A.P. World History Chapter 3:Early African Societies -

Egypt

Mr. Schabo

Crestwood High School

World History

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Geography of Egypt

• The Nile River– Over 4100 Miles Long- the

longest river in the world!– 90% of Egyptians live within

10 miles of the Nile!– Yearly flooding brings silt from

mountains of Africa; settles on Nile River’s banks; becomes fertile land.

– Egyptians worshipped the Nile River as a god.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.livescience.com/images/ig21_above_nile_river_02.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.livescience.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php%3Fpic%3Dig21_above_nile_river_02.jpg%26title%3DThe%2520Nile%2520River%26cap%3DThis%2Bimage%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bnorthern%2Bportion%2Bof%2Bthe%2BNile%2BRiver%2Bwas%2Bcaptured%2Bby%2Bthe%2BMulti-angle%2BImaging%2BSpectroradiometer%27s%2B(MISR%27s)%2Bnadir%2Bcamera%2Bon%2BJanuary%2B30%252C%2B2001.%2BAgainst%2Bthe%2Bbarren%2Bdesert%2Bof%2Bnortheastern%2BAfrica%252C%2Bthe%2Bfertile%2Bvalley%2Bof%2Bthe%2BNile%2BRiver%2Bruns%2Bnorthward%2Bthrough%2BEgypt.%2BThe%2Bcity%2Bof%2BCairo%2Bcan%2Bbe%2Bseen%2Bas%2Ba%2Bgray%2Bsmudge%2Bright%2Bwhere%2Bthe%2Briver%2Bwidens%2Binto%2Bits%2Bbroad%2Bfan-shaped%2Bdelta.%2BOther%2Bcities%2Bare%2Bdotted%2Bacross%2Bthe%2Bgreen%2Blandscape%252C%2Bgiving%2Bit%2Ba%2Bspeckled%2Bappearance.%2BWhere%2Bthe%2BNile%2Bempties%2Binto%2Bthe%2BMediterranean%2BSea%2B(top)%2Bthe%2Bwaters%2Bare%2Bswirling%2Bwith%2Bcolor%252C%2Blikely%2Ba%2Bmixture%2Bof%2Bsediment%252C%2Borganic%2Bmatter%252C%2Band%2Bpossibly%2Bmarine%2Bplant%2Blife.%2BFarther%2Bwest%252C%2Bthe%2Bbright%2Bblue%2Bcolor%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bwater%2Bis%2Blikely%2Bless-organically%2Brich%2Bsediment%252C%2Bperhaps%2Bsand.%2BClick%2Bto%2Benlarge.&usg=__CTDYnfKSDH43h8zJ89CEs2G1Nm4=&h=550&w=700&sz=95&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ADPeQgNm0CIMNM:&tbnh=157&tbnw=197&prev=/images%3Fq%3DNile%2Briver%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4GGLL_enUS375US376%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D841%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1620&vpy=299&dur=1248&hovh=199&hovw=253&tx=172&ty=95&ei=MiGFTLXSBYmWnAfplsHpCw&oei=MiGFTLXSBYmWnAfplsHpCw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0

Geography of Egypt (Continued)

• If floodwater was just a few feet low, silt and water from crops was reduced. People starved (BOOOOOO!!!)

• If floodwater was higher than normal, towns were flooded, destroying buildings, food storage areas, and seeds farmers needed for planting (BOOOOOO!!!)

• Desert lands on both sides of Nile forced Egyptians on small portion of land. Interaction with other societies was reduced (BOOOOOO!!!!)

• However, deserts kept out invaders and Egypt did not suffer the constant warfare that plagued the Fertile Crescent (YAAAAAY!!!)

Upper & Lower Egypt• Societies existed along the Nile from the

Mediterranean Sea well into Africa’s interior.• Travel only possible along Nile to a set of rapids,

called the First Cataract.• From Mediterranean Sea to the First Cataract, 2

regions develop: Upper and Lower Egypt.• Upper Egypt: High elevation; from first cataract

to Nile Delta.• Lower Egypt: Nile Delta – a delta is a section of

river that has branched many times or “fanned out” into a rough triangle shape. A triangle was the Greek letter “delta”, so that’s where the term comes from.

