Red Land”
Egyptians often had a food surplus
Provided fast travel

8. Geography Natural Barriers
Eastern and Western Deserts
Red Sea
Rapids on the Southern part of the Nile
Mediterranean Sea
Security and regular flooding provided stability

9. Assignment
Compare and contrast the geography of Egypt to the geography of Mesopotamia.
Use the notes and both maps you have been given
Show 3 differences and two similarities

10. Section Two
Religion

11. Religion Polytheistic Most were either land gods or sun gods
The sun was believed to be the source of life
The sun god was called “Atum” in human form but “Re” as a form of nature (human body, head of a falcon)
Egyptian ruler was known as the “Son of Re”

12. Religion River and land gods included Osiris and Isis
Based on Egyptian myth: Osiris was killed by his brother Seth, and brought back to life by his wife, Isis.
Osiris became the symbol of Egyptian resurrection.
Egyptians believed in the afterlife, thus the need for tombs.

15. The Mummification Process
1) Why do you think the brain is the only organ that is liquified during the process?
2) Why is the body brushed with tree sap?
3) What is the purpose of natron in the process?
4) What does the incense do?
5) What is the “Eye of Horus”?

16. Assignment
Create a venn diagram that compares Christianity to Egyptian religion.

17. Section Three
History

18. History
Historians have broken Egyptian history into three periods known as kingdoms.
History begins with the union of Upper and Lower Egypt by King Menes around 3100 B.C.
Like Mesopotamia, they had a dynastic government Y

19. Old Kingdom 2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C. Stable and time of great wealth
Creation of the title of pharaoh-had absolute power
Created a bureaucracy-organization of government offices, and a vizier, who assisted the pharaoh
First pyramids built during this time
Giza was most famous, and most enormous- ”The Great Pyramid”
Guarded by the Sphinx

20. Y

21. Middle Kingdom 2050-1652 B.C. Relatively stable
Expansion: Nubia, Palestine, Syria
New role of the pharaoh put them as “shepherd” of the people
Expanded trade to the Red Sea
Middle kingdom ended with the invasion of the Hyksos from W. Asia
By 1567 B.C. the Hyksos were driven out using many strategies brought by the group (chariots)

22. New Kingdom 1567 B.C.-1085 B.C. Period of empire building
Massive wealth
Hathshepsut becomes the first female pharaoh
Pharaoh Amenhotep introduced a new sole god “Aton” and changed his name to Akhenaton, meaning “all is well with Aton”
Other temples were closed to the former gods
Later, King “Tut” restored the old gods

23. New Kingdom
Problems caused by Aton, led to a loss of Egypt’s empire and much of its territory
Regained strength for a brief time under Ramses II but never like they once were
Cleopatra was the last of the powerful pharaohs
Very effective but became loyal to Rome and Egypt eventually joined the Roman Empire

24. Assignment 1) Write 2 sentences describing your assigned pharaoh.
2) When did they rule? (year)
3) Explain 2 of their biggest accomplishments/ achievements that happened during their reign.
4) What could have gone better for them during their reign?
5) Were they a successful leader? Explain why/why not.

25. Postcards
Write 3 postcards from one person who is in modern times to one person in Ancient Egypt
Minimum 5 sentences per postcard (plus a small drawing on each)
The person who is Ancient Egypt needs to say when they are living.

26. Section Four
Society and Culture

27. Society
Pyramid structure, God-king at the top, as well as nobles and priests
Specialized workers (artisans, merchants, scribes, tax collectors (middle class),
poor (mostly peasant farmers)
All land was owned by the pharaoh and granted to its subjects

28. Society Positive outlook on life
Married young (boys by 14, girls by 12)
Division of labor-Man was head of household, women were respected in their role as caretaker of the house.
Men could divorce if wife didn’t produce children, women would be compensated
Women could inherit property and could operate businesses
Women became pharaohs

29. Writing and Education Hieroglyphics “priest carvings”
Hieratic script for business, record keeping, and daily life
Boys became scribes
Writing was done on stone and later papyrus

30. Art and Science Pyramids Temples Sculpture Area/Volume
365 day calendar
Embalming, splints, bandages, compresses

31. Assignment
Create a venn diagram that compares Egyptian society to modern American society.
Show 3 differences and 2 similarities