Egypt: The Gift of

the Nile

Nile River:• Longest in world

• 4,100 miles

• Moves NORTH

• Floods each September leaving “black soil”

• River allowed a FOOD surplus…made Egypt rich

• Transportation & Communication easy

• Source is Lake

Victoria

• Egypt’s geography protected her from invaders

–Deserts–Seas–Cataracts

• MOUTH OF RIVER= THE DELTA

• Unlike Mesopotamia, the Nile UNIFIED Egypt for 3,000 years

• Life STABLE; River dependable

• Egyptians confident about future.

• Nile = a “god” who cared about their well-being.

• Rituals were observed to keep gods happy

History: • 6,000 BC: –Egyptians lived in farming villages

• 3,200 BC: –come into contact w/ Mesopotamia•Trade•Perhaps borrowed ideas about

writing from Mesopotamia

3100 BC: King Menes unites lower and upper kingdoms

-Builds capital, Memphis

*

Menes began a DYNASTY

Ancient Egypt had 28 dynasties over 3,000 years

Egyptian History is divided into 3 periods Old, Middle, and New

Kingdom--- in between are periods of chaos.

OLD Kingdom2700-2200 BC

•Prosperity, splendor

•Age of Pharaohs•“great House”•Were GODS•Egypt’s destiny= his responsibility

• KA ruled even after death• Tomb more important than palace• Built by peasants, not slaves

• 2 million bricks, each about 2 tons each!

http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/story/page2.html

Mummification?

Old Kingdom ends w/ the “First Illness” 2180-2080 BC•Civil war

•Power goes to local rulers

•Change in climate?

Middle Kingdom 2080-1640

• Capital moved to THEBES

• PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.. • To improve trade/farming

Dikes, temples, canals… PHARAOH CARES ABOUT COMMON PEOPLE

• Ordinary people plan for their eternal life, too.

2nd illness• Civil war• HYKSOS attack, rule for 70 years

• Egypt learns how to make bronze weapons• Use chariots, new bows• Spinning and weaving

Queen Ahhotep/ Pharaoh Kamose

•Drive Hyskos out, back to Palestine