THE NILE VALLEYTHE NILE VALLEYCHAPTER 2: SECTION 1CHAPTER 2: SECTION 1

Settling the NileSettling the Nile Nile RiverNile River

4,000 mile long4,000 mile long Drink, clean, farm, cook, Drink, clean, farm, cook,

fishfish Blue Nile and White NileBlue Nile and White Nile Cataracts—narrow cliffs Cataracts—narrow cliffs

and boulders in the Nile and boulders in the Nile that form wild rapidsthat form wild rapids

Geographic Protection Geographic Protection from enemiesfrom enemies Sahara Desert to the WestSahara Desert to the West Mountains to the EastMountains to the East Cataracts to the SouthCataracts to the South Delta marshes to the Delta marshes to the

NorthNorth

Nile Valley—narrow, green Nile Valley—narrow, green valley in Egyptvalley in Egypt

Northern end of the valley Northern end of the valley is fertile—this is the deltais fertile—this is the delta

Mediterranean Sea to the Mediterranean Sea to the north and Red Sea to the north and Red Sea to the East allowed trade with East allowed trade with other peopleother people

Traveled the Nile to trade Traveled the Nile to trade with each otherwith each other

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

How did natural protection help How did natural protection help Egypt?Egypt?

Enemies had difficulty attacking the Enemies had difficulty attacking the country. Keeping people safe helped country. Keeping people safe helped the Egyptian population growthe Egyptian population grow

The River PeopleThe River People Floods along the Nile Floods along the Nile

were predictable and were predictable and not devastating during not devastating during SpringSpring

Floods would leave Floods would leave dark, fertile muddark, fertile mud

Wheat, Barley, and Wheat, Barley, and Flax seedsFlax seeds

IrrigationIrrigation Dug basins to trap flood Dug basins to trap flood

waterswaters Dug canals to channel Dug canals to channel

water to fieldswater to fields Built support to Built support to

strengthen basin wallsstrengthen basin walls

The River PeopleThe River People Papyrus—reed plant, used Papyrus—reed plant, used

to make baskets, sandals, to make baskets, sandals, and river raftsand river rafts

Later used to make paperLater used to make paper

Hieroglyphics-Egyptian Hieroglyphics-Egyptian system of writingsystem of writing Consisted of thousands of Consisted of thousands of

picture symbolspicture symbols Later symbols stood for Later symbols stood for

soundssounds Some Egyptian men Some Egyptian men

learned to read and writelearned to read and write ScribesScribes

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

Why might scribes be important to Why might scribes be important to Egyptian civilization?Egyptian civilization?

Rulers and other people in power Rulers and other people in power such as priests need scribes for such as priests need scribes for record keeping. Few people could go record keeping. Few people could go to school to be a scribeto school to be a scribe

United EgyptUnited Egypt Surplus of food—people became artisans instead of farmersSurplus of food—people became artisans instead of farmers

Wove cloth, pottery, carved statues, and crafted weapons Wove cloth, pottery, carved statues, and crafted weapons and toolsand tools

Traded with each other and with others in MesopotamiaTraded with each other and with others in Mesopotamia

The earliest rulers of Egypt were village chiefsThe earliest rulers of Egypt were village chiefs

4000 B.C. –two large kingdoms in Egypt4000 B.C. –two large kingdoms in Egypt Nile delta—Lower EgyptNile delta—Lower Egypt South—Upper EgyptSouth—Upper Egypt

A few strong chiefs united groups of villages into kingdomsA few strong chiefs united groups of villages into kingdoms

United EgyptUnited Egypt 3100 B.C.—two kingdoms 3100 B.C.—two kingdoms

became onebecame one

Narmer (Menes)—King of Upper Narmer (Menes)—King of Upper Egypt-took his armies north and Egypt-took his armies north and took control of lower Egypttook control of lower Egypt

Ruled from the city of MemphisRuled from the city of Memphis

Kingdom lasted long after his Kingdom lasted long after his death—Father to son to death—Father to son to grandson—forming a dynastygrandson—forming a dynasty

Egypt was ruled by 31 Egypt was ruled by 31 Dynasties group into three time Dynasties group into three time periodsperiods Old Kingdom—2600 B.C.Old Kingdom—2600 B.C. Middle Kingdom—2050 B.C.Middle Kingdom—2050 B.C. New Kingdom—1550 B.C.New Kingdom—1550 B.C.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

In what ways was ancient Egypt like In what ways was ancient Egypt like Mesopotamia?Mesopotamia?

Powerful RiversPowerful Rivers Economies based on farmingEconomies based on farming ArtisansArtisans Technological advancesTechnological advances Government to help the peopleGovernment to help the people

Early Egyptian LifeEarly Egyptian Life

Social ClassesSocial Classes Pharaoh

Upper Class

Nobles, priests, government officials

Middle Class

Merchants, artisans, shoe keepers, scribes

Lower Middle Class

Farmers

Lower Class

Unskilled workers

Early Egyptian LifeEarly Egyptian Life Men—head of the Men—head of the

householdshouseholds Few children went to Few children went to

schoolschool Played games and had toysPlayed games and had toys Egyptian girls learned to Egyptian girls learned to

sew, cook and run a sew, cook and run a householdhousehold

Boys learned to farm or a Boys learned to farm or a skilled tradeskilled trade

Women-Women- could own and pass on could own and pass on

propertyproperty Buy and sell goodsBuy and sell goods Make willsMake wills Obtain divorcesObtain divorces

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

How are US children today like How are US children today like children of ancient Egypt? How are children of ancient Egypt? How are they different?they different?

Toys/GamesToys/Games Boys/Girls are required by law of USA to Boys/Girls are required by law of USA to

go to schoolgo to school Girls can learn to farm or skill tradeGirls can learn to farm or skill trade Boys can learn to sew and cookBoys can learn to sew and cook