1. Chapter 4: The Nile Valley

2. The Gift of the Nile 3500 BC-1500BC
Located in the northeastern corner of Africa
Most of this region is dry, desert (Sahara)
The world’s longest river runs through it (The Nile)
The banks of the Nile are Fertile
This supported one of the world’s longest lasting civilizations for 300 years

3. The Gift of the Nile
Soil that had been carried from far upriver was dropped into what we call a delta
6000 BC, Early people began to farm on the delta because of the rich, dark soil they called “Kemet”.
Along with fertile soil, the Nile provided transportation and water for crops

4. The Gift of the Nile
Why did the Egyptians come up with a seasonal calendar?
Answer: So they could predict when to start their planting season.
What were the three seasons the early Egyptians came up with?
Answer:
Inundation
Emergence
Growth

5. The Gift of the Nile
Inundation was the beginning of the Egyptian new year
It began soon after the star Sirius reappeared after months of being out of site (around June 20th)
The river would flood bringing the rich, dark soil into the farmland
Emergence was the middle part of the seasonal calendar
This was known as the growing season
This is when the land emerged (or came out) from the flood waters
Farmers plowed and seeded

6. The Gift of the Nile Harvest was the final season
Crops are ready to be collected and consumed

7. The Gift of the Nile Other important facts about the Nile River Valley
They created mummies to preserve the dead for the afterlife
Most farming settlements developed along the river between the delta and the first of six cataracts (Waterfalls)
Egypt was divided into Upper and Lower
These regions were unified under King Menes or King Narmer
King Narmer is believed by most to have started the first dynasty or a series of rulers belonging to the same family
This unification created the first nation-state
A nation-state is a region with a united group of people and a single government

8. The Dynasties of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptians were innovative and boast many achievements
Hieroglyphics (writing using pictures)
Papyrus (an early form of paper made from the papyrus plant-this helped make united government possible)
Pyramids (a structure with a square base, usually has triangular sides that come to a point at top)
Irrigation

9. The Dynasties of Ancient Egypt
There were three main periods
The Old Kingdom
Age of Pyramids
Because Egyptian Kings competed with local rulers for power, Egypt’s prosperity began to decline
The Middle Kingdom
Start of the 50 year rule of King Mentuhotep
Brought back economic glory
Grandson, King Mentuhotep II expanded its territory beyond the Nile River Valley
A vizier carried out the Kings demands

10. Nubia and Kush Nubia was a source of trade goods and natural resources
Leopard skins
Ostrich eggs
Bird feathers
Spices and gold
Even though Egypt had a strong influence over Nubia, they still kept their own culture, had their own unique architecture, and worshipped their own gods.
Egyptians and Nubians met each other through the Nubia’s trade routes (a path for traders to move goods)
Trading was done peacefully in the beginning but soon Egypt realized that greater wealth could be gained by controlling Nubia’s trade routes
Egyptians built obelisks: Tall slender stone pillars with four sides and pointed tops

11. Nubia and Kush
Eventually, the Nubians fled southward due to the Egyptians taking over their land and mining their gold
The Nubians formed a new kingdom known as Kush
Freedom from Egyptian rule, the Kingdom of Kush flourished
While Kush grew in prosperity, Egypt lost their power to the Hyksos
Kushites developed a trading network
The Queens or Kandakes held great respect and authority within the Kushite Empire
Kush allied themselves with the Hyksos
Eventually Egypt would regain their strength, and take all that territory back