1. Ancient Africa

2. North Africa
Egypt
Aksum
Kush

3. Ancient Egypt

4. Location Egypt was located in the Nile River Floodplain
Predictable flooding
Fertile farmland
Three Seasons of the Nile
Season of Going Out
Floodwaters receded exposing fertile land
Farmers planted and tended crops
Season of Harvest
Farmers harvested crops
All crops belonged to Pharaoh
Huge surplus lasted the entire year
Season of Flood
Spring
Mineral rich silt was carried down stream from mountains
Provided very fertile soil
Farmers spent these months working for the Pharaoh

5. Pre-Dynastic Period 3200-2600 BC
Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt separate kingdoms united
Dynastic System develops
Ruler (Pharoah) considered divine
Irrigation projects lead to an abundance of food and population explosion

6. Old Kingdom Egypt The Pyramid Age 2600 BC – 2150 BC
Era of Relative Peace and Stability
Major construction projects
2600 BC
1st Pyramid Building
Tombs of Pharoahs
2500 BC
Great Pyramids & Sphinx constructed at Giza
Hieroglyphics standardized
Evidence of graffiti at tombs
2100 BC
Regional nobles competed for control
Dynasty loses control

7. Middle Kingdom Egypt World Trading Power 2100 BC – 1700 BC
Strong Pharaohs from Thebes gain control of the kingdom
Mentuhotep II regains control over all of Egypt
New capital in Lisht
Egypt becomes an international power by reconquering Nubia and expanding trade routes
Foreigners called Hyksos from eastern Mediterranean settle in Egypt during good times
1500 BC
Hyksos eventually gain control of Lower Egypt
Native Egyptians still control Upper Egypt from Thebes

8. New Kingdom Egypt The Age of Empire 1550 BC – 1075 BC
Rulers from Thebes reassert control and drive out Hyksos
Expand borders of Egypt in military campaign designed to strengthen the empire
Take control of Nubia and the Levant
Force tribute from Babylon, Assyria and other neighbors top the East
1400 BC
Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) attempts to impose monotheism
1320 Ramses II
Strong, warrior Pharaoh
Signed treaty w/ Hittites

9. Ancient Egypt
Three Kingdoms
Old
Middle
New

10. Religion Polytheistic Fair & predictable gods Pharaoh was divine
Egyptians belief in an afterlife led to mummification
“Book of the Dead” outlines requirements for afterlife
Pyramids represent importance of afterlife in Egyptian thought

11. Government Bureaucracy Pharaoh a living god
Vizier chief administrator of Pharaoh’s government
Local nobility and priests administer government responsibilities

12. Economics Nile river the foundation of a strong, stable economy
Silt provided enough fertile land to produce enough crops for the entire population for a full year
Surplus used for trade and to support the less fortunate
Season of Flood provide a huge urban work force
Middle Kingdom began to become a world trade power

13. Accomplishments Pyramids Hieroglyphics Papyrus Medicine Astronomy Math
Literature

14. Important People Menes Hatshepsut Akhenaton Tutankhamun RamsesII
Foundations
Hatshepsut
Trade
Akhenaton
Monotheism
Tutankhamun
Tomb
RamsesII
War / treaty
Exodus?

15. Hieroglyphics Chart
Use this chart to write your name and a secret message using Egyptian Hieroglyphics!

16. Hieroglyphics B C CH D E (pet) (be) F G (girl) H I J K L M N O P Q/U RA
(cat)
A (make) B C CH D E
(pet)
(be) F G
(gym)
(girl) H I J K L M N O
(dog)
(sew) P
Q/U R S
S (rays) SH T V Y Z

17. Reasons for Decline Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom New Kingdom
Disunity / greed of local nobles
Middle Kingdom
Hyksos
New Kingdom
Assyrians

18. Geography
Government
Economics
Religion
Social Structure
Isolated River Valley
Regular Flooding
Plentiful Food & Water
Theocratic
Dynastic
Bureaucratic
Agrarian
Stable
Strong Surplus
Polytheistic
Animistic
Positive
Predictable
Hierarchical