ANCIENT EGYPT6th Grade World History

The Nile Valley

Essential Question: How did the geography of the Nile River

valley lead to the growth of a civilization there?

A Mighty River

Nile RiverDrank from itBathed in itCooking and cleaningFish

A Sheltered Land

Before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile forms a delta

Desert located on either side – keeps armies away from Egypt’s territory

Traded in the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea

The River People

Nile floods were predictable and consistentLeave behind a layer of dark, fertile mud

Irrigation TechniquesDug canals to carry water to fields

beyond the river’s reach Papyrus – reed plant

Baskets, sandals, river rafts and paper!

Hieroglyphics

Created symbols that stood for objects, ideas and sounds

Few people could read and writeScribes: Few Egyptian men

○ Kept records for rulers, priests and traders○ Carved hieroglyphics into stone monuments

The Rise of Government in Ancient Egypt Irrigation systems had to be built and

maintained Surplus grain had to be stored and

passed out in the case of need Disputes over land ownership had to be

settled Earliest rulers were village chiefs who

would gradually take over neighboring villages

Upper and Lower Egypt 4000 B.C.E. – Egypt was made up of 2 large

kingdomsLower EgyptUpper Egypt

3100 B.C.E. – Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt

Egypt was ruled by 31 dynasties grouped into 3 categoriesOld KingdomMiddle Kingdom New Kingdom

Egypt’s Social Classes

Pharaoh Priests and Nobles Traders, Artisans, Shopkeepers and

Scribes Farmers and Herders Unskilled Workers

Family Life

Men were often considered the head of the household

However, Egyptian women enjoyed more rights than females in almost every other early civilization

Few Egyptian children attended schoolMothers taught daughtersFathers taught sons

Making Connections 1. What is papyrus and how did the

Egyptian’s use it?

2. Cause and Effect: Name three things that led to the growth of government in Ancient Egypt.

3. Answer the Essential Question: How did the geography of the Nile River valley lead to the growth of a civilization there?

Egypt’s Old Kingdom

Essential Question: What characterized the religious beliefs of

the Ancient Egyptians?

Old Kingdom Rulers – 2600-2300 B.C.E. Pharaoh

All powerful ruler who guided all activityLived in grand palacesAppointed officials to carry out their

wishesConsidered to be the son of Re – The

Sun God

Egypt’s Religion

Worshipped many deities who were believed to control nature and human activitiesRe – The Sun GodIsis – Worshipped as the ideal wife and

motherOsiris – God of the DeadHapi – Ruled the Nile River

Life After Death

Hopeful view that life after death would be better than the life before it

Book of the DeadCollection of spells and prayers to obtain life

after death For centuries, Egyptians believed only the

pharaohs and elite few could enjoy the afterlife and their spirit would travel to the afterlife after deathBody could not be decayed for this journey

Enbalming and Mummification

Remove organs from body

Mummy is placed inside wooden coffin inside tomb

Body is tightly wrapped in linen

Body cleaned with special oils

Apply natron, a special salt to the body

Body is stored for several days to dry

Body is filled with spices and perfumes

Body is sewed shut

Protection for the Pharaoh’s Body

Egyptians learned much about the human body through embalming

The Pyramids Protected bodies of dead pharaohs from floods,

animals and grave robbers Held supplies pharaohs would need in the afterlife

ClothingFurnitureJewelryFood

Skilled artisans used copper tools to cut stone into huge blocks

Pulled stone on sleds to pyramid site Dragged and pushed them up ramps to be set in

place Great Pyramid at Giza

Making Connections

1. What might Egyptians have learned from embalming bodies?

2. Answer the Essential Question: What characterized the religious beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians?

The Egyptian Empire

Essential Question: How did Akenaton upset the traditional order

of the New Kingdom?

The Middle Kingdom 2050-1670 B.C.E.

New dynasty came to power Moved Egyptian capital to Thebes Golden Age of stability, prosperity and

achievement Forced conquered people to send tribute

to the pharaoh

The Arts Blossom

Painters covered walls of tombs and temples with colorful scenes of the deities and daily life

Sculptors created large statues of pharaohs

Tombs were cut into the side of cliffs – Valley of the Kings

The New Kingdom

Queen HatshepsutMore interested in trade than conquestTraded beads, gold, ivory, ebony and

incense for woodTrade under her rule brought great

wealth to Egypt

Expanding the Empire

Thutmose III’s armies expanded Egypt North of Mesopotamia and into Africa

Enslaved prisoners of warCould own land, marry and eventually be

granted freedom

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs

Amenhotep/AkhenatonIntroduced one god worship of AtonRemoved priests who resisted the

changesPeople saw this as an attack on Egypt

itselfDevotion to a new religion caused him to

ignore the attack of the Hittites who took over much of the empire

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs

Tutankhamen – The Boy KingRestored the old religionDied unexpectedly – murder?Most famous of all pharaohs because of

his brilliant gold funeral mask

End of the New Kingdom

Ramses II – rebuilt the empire and constructed new temples KarnakThebesTemples were the homes of gods and

goddesses

Egypt’s Decline and Fall

Later pharaohs have difficulty controlling a large empire

Egypt was attacked by people from the MediterraneanIron weapons

Egypt changed hands several times 670B.C.E. – Egypt is taken over by

the Assyrians

Making Connections

1. What improvements did the Middle Kingdom rulers make?

2. Answer the Essential Question: How did Akenaton upset the traditional order of the New Kingdom?