Egyptian Society6th Grade UBD - Unit 3 - Egyptian Society

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Egyptian Dynasties- The Kingdoms of Upper and

Lower Egypt united around 3100 BCE. For most of the

next 3,000 years, this land was ruled by powerful kings

called pharaohs.

Calling Rank- Ancient Egyptians ranked members of

society based on their status.

Egyptian Religion- Ancient Egyptians were polytheists

who believed in many gods. They also believed that the

dead lived on in the afterlife.

Reach Into Your Background

Predict what

effect power

and social class

had on the

lives of ancient

Egyptians? (5

minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Key Ideas- Egyptian Dynasties

Historians divide ancient Egypt into three periods: the Old

Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom.

During these time periods, pharaohs ruled the empire.

They passed their power down from one generation to

another through ruling dynasties.

Pharaohs waged wars to expand their empires. They built

elaborate temples and tombs that still stand throughout

Egypt today.

Egyptian Society

Egypt’s first civilizations

were small villages.

These villages were

scattered along the Nile

River.

During those early days,

Egypt was not united.

Egyptian Society

Over time, the people

of Egypt formed two

kingdoms.

Egypt was divided into

Upper Egypt and Lower

Egypt. Around 3100

BCE, the two kingdoms

became one.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

It is believed that the

king of Upper Egypt led

his forces into Lower

Egypt.

This king was Menes. He

seized control of Lower

Egypt.

Menes succeeded in

bringing together all the

people living along the

Nile into one nation.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

Menes became Egypt’s

first pharaoh, or ruler.

Egyptians believed

that Menes, and the

pharaohs who followed

him, were not just

kings. They were gods

on Earth.

Key Term

Menes-

Menes was the

first king, or

pharaoh, of

Egypt. He is

credited with

unifying Lower

and Upper

Egypt under

one rule.

Key Term

Pharaoh- A

ruler of

ancient

Egypt.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

Pharaohs in ancient

Egypt held an

incredible amount of

power and influence

over their subjects.

Their subjects

considered them

living embodiments

of the god Horus.

Key Term

Horus-

The God of

the sky and

of the

pharaohs.

Pharaohs Unify Egypt

The pharaoh’s power

influenced every level of the

Egyptian social structure.

Construction and adornment

of their tombs and temples

became large public-works

projects that required

countless hours of labor and

enormous quantities of

resources.

Egypt’s Kingdoms

Historians today

divide up Egypt’s

ancient times to keep

track of the changes.

They use Egypt’s

many dynasties as a

simple way to divide

up its long history.

Key Term

Dynasty- A

series of rulers

in a particular

kingdom or

empire, and

each ruler in

the series is

said to be a

member of the

same family.

Egypt’s Kingdoms

Historians group

Egypt's history into

three main time

periods:

▪ The Old Kingdom

▪ The Middle

Kingdom

▪ The New Kingdom

Egypt’s Kingdoms

The time before the Old

Kingdom is known as

the Early Dynastic

Period.

During this time,

Egypt’s culture was

beginning to form.

The Egyptians had not

yet built large cities.

Egypt’s Kingdoms

Between each major

era were Intermediate

Periods.

These periods were

times of change and

conflict.

No one central power

ruled over all of Egypt.

King Khufu – Pyramid Builder

The pharaohs ruled Egypt

for 3,000 years.

Egypt’s most recognizable

ancient site was built by

one of its earlier

pharaohs.

The Great Pyramid at Giza

was built by King Khufu.

King Khufu – Pyramid Builder

To build the pyramids

ancient Egyptians had

to use their advanced

knowledge of geometry

and architecture.

The ancient Egyptians

combined this

knowledge with the use

of huge amounts of

physical labor.

Key Term

Pyramid- A

large stone

structure that

is built with a

square base

and has

triangular-

shaped sides

that meet in a

point at the

top.

Pyramids at GizaVideo- Pyramids at Giza

Key Ideas- Calling Rank

The ancient Egyptians believed that

pharaohs were gods.

A small group of government officials and

priests served the pharaohs.

The majority of Egyptians were farmers.

Enslaved people had the lowest status in

ancient Egypt.

Social ClassesVideo- Social Classes

Social Structure of Ancient Egypt

The pharaoh was

the most powerful

person in all of

Egypt.

However, every

person had a role

to play in

Egyptian society.

Social Structure of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians were

born into a social group.

They usually continued

in the same jobs as

their parents.

Scientists study the

sculptures and

paintings that were left

behind in ancient cities.

Why It Matters

Every class in the social

structure contributed to

Egyptian society.

All classes supported

the power of the

pharaoh.

The pharaoh made

decisions about war,

building projects, and

who would rule next.

Slavery in Ancient EgyptReading Handout- Slavery in Ancient Egypt

Key Ideas- Egyptian Religion

To prepare for the afterlife, pharaohs

order their subjects to build

elaborate tombs. They filled the

tombs with fine objects.

After death, a pharaoh’s body was

carefully mummified, or preserved,

by priests. Then it was placed in its

tomb.

Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

The ancient

Egyptians held

very strong

religious beliefs.

For most of their

history, they

practiced

polytheism, or the

worship of many

gods.

Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

Anubis: God of the dead. Guided dead souls to the

underworld

Isis: Goddess of fertility and motherhood. Wife of

Osiris and mother of Horus

Osiris: God of the underworld and resurrection

Horus: God of the sky and of the pharaohs

Seth: God of the desert and violence. Brother of

Osiris

Life After Death

Ancient Egyptians

believed in the

presence of their souls.

Their souls were the

part of them that

would continue to live

in the underworld after

their bodies had died.

Life After Death

Most Egyptians wanted to be

buried near their relatives

and friends.

They also were buried with

prized belongings, like

jewelry.

They wanted to have these

items with them in the

afterlife.

Life After Death

Statues, jewelry, and

paintings all went into

the tomb.

Paintings and carvings

on the wall celebrated a

pharaoh’s life.

Once a pharaoh died,

skilled priests began to

preserve the body.

Life After Death

Egyptians from all social

classes were mummified to

prepare for the afterlife.

However, the process was

very expensive. The richest

and most powerful could

afford the most elaborate

burials, while poorer, less

powerful Egyptians had

simple burials.

The AfterlifeVideo- The Afterlife

Why It Matters

The ancient Egyptians’ focus on the afterlife is one

reason that their culture has been so well preserved.

Builders made secure buildings to house the

pharaohs’ bodies after death. Artists and scribes

created works to record the past of the pharaohs.

Tomb art, including hieroglyphics, gives historians

clues about what happened in ancient Egypt.

Key Term

Hieroglyphi

cs- Symbols

or pictures

that stand

for objects,

ideas, or

sounds.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)