1. Ancient Egypt

2. Key Vocabulary
Pharaohs - the Egyptian rulers who acted as God on Earth.
Theocracy- a form of government run by the religious leaders.
Pyramid - tombs for the Pharaoh to rule in the afterlife.
Mummification – the process of preserving the dead.
Hieroglyphics – the Egyptian system of writing.
Papyrus - the Egyptian form of paper.

3. Warm Up
Describe how Hammurabi’s code influenced today’s society.

4. Geography of Egypt

5. Geography of Egypt Settlements arose along the Nile River.
There was annual flooding of the river in July caused by rain and melting snow in mountains.
This flooding left rich soil behind called silt.
Peasants would prepare the fields before sun dried out soil.
They watered crops through irrigation ditches.

6. Environmental Changes
If the Nile floodwaters were lower than normal the amount of silt to grow crops was reduced, which could ultimately lead to a starving people.
If the Nile floodwaters were too high, the water would destroy homes and farms.
Deserts were natural barriers and limited interaction with other civilizations.

7. Advanced Cities
Narmer was the Egyptian ruler who united the lower and upper kingdoms around B.C.
Narmer settled his capital city of Memphis close to where the two kingdoms met.
Traded with Mesopotamia, Kush, and Nubia.

8. Complex Institutions Egyptian kings were considered gods.
They were believed to be as powerful as the gods of the heavens.
Government ruled by religious authority is called a theocracy.
Pharaohs were responsible for the sunrise, flooding of the Nile, and growth of crops.

9. Pyramids
Egyptians believed that the pharaohs ruled even after death through an eternal life force called the “ka.”
“Ka” had needs that needed met.
Pharaohs would be placed in pyramids after their death with great luxury.

10. Egyptian Religion Egyptians were polytheistic.
They believed in an afterlife.
If you lived a pure and honest life you would live forever in the Other World.
Royal and elite Egyptian bodies were preserved by mummification, or the embalming and drying of corpse to prevent decaying.

11. Specialized Workers There was an Egyptian social pyramid.
Social classes could change based on marriage or jobs.
Farmers, priests, artisans, scribes, landowners, peasants.

12. Advanced Technology Developed a calendar with 365 days.
Developed a system of numbers.
Created early forms geometry and architectural structures.
Famous for their medical treatments, such as:
- heart rates
- splints
- treat wounds and fever
- surgery
Improved trade and transportation by digging a canal from Nile to Red Sea.

13. Record Keeping Hieroglyphics
Comes from the Greek words for “sacred carving.”
Pictures represented sounds and ideas, like the alphabet.
Created a common language that was essential for Egypt’s growth.
Papyrus
A river plant that was weaved together for a paper-like material used for writing.
Could be created faster than carving clay tablets.

14. The New Kingdom

15. Hyksos Rule The Hebrews settled in Egypt during this time.
They were racially similar to the Hyksos and welcomed to the region.
Egyptians resented the presence of these two groups.
Around 1600 B.C. warlike rulers drove out the Hyksos.

16. New Kingdom The Hyksos were pushed into Palestine.
According to Bible, the Hebrews remained in Egypt and were enslaved until around B.C., the time of the Exodus and Moses.

17. Think-Pair-Share
The most influential aspect of Ancient Egypt on modern society.
Complete the graphic organizer.

18. Refection
Describe how Ancient Egypt dealt with their natural, environmental problems.
Evaluate how what happened in the New Kingdom relates to a modern day world issue.
Compare and contrast Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt using the Top-Hat method.