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Lesson Objectives the location of ancient Egypt on the

world map why Egyptian civilisation developed

around the Nile River the climate of Egypt

key features of ancient Egyptian civilisation

the creativity of the people of ancient Egypt that is reflected in our world

achievements from ancient Egypt continue to benefit us today

Fun Facts

•Do you think it rains in Egypt?

Singapore’s Average Monthly Rainfall

Look at the data for Singapore’s average rainfall in MARCH (measured in mm), from 1869-2013 (145 yrs)

How much rain do you think Egypt receives in March?

Rainfall in Egypt

http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Cairo-weather-averages/Al-Qahirah/EG.aspx

• In other words, what is unusual in Singapore is normal in Egypt!

Why did Ancient Egyptians settle around Nile River?

Where would you want to live?

Nile River

• The Nile River is one of the longest rivers in the world

• How has the Nile River helped Ancient Egypt to develop her greatness?

Life along the Nile River (TB 5A p.68)

The Nile River provided the Egyptians with: • Water for:• Drinking• Bathing• Farming• Cooking• Cleaning

• Fish• Useful plants (e.g papyrus)• Trade routes between Egyptian villages• Raw materials such as mud to make bricks

Since rainfall is very rare in Egypt, the annual floods provided the only source of moisture to sustain crops.

Key Features of Egyptian Civilisation

• The Egyptians worshipped over 2,000 gods• These gods were believed to control every aspect of nature• These gods were often linked to animals• Can you guess which animal was associated with these gods?

Thoth – god of writing

Ra – Sun god

Sobek – god of the Nile

Anubis – god of the dead

Horus – god of the sky

Bastet – a protective goddess

Deciphering the Ankh• Which four hieroglyphs do you see

in the Ankh on the right?• What do you think the Ankh

means?

Mummification• Egyptians were particularly

obsessed with the afterlife• The king (Pharaoh) was seen as

divine, and became one with the gods after death• Elaborate steps were taken to

preserve the bodies of rulers• Lungs, liver, stomach and large

intestines were first removed and preserved in these jars

Tombs

• After mummification, the body would be placed in an underground tomb

• Pharaohs built increasingly elaborate tombs for themselves, culminating in the Pyramids of Giza.

• There are many pyramids found across Egypt

Have you seen this before?

http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/history/egypt/egyptiannumbersystem/

Writing

• The Egyptian form of writing is known as hieroglyphics.

• It can be carved on stone or other hard materials.

• Later, the ancient Egyptians wrote on sheets made from papyrus.

How did we learn how to read hieroglyphics?

• In 1799 this stone was discovered near the village of Rosetta

• As it contained both Greek and Egyptian writing, scholars were able to understand hieroglyphics after much study

EgyptologyDo you know that there are people who dedicate their lives to examining the art, archaeology, religion and history of Egypt?

A Famous Egyptologist• Howard Carter was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist

who became world famous after discovering the intact tomb of 14th-century BC Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Howard Carter and Tutankhamun's Tombhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SG&hl=en-GB&v=7ZWB5-aXMXQ (00.00 – 04:00)

What qualities of an archaeologist did Carter display?

What comes to mind when you think of the words ‘empire’ or ‘dynasty’?

• Powerful• Grandeur• Rulers, Kings, Emperors• Achievements• Lineage

Definition of Empire & Dynasty

Empire•a group of nations ruled over by an emperor, empress or any kind of government•usually a territory larger than a kingdom

Dynasty• a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long

period of time; • also : the period of time when a particular dynasty is

in power

Can you name an empire you know?

• Roman Empire• British Empire

Empires in History

• Large international businesses are known as “Empires”

• e.g Google corporation

Empires Today

How did empire and dynasty come about?

A powerful person who became the ruler!

Egypt Timeline at a glance• Ancient Egyptian history is divided into 31 dynasties over 3500

years.

End of Egyptian Civilisation• Over time, ancient Egypt was weakened by foreign

invasions and internal rivalry• In 332 BC, Egypt was briefly under the control of Greece

– Alexander the Great conquered it• In 30 BC, Rome conquered Egypt. Its last ruler, Cleopatra

VII, committed suicide. Egypt was now part of the Roman Empire• The last known hieroglyphics were written in 394 AD• The last temples for Egyptian gods closed in 553 AD• So Egypt lost its political independence, then its culture

and language faded away• It could no longer be considered a distinct civilisation

Rise of EgyptLet us find out how unification in Egypt started.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAe4GHoX_zo (00:00 – 10:10)

• If you were King Narmer, what are the first things you will do after unification of Egypt? Explain why.

Greece and Rome

•Who were these powerful civilisations which ended the era of ancient Egypt?• You will learn about them soon!

Homework• Read up on Features of Egyptian Civilisation in your Textbook

from pages 69 to 72.

See you in Egypt Lesson 2