Ancient River Valley Civilizations

The common tie between all 4 early civilizations is how each rose independently in river valleys!

The 4 main River valley civilizations are:

Egypt Nile River Valley Mesopotamia Tigris and

Euphrates river valleys Ancient India Indus River Valley Ancient China Huang He River

Valley

EgyptEgyptian civilization developed in

northeastern Africa along the Nile River

The Nile RiverThe Nile River A.A. Since most of Egypt is Since most of Egypt is

a desert, people sett-a desert, people sett-led along the led along the Nile Nile River.River.

B.B. The Nile provided The Nile provided water for drinking and water for drinking and irrigation of crops.irrigation of crops.

C.C. Yearly floods soaked Yearly floods soaked the land and left rich the land and left rich deposits of silt that deposits of silt that acted as fertilizer.acted as fertilizer.

D.D. The river also acted The river also acted as a highway for as a highway for travel.travel.

3. Upper and Lower 3. Upper and Lower EgyptEgypt

A.A. Upper EgyptUpper Egypt (to (to the south) was a the south) was a skinny strip of land skinny strip of land from the First from the First Cataract to the Cataract to the Second Cataract.Second Cataract.

B.B. Lower EgyptLower Egypt (to (to the north, near the the north, near the sea) consisted of sea) consisted of the Nile Delta the Nile Delta region, a broad and region, a broad and marshy area of land.marshy area of land.

How did people cooperate to How did people cooperate to control the Nile floods?control the Nile floods?

They built dikes, reservoirs, and They built dikes, reservoirs, and irrigation ditches to channel the irrigation ditches to channel the rising river and store water for dry rising river and store water for dry season.season.

The land was eventually united in The land was eventually united in 3100 B.C. by Menes, the king of 3100 B.C. by Menes, the king of upper Egypt.upper Egypt.

Why was Egypt considered to Why was Egypt considered to “bread basket” ?“bread basket” ?

Grew wheat for bread and flax- a Grew wheat for bread and flax- a plant with fibers used for clothing plant with fibers used for clothing

Exported food to other parts around Exported food to other parts around the world.the world.

Ancient Egyptian history can be split into three

sections:

Egypt (5,000 B.C.)Egypt (5,000 B.C.)

1. Old Kingdom: 2700-2200BCE

Rise of Pharaohs“Pyramid Age” –Pyramids, which

were tombs, suggest strength in Egyptian civilization

Eventually declined due to disunity

The Pyramid AgeThe Pyramid Age

Pharaohs organized a strong Pharaohs organized a strong centralized state, claimed divine centralized state, claimed divine support for their rule. Egyptians support for their rule. Egyptians believed pharaohs were gods-believed pharaohs were gods-absolute power. Visier or chief absolute power. Visier or chief minister supervised the business of minister supervised the business of government.government.

2. Middle Kingdom: 2050-1800BCE Turbulent period of:• Invasion/Rebellion• Corruption/Power Struggles• Crop failure Just as the Old Kingdom had fallen due to disunity the Middle Kingdom fell to invaders

The Middle KingdomThe Middle Kingdom

Why did the Old Kingdom Collapse?Why did the Old Kingdom Collapse?

Middle Kingdom- hard times because Middle Kingdom- hard times because the Nile did not rise regularly. the Nile did not rise regularly. Corruption and rebellions.Corruption and rebellions.

HyksosHyksos (hihk sohs) invaded with their (hihk sohs) invaded with their horse drawn war chariots—they drove horse drawn war chariots—they drove away the people of the Middle away the people of the Middle KingdomKingdom

3. New Kingdom: 1550-1100BCE

Begins as an age of conquest when powerful pharaohs created a huge empire

Ends with invasions by Romans, Greeks, and Persians

New KingdomNew Kingdom Contact with Middle East and other parts of Contact with Middle East and other parts of

Africa—Reached the Euphrates riverAfrica—Reached the Euphrates river Queen Hatshepsut-1503-1482Queen Hatshepsut-1503-1482 b.c. b.c.

– Encouraged trade with Mediterranean lands—bring Encouraged trade with Mediterranean lands—bring back ebony, ivory, spices, leopard skins, and live back ebony, ivory, spices, leopard skins, and live monkeys, incense, medicines and myrrh trees.monkeys, incense, medicines and myrrh trees.

– Rames II-Rames II- pushed Egyptian rule northward through pushed Egyptian rule northward through Palestine and as far as Syria. Fought against the Palestine and as far as Syria. Fought against the Hittites and finally signed a peace treaty.Hittites and finally signed a peace treaty.

– Invaders such as the Assyrians and Persians, Invaders such as the Assyrians and Persians, conquered the Nile region. Then Greek and Roman conquered the Nile region. Then Greek and Roman armies marched into the Nile Valley. Why??armies marched into the Nile Valley. Why??

