Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt

The Nile RiverThe Nile River ““Egypt is the gift of the Nile”Egypt is the gift of the Nile” -Herodotus, 400 BC-Herodotus, 400 BC

LocationLocation Egypt is located on the Egypt is located on the

banks of the Nile River in banks of the Nile River in NE AfricaNE Africa

Nile runs from SOUTH Nile runs from SOUTH (East Africa) to NORTH (East Africa) to NORTH (Egypt)(Egypt)

Water flows downhill! Water flows downhill! (mountains to plains). (mountains to plains). See History of Our World See History of Our World elevation map, p. 67elevation map, p. 67

LocationLocation The Nile is the world’s The Nile is the world’s

longest river, running longest river, running through many regions.through many regions.

Regions along the Regions along the river & in Egypt’s river & in Egypt’s delta are fertiledelta are fertile

DELTA – a plain at the DELTA – a plain at the mouth of a river.mouth of a river.

LocationLocation Most of the regions are desert.Most of the regions are desert. ““Red Land” – blistering-hot landRed Land” – blistering-hot land Deserts protect area from invasion.Deserts protect area from invasion.

Successful FarmingSuccessful Farming How could the Egyptians How could the Egyptians

farm when so much of farm when so much of their country was their country was desert?desert?

Floods from mountains Floods from mountains drop SILT (fine soil) on drop SILT (fine soil) on land making it good for land making it good for cropscrops

““Black land” – dark, Black land” – dark, fertile soilsfertile soils

GovernmentGovernment PharaohPharaoh is the title used by the is the title used by the

kings of Egypt.kings of Egypt.

GovernmentGovernment A A dynastydynasty is a is a

series of rulers series of rulers from the same from the same family or ethnic family or ethnic group.group.

Absolute powerAbsolute power: : complete control complete control over the people over the people one rules. one rules. Pharaohs made all Pharaohs made all the laws!the laws!

GovernmentGovernment RegentRegent: someone who rules for a : someone who rules for a

child until they are old enough to rulechild until they are old enough to rule

Pharaohs Pharaohs Mendes:Mendes: king who united Upper & king who united Upper &

Lower EgyptLower Egypt

HatshepsutHatshepsut Started as a regent for her stepson, Started as a regent for her stepson,

Thutmose III, but appointed herself Thutmose III, but appointed herself Pharaoh.Pharaoh.

One of the few female leaders of the One of the few female leaders of the ancient world.ancient world.

There was peace & economic There was peace & economic success during her rule.success during her rule.

Encouraged trade with faraway Encouraged trade with faraway lands.lands.

Thutmose IIIThutmose III Took over after death of Took over after death of

Hatshepsut. (He may Hatshepsut. (He may have played a role in her have played a role in her death).death).

He destroyed all her He destroyed all her statues.statues.

Thutmose III conquered Thutmose III conquered new lands, was new lands, was educated, and was educated, and was merciful to those he merciful to those he defeated.defeated.

CleopatraCleopatra NOT AN NOT AN

ANCIENT ANCIENT PHARAOH!PHARAOH!

In 51 BC, Queen In 51 BC, Queen Cleopatra was Cleopatra was the last to rule the last to rule before Rome before Rome conquered conquered Egypt.Egypt.

ReligionReligion Polytheism:Polytheism:

believed in believed in many godsmany gods

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ReligionReligion Afterlife:Afterlife: the the

belief that life belief that life continues after continues after the body is the body is deaddead– Food, clothing Food, clothing

and other and other possessions possessions were left with were left with the bodies for the bodies for the afterlifethe afterlife

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ReligionReligion Pyramid:Pyramid: a 4-sided a 4-sided

triangular building triangular building which served as a which served as a giant tomb for the giant tomb for the fallen pharaohsfallen pharaohs

Mummy:Mummy: preserved preserved body of a dead body of a dead personperson

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CultureCulture

Social Classes:Social Classes: groups of people who groups of people who have similar backgrounds or jobshave similar backgrounds or jobs

CultureCultureRanking in order of importance:Ranking in order of importance:

↓↓SlavesSlaves

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Role of WomenRole of Women Had most of the rights that men didHad most of the rights that men did Could own property/run a businessCould own property/run a business Could even be a ruler (Hatshepsut)Could even be a ruler (Hatshepsut)

Writing SystemWriting System

Hieroglyphs:Hieroglyphs: picture-like picture-like symbols used to symbols used to express ideas & express ideas & conceptsconcepts– Also used as a Also used as a

record keeping record keeping tooltool

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Writing SystemWriting System Papyrus:Papyrus: an early an early

form of paper in form of paper in EgyptEgypt

Strips of the reed Strips of the reed were crossed to were crossed to form a sheet which form a sheet which was laid out to drywas laid out to dry

Ink was used from Ink was used from berries & plants to berries & plants to write withwrite with

Scientific ContributionsScientific Contributions Calendars: Calendars:

they also they also used the used the stars to stars to predict when predict when the floods the floods were comingwere coming

Scientific ContributionsScientific Contributions Mathematics: very good at Mathematics: very good at

manipulating numbersmanipulating numbers

Scientific ContributionsScientific Contributions

Medicine: because Medicine: because of mummification, of mummification, they were very they were very knowledgeable knowledgeable about the human about the human body & were able to body & were able to perform surgeries. perform surgeries.

Also good with Also good with home remedies.home remedies.