1. Early Civilizations - Egypt

2. Geography Nile River Settlements arose along the Nile’s fertile soil
Gift of the Nile-
Nile River was predictable
FLOODS REGULARLY
Egyptians worshiped it as a god who gave life and seldom turned against them

3. Geography Some environmental risks (1) Dependent on Nile River
When the floodwaters were just a few feet lower than normal, the amount of fresh silt and water for crops was greatly reduced and people starved
When the floodwaters were a few feet higher then normal, houses, granaries and seeds were destroyed
(2) Deserts
Forced to live on a small portion of land
Reduced their interaction with other people
However, the desert shut out invaders.

4. Geography Two different regions – Upper and Lower Egypt
Upper Egypt – River area in the south
Lower Egypt – Area in the north, near the sea
Nile delta region – a broad, marshy, triangular area of land formed by deposits of silt
Nile connected two regions
provided a reliable system of transportations

5. Pharaohs
Egyptian god-kings were called pharaohs – considered real gods
Theocracy
Type of government in which rule is based on religious authority
Pharaoh stood at the center of Egypt’s religion and its government and army
He caused the sun to rise, the Nile to flood and the crops to grow

6. Pyramids The resting place after death where
the pharaoh would continue to rule
Pharaoh had an eternal life force, or ka, which
which continued to govern after death
Pyramids were remarkable engineering achievements
Pyramids demonstrated the strength of the civilization
Economic strength
Advanced technology

7. Egyptian Culture Religion important to society Polytheistic
Worshipped more than 2,000 gods and goddesses
Isis – represented the ideal mother and wife
Re – the sun god
Osiris – god of the dead
Believed in an afterlife
Other World -- the heart could be no heavier than a feather
Kings and queens built great tombs for the afterlife
Mummification
Mummy placed in a coffin inside a tomb
=2s
Optimistic view of life; more confident

8. Mummification Tools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gD0K7oH92U

9. Life in Egyptian Society
Social Classes
Pyramid
Not locked within social classes – marriage and successful jobs would mean higher status
To win the highest positions must read and write
Women in Egypt held many of the same rights as men

10. Life in Egyptian Society
Writing
Hieroglyphics
Picture stood for an idea
Deciphered when the Rosetta stone was found
Written on stone and clay at first
Invented a better writing surface – papyrus
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world-history/world-history- beginnings/ancient/v/rosetta-stone-196-b- c-e

12. Life in Egyptian Society
Science and Technology
Calendar developed to keep track of the time between floods
Used tools to survey and reset property boundaries
Mathematical knowledge needed to construct pyramids and palaces
Most famous hospital in ancient world – set broken bones, treated wounds and fevers and even performed brain surgery
Priests observed the star, Sirius, appeared above the eastern horizon just before the floods came.

13. King Tutankhamen
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