• The Nile was used for transport. The Nile’s current flows from south to north. Northbound boats just drift with the current. Going south? Use a sail.

http://www.virtual-egypt.com/newhtml/orientation/index.html

Egypt Unites Into a Kingdom• 5000 B.C. – Fishing villages along

the Nile. Each had its own gods, ruler, etc.

• 3200 B.C. – Developed into Upper & Lower Egypt. Each had its own King.

• 3000 B.C. – Upper & Lower Egypt United.

• Narmer is credited with uniting Egypt. He established his capital city, Memphis, where Upper and Lower Egypt met, creating the first Egyptian dynasty (there would be 31 dynasties over 2600 years!).

http://tracingthepast.com/index.php?p=1_16_Menes

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Egypt.LuxorTemple.06.jpg

Pharaohs Rule as Gods• Pharaoh: Ruler in Egyptian society.• Where other societies saw their kings

as appointed by the gods, having the gods’ favor, or representing the gods, Egyptians believed that the pharaohs were gods!

• They believed that the Pharaoh caused the rising and setting of the sun, flooding of the Nile, flourishing of crops, etc. It was the Pharaoh’s duty to promote truth, justice, and protect the empire.

• This type of government, based on religious authority, is called a theocracy.

http://forum.rifftrax.com/index.php?topic=13449.75

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The Pyramids

• Egyptians believed that the Pharaohs had a ka (eternal life force) which allowed pharaohs to rule after their death.

• Ka was like a living king in needs, wants, desires. What did Pharaohs want in life?

• Tombs had to be more glorified and elaborate than their palaces. Pharaohs laid to rest in a massive structure called a pyramid.

• Pyramids not only reflected the importance of a Pharaoh, but also the advancement of civilization.

http://www.guardians.net/egypt/pyramids/tour_the_pyramids.htm

Break: Hold up one finger for true, two for false.

• The Nile is the third longest river in the world.• Egypt’s lakes have kept it isolated from

outsiders, and it did not have the constant warfare that plagued other societies.

• Where the Nile fans out into a delta is a dividing point between Upper and Lower Egypt.

• Egyptians believed that the Pharaoh was appointed to rule them by the gods.

Egyptian Culture

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Religion and Life• Polytheistic – Believed in over

2000 gods and goddesses and built temples and statues to honor them. Major gods and goddesses were:– Re/Ra – The sun god– Osiris – The god of the dead– Isis – The ideal mother and

wife• Believed in life after death.• Planned for death:

– Built tombs– Practiced mummification– Filled tomb with items to be used

in the afterlife.

http://my.opera.com/I_ArtMan/blog/2008/05/06/healthnut-koolaid-and-tattoo

http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/bigelow/classroom/walker/egypt/4egyptwebrm3/egyptwebrmindex.htm

http://www.allegyptiangods.com/gods/osiris/

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002158/mummies.HTM

Egyptian Society

• Society formed a pyramid, with royals at the top, Upper class below them, followed by the middle class, and the lower class on the bottom.

• Movement between classes due to marriage or job success was allowed, and common.

• Women had the same rights as men: property ownership, propose marriage or seek divorce.

• Slave labor was common in Egypt. Slaves were usually obtained as prisoners of war.

http://www.windpowerninja.com/wind-power-government-industry-news/egypt-to-build-1000-mw-wind-power-plant-33781/

Writing• Egyptian writing is called hieroglyphics (from

Greek, meaning “sacred carving”).• Earliest hieroglyphics used pictures to represent

ideas and concepts.• Over time, hieroglyphs became associated with

sounds and a verbal language developed. • Originally carved in stone, later hieroglyphs were

written on a paper-like substance made from reeds called papyrus.

• Hieroglyphs deciphered by scholars using a key called the Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799.

http://www.idstyle.com/safari/egypt/

Science and Technology

• Calendar – Based on astronomical observations• Mathematics:

– Developed a number system.– Used Geometry to set property boundaries and

develop architectural principles that cannot be duplicated today!

• Medicine:– Check heart rate using “pulse points”– Used splints to treat broken bones– Developed Minor surgical procedures

http://www.susanlauer.com/egypt.html