Egyptian Empire 1450 B.C.Egyptian Empire 1450 B.C.

The Nile Kingdom of Nubia developed. The Nile Kingdom of Nubia developed. Fought for years with Egyptians. From Fought for years with Egyptians. From

Nubia they acquired ivory, cattle, and slavesNubia they acquired ivory, cattle, and slaves Egyptian art show Nubian influence—in Egyptian art show Nubian influence—in

showing Nubian soldiers, musicians, or showing Nubian soldiers, musicians, or prisoners.prisoners.

Nubia regained independence and in about Nubia regained independence and in about 750 B. C. Nubian they restored the Egyptian 750 B. C. Nubian they restored the Egyptian glory. They ruled as the pharaohs of earlier glory. They ruled as the pharaohs of earlier ruled, respecting their Egyptian traditions.ruled, respecting their Egyptian traditions.

Scenes of Ancient EgyptianDaily Life

Scenes of Ancient EgyptianDaily Life

Great Sphinx at GizaGreat Sphinx at Giza

What does the portrayal of the king as a lion suggest about the nature of kingship in ancient Egypt?

Summary QuestionSummary Question

How is the Great sphinx at Giza an How is the Great sphinx at Giza an example of Civilization in Egypt????example of Civilization in Egypt????

Egyptian CivilizationEgyptian Civilization CityCity—Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom—Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom ReligionReligion- variety of belief systems and practices. - variety of belief systems and practices.

Belief of afterlife. mummification)Belief of afterlife. mummification) Social class-Social class- Most Egyptians were farmers. During Most Egyptians were farmers. During

New Kingdom society grew as trade and warfare New Kingdom society grew as trade and warfare increased.—some woman could be priest to serve increased.—some woman could be priest to serve goddess.goddess.

Specialty Job-ArtisanSpecialty Job-Artisan, craftsman, dike repairs, , craftsman, dike repairs, Astronomers –developed a calendar –became the Astronomers –developed a calendar –became the basis of western calendar. basis of western calendar.

WritingWriting- Hieroglyphics- used to keep important - Hieroglyphics- used to keep important records-form of picture writing. records-form of picture writing.

Public works-Public works- build build dikes, labor on palaces, dikes, labor on palaces, temples and tombstemples and tombs

Art and architecture-Art and architecture- hymns and prayers. hymns and prayers. Paintings and sculpture of statues, carvings on Paintings and sculpture of statues, carvings on templestemples

Gov’tGov’t- - Pharaoh ruled as monarch. Divine rule.Pharaoh ruled as monarch. Divine rule.

Egyptian Social Hierarchy

Egyptian Social Hierarchy

Ancient Egyptian Housing

Ancient Egyptian HousingMiddle Class

HomesMiddle Class Homes

Peasant Homes

Peasant Homes

Egyptian NobilityEgyptian Nobility

Egyptian Priestly ClassEgyptian Priestly Class

Egyptian ScribeEgyptian Scribe

Some Famous Egyptian Pharaohs

Some Famous Egyptian Pharaohs

Thutmose III

1504-1450 B. C. E.

Thutmose III

1504-1450 B. C. E. Ramses II

1279-1212 B. C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Tutankhamon

1336-1327 B. C. E.

Tutankhamon

1336-1327 B. C. E.

Egyptian MathEgyptian Math

11 1010 101000

10010000

10,0010,0000

100,00100,0000

1,000,001,000,0000

What number is this?

What number is this?

King TutankhamonKing Tutankhamon

Preparation for the Afterlife

Preparation for the Afterlife

Champollion & the Rosetta Stone

Champollion & the Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone- carving of in three different forms of script- hieroglyphics, demotic and Greek. As a result scholars could begin to read the thousand of surviving record from ancient Egypt.

Summary QuestionSummary Question

How were religion gov’t and art How were religion gov’t and art linked in ancient Egypt?linked in ancient Egypt?

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses:

“The Sacred ‘Trinity’”

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses:

“The Sacred ‘Trinity’”

Osiris Isis Horus Osiris Isis Horus

Materials Used in Mummification

Materials Used in Mummification

1. Linen 6. Natron2. Sawdust 7. Onion3. Lichen 8. Nile Mud4. Beeswax 9. Linen Pads5. Resin 10. Frankinsense

1. Linen 6. Natron2. Sawdust 7. Onion3. Lichen 8. Nile Mud4. Beeswax 9. Linen Pads5. Resin 10. Frankinsense

The Ankh – The “Cross” of LifeThe Ankh – The “Cross” of Life

HIEROGLYPHICSHIEROGLYPHICSHieroglyphics is the Egyptian form of writing. They did not write on Hieroglyphics is the Egyptian form of writing. They did not write on

paper, but on papyrus which is reeds cut into thin strips then paper, but on papyrus which is reeds cut into thin strips then pounded and dried. Hieroglyphics are usually animals or things that pounded and dried. Hieroglyphics are usually animals or things that

mean something important in their language. For example, the letter mean something important in their language. For example, the letter E stands for 2reed leaves.E stands for 2reed leaves.

