1. Ancient Egypt (Nile River)

2. Nile River Two major tributaries: White Nile Uganda Blue Nile Ethiopia
Flows northward 4,100 miles
Longest river in the world
Empties in the Mediterranean Sea (Nile Delta)
Yearly flooding brought needed water and silt/soil (Gift of the Nile)
Fertile Soil = Black Land
Desert = Red Land
Natural barriers isolated Egypt, allowing it to develop its distinctive culture
East/West: Deserts
South: Mountains
North: Sea

3. Upper Egypt/Lower Egypt
Upper Egypt (South):
King wore a White Crown
Lower Egypt (North):
King wore a Red Crown
Est BCE: Menes united Egypt
Created a double crown (red & white)
Established capital at Memphis
Egypt’s 1st Dynasty

4. Three Kingdoms of Egypt
Old Kingdom:
(2660 – 2180 BCE)
Middle Kingdom:
(2080 – 1640 BCE)
New Kingdom:
(1550 – 1069 BCE)
Kingdom: continuous periods of a stable and unified government
Key characteristics of Egyptian Civilization:
Advanced Cities ● Specialized Workers
Complex Institutions ● Record Keeping
Advanced Technology

5. Old Kingdom (2660 – 2180 BCE)
Egyptians believed the Pharaohs to be gods
Mesopotamia believed their kings represented gods
Theocracy
Controlled:
Sun to rise, Nile to flood, Crops to grow, etc.
Wielded absolute power
Chief Advisor: Vizier
Pharaohs were entombed in Pyramids
Intended to protect the Pharaoh’s ka
Ka: eternal spirit
Valuables (gold, jewelry, furniture, etc.) were also entombed
Most has been lost to tomb robbers

6. Egyptian Mummification
Mummification kept the soul alive for the path to the Afterlife
Process:
1) Organs were removed and mummified (canopic jars)
Heart remained (center of emotion & intelligence)
Brain was discarded
2) Body was packed/covered with Natron (drying agent)
Left to dry for 40 days
3) Body cavity was stuffed with resin/sawdust/linen
Shaped to restore body features
4) Body was tightly wrapped with linen
Jewelry/amulets (scarab beetle) were wrapped between the layers
Entire Process: 70 Days
Availability:
Old Kingdom: Available to only Kings
New Kingdom: Available to anyone
Book of the Dead:
Scrolls of hymns, prayers and spells
Guide for the soul in the afterlife

7. Egyptian Religion Religion guided every aspect of life Deities:
Based on Polytheism
Deities:
Re (Ra): Chief God, Sun God
Osiris: God of the Underworld/Afterlife
Symbol of resurrection/fertility
Isis: Goddess of Motherhood/Magic
Horus: God of Sky/War/Protection
Anubis: Patron of Embalming

8. Egyptian Society Social Hierarchy
Royal Family
Landowners, Government Officials, Priests, Army Commanders
Merchants/Artisans
Peasant Farmers/Unskilled Laborers/Slaves
Social Hierarchy
Women held many of the same legal/ economic rights as men (in theory)
Own property, business, propose marriage, request a divorce, etc.

9. Egyptian Advancements
Calendar:
Developed a solar calendar of 365 days
Short of true solar year by 6 hours
Utilized Math:
Survey/Reset boundaries after floods
Calculate/Measure Pyramids and Palaces
Written Numbers to assess/collect taxes
Medical:
splints, check heart rate, surgery
Writing:
Ideograms used for formal writing
Initial pictographs evolved into hieroglyphics (‘sacred carving’)
Used mainly for inscriptions on temples, walls, tombs, palaces, etc.
Variations for everyday writing (simplified hieroglyphics):
Hieratic:
Post 26th Dynasty: Religious Texts
Demotic:
Carved on stone or written on papyrus
Papyrus: tall reed used to make a paper like material
‘Rosetta Stone’
Contained the same passage in three languages:
Hieroglyphics
Demotic
Greek
Provided the ability to translate hieroglyphics 9