Ancient Civilizations: Egypt

Ventre’s Adventures

Geography & Environment

• On which continent is Egypt located?

• Africa; in the northeastern region

The Geography

I. Location1. North Africa 2. Natural barriers: Mediterranean Sea,

Sahara Desert, Red SeaA. Result = less prone to invasion.

The Geography

• On which river did the ancient Egyptians settle?

• Nile River• WHY??

The Geography

The GeographyI. Nile River

1.World’s longest river (4130 miles)

2.“Gift of the Nile” annual flooding that deposits rich soil.

3.BenefitsA.Easy communication.B.Transportation.C.Ample water supply.

Nile River

Upper

Lower

Menes

Upper vs Lower

Society

Great to be an Egyptian?• A social

hierarchy not locked in.

• Possible to change status via marriage, personal success, etc.

Royal Family

Upper Class:Priests, Army, Gov’t

Middle Class:Merchants and Artisans

Lower Class:Peasant Farmers and Laborers

IntellectualHistory

Writing• Earliest form of

writing = pictograph

The Importance of Writing• In hieroglyphics:• Images stand for ideas,

as well as for sounds• The image of an OWL stands for

the m sound, as well as for the bird itself

The Importance of Writing• Hieroglyphics: developed from

pictographs• Images stand for ideas,

as well as for sounds

Papyrus

- A paper-like material

- Now scribes could write on a more compact surface, instead of stone or clay.

As the Egyptian civilization declined, any chance of deciphering hieroglyphics was lost….

Rosetta Stone

Religion & Government

• Polytheism: • The worship of

many gods• Worshipped

2000+ gods and goddesses

Egyptian Religion

Ra – the sun god.

He was the most

important god of the

ancient Egyptians.

Isis – the protective goddess. She used powerful magic to

help people in

need.Anubis –

the god of

embalming and

the dead.

Osiris – god of

the dead, and ruler

of the underwor

ld.

Brother and Sister

Seth – the god of chaos.

Atum – the

creator god.

Believed to be the first god to exist.

Sekhmet –

goddess of war.

Horus – god of

the sky. Protector

of the pharaoh.

Who is this?

Egyptian Government

• Theocracy: • Type of gov’t

in which rule is based upon religious authority

Egyptian Government

• Pharoh• Egyptians believed that their

kings, or pharaohs, WERE gods• Pharaohs VERY POWERFUL!• Ruled religion, government &

military

What is Ka?• Egyptians

believed that the Pharaohs possessed an eternal life force, also known as ka

What is Ka?• Ka allowed pharaohs to rule for

all of eternity; therefore, their tombs were even more important than their palaces on earth