Egyptologists say they have Egyptologists say they have identified the 3,000-year-old identified the 3,000-year-old mummy of Hatshepsut, mummy of Hatshepsut, Egypt's most powerful female Egypt's most powerful female ruler.ruler.

In all, Hatshepsut In all, Hatshepsut accomplished what no accomplished what no woman had before her. woman had before her. She ruled the most She ruled the most powerful, advanced powerful, advanced civilization in the civilization in the world, successfully, for world, successfully, for twenty years. Even if twenty years. Even if there were some who there were some who resented her success, resented her success, her success stands for her success stands for all eternity.all eternity.

Queen Hatshepsut Queen Hatshepsut dressed as a king, dressed as a king, even wearing a even wearing a false beard and the false beard and the Egyptian people Egyptian people seem to have seem to have accepted this accepted this unprecedented unprecedented behavior. behavior.

An X-ray image An X-ray image of the mummy of of the mummy of Pharaoh Queen Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut is Hatshepsut is seen at the seen at the Egyptian Egyptian museum in Cairo, museum in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt. (Discovery (Discovery Channel)Channel)

The Egyptians sent trading missions to Punt, a region of East The Egyptians sent trading missions to Punt, a region of East Africa that was rich in gold, resins, ebony, blackwood, ivory Africa that was rich in gold, resins, ebony, blackwood, ivory and wild animals, including monkeys and baboons. They also and wild animals, including monkeys and baboons. They also went in search of slaves. The best-documented mission was went in search of slaves. The best-documented mission was

sent during the reign of Hatshepsut. Scenes from these sent during the reign of Hatshepsut. Scenes from these expeditions are illustrated on her funerary temple at Deir el-expeditions are illustrated on her funerary temple at Deir el-

Bahari, near the Valley of the Kings.Bahari, near the Valley of the Kings.

The mummy was discovered The mummy was discovered by Howard Carter in 1903by Howard Carter in 1903

A mummy found A mummy found more than 100 more than 100 years ago has years ago has been identified as been identified as pharaoh Queen pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut,. She Hatshepsut,. She was one of the was one of the most powerful most powerful and mysterious and mysterious of all ancient of all ancient rulers.rulers.

An Egyptian Woman’s “Must-Haves”

An Egyptian Woman’s “Must-Haves”

PerfumePerfume

WhigsWhigs

MirrorMirror

Egyptian MummiesEgyptian Mummies

Seti I1291-1278 B.

C. E.

Seti I1291-1278 B.

C. E.Queen Tiye,

wife of Amenhotep II

1210-1200 B. C. E.

Queen Tiye, wife of

Amenhotep II1210-1200 B. C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Ramses II1279-1212 B.

C. E.

Hatshepsut, in a final bid to Hatshepsut, in a final bid to be recognized as a legitimate be recognized as a legitimate queen, constructed a fabulous queen, constructed a fabulous temple in the Valley of the temple in the Valley of the KingsKings, of all places, by a tall , of all places, by a tall plateau at Deir-el-Bahri, plateau at Deir-el-Bahri, across the Nile from Thebes. across the Nile from Thebes.

The Temple of Deir El-Bahri is one of the most characteristic temples in the whole of Egypt, due to its design and decorations. It was built of limestone, not sandstone like most of the other funerary temples of the New Kingdom period.

The expedition set out in her name with five ships, each measuring The expedition set out in her name with five ships, each measuring seventy feet (21 m) long, and with several sails; each ship seventy feet (21 m) long, and with several sails; each ship

accommodated 210 men, including sailors and thirty rowers. Many accommodated 210 men, including sailors and thirty rowers. Many goods were bought in Punt, notably myrrh, which is said to have been goods were bought in Punt, notably myrrh, which is said to have been Hatshepsut's favorite fragrance. Most notably however, the Egyptians Hatshepsut's favorite fragrance. Most notably however, the Egyptians returned from the voyage bearing thirty-one live frankincense trees, returned from the voyage bearing thirty-one live frankincense trees,

whose roots were carefully kept in baskets for the duration of the whose roots were carefully kept in baskets for the duration of the voyage. This was the first ever recorded attempt to replant foreign voyage. This was the first ever recorded attempt to replant foreign trees. She reportedly had the trees planted in the courts of her Deir trees. She reportedly had the trees planted in the courts of her Deir

el Bahari mortuary templeel Bahari mortuary temple