1. Egypt & The Nile
Originally called Kemet, after the black soil that was located there.
Later named Egypt by Greeks

2. Nile Valley Nile Stretches 4,160 miles (worlds longest river).
Begins in a mountainous region and flows downhill towards Mediterranean Sea
Before emptying, marshy Nile Delta begins.
In springtime the Nile floods & deposits fertile silt.

3. Early Peoples
As early as 5000 years ago man began to settle in the Nile valley.
Leaders united these early peoples into kingdoms.
By 4000 BCE two main kingdoms dominated.
Upper- southern Egypt
Lower- northern Egypt

4. Narmer (Menes)
Around 3000 BCE, the king of upper Egypt heads north to conquer lower Egypt.
Capital City of Memphis.
First Dynasty in Egyptian history.

5. The Old Kingdom
BCE
Governed by a theocracy: government & religion ruled by same group or person.
Pharaoh: religious and govt. leader of Ancient Egypt.
Delegated many responsibilities to bureaucracy.

6. The Pyramids
Step Pyramid: built for king Djoser (zoser). A collection of Mastabahs
Later Egyptians built 3 pyramids at Giza (largest is the Great Pyramid, 481 feet high).
Pyramids served as tombs for Pharaoh’s

7. The Middle and New Kingdoms
Ancient Egypt
The Middle and New Kingdoms

8. Decline and Chaos
Around 2200 BCE The kings of Memphis begin to lose power.
Violence and upheaval plagued the dynasties of the Old Kingdom
Around 2050 the capital is moved to Thebes and a new dynasty begins – 1670 BCE

9. The Theban Kings
Soldiers captured Nubia and charged taxes, or tributes. The Nubians paid the taxes called tributes to Pharaoh.
Supported new projects
Built Canals
Irrigation Ditches
Traded with other nations
Arabian Peninsula
African Nations

10. The Middle Kingdom
During the Middle Kingdom, arts, literature, and architecture thrived.
Painters covered the walls of tombs and temples with colorful scenes of the gods and daily life.
Sculptors created large wall carvings of the pharaohs.
Instead of pyramids, they buried the pharaoh in tombs cut into the cliffs .

11. Hyksos Rule
1700BCE Local leaders began to challenge the rule of the Thebans
Hyksos, a people from western Asia swept into Egypt
Bronze Weapons
Horse Drawn Chariots
Hyksos rule Egypt for 150 years

12. The Fall of the Hyksos
Egyptians gained the skills of the Hyksos and turned against them.
Khamose Ahmose 1550 – 1480 BC

13. The New Kingdom 1550 – 1080 BC

14. Rule of Ahmose 1600BCE Ahmose gathers forces and drives out the Hyksos
This Begins the New Kingdom
Extends empire to the East and North

15. Rebuilding Egypt
First Ahmose then Hatshepsut are dedicated to restoring the glory of Egypt.
1480 Hatshepsut comes to power, rules over Egypt as Pharaoh
Builds up city of Thebes. With obelisks and statues

16. Thutmose III Takes Control and continues to gain territory for Egypt
Battle of Megiddo is a success
Erases Hatshepsut from records

17. Amenhotep IV
He and his wife Nefertiti founds new religion based on single god. First Monotheists in world history!
Aton- The sun disk god
Amenhotep changes his name to Akhenaton (meaning spirit of Aton)
Moves capital out of Thebes to show break from the past

18. New Faith = New Problems
Akhenaton concentrated on spreading new religion. Spent money and time on faith and neglected the state
As a result Egypt lost territory old priests became angry
When Akhenaton dies the old Polytheistic religion comes back

19. Back to Thebes
After Death of Akhenaton the priests force Tutankhamen to reinstate the Polytheistic Religion and Theban Capital city
New Dynasty is established after Tut’s death.

20. Ramses II & Decline Rules Egypt for 67 years
Believed to be the Biblical Pharaoh that tormented Moses
After his death in 1237 Egypt begins a decline
In 945 Lybians and Kushites take control of Nile Valley