Ancient Ancient EgyptEgypt

The Nile Valley• ANNUAL FLOODS

– Deposited Silt

– Protected from other civilizations by deserts

• UPPER EGYPT

– First Cataract to 100 miles of Mediterranean

• LOWER EGYPT

– 100 miles to River Delta

– Upper and Lower were united in 3100 BC

Egyptian Religion

• Polytheistic• Amon-Re, Sun God - Chief God• Osiris - God of Underworld and

Nile• Strong Belief in Afterlife

– Life after death would be like life on earth

– Buried with items you need– Preserved bodies with

Mummification

FACTEgyptians believed that your heart would be weighed against a feather of truth. Sinners would be fed to a crocodile-shaped eater of the dead!

Egyptian Writing

• Lasting Records– Hieroglyphics used by

Scribes– Demotic - Simpler form for

everyday use– Developed Papyrus

• Rosetta Stone early 1800’S– Written in Hieroglyphics,

Demotic, and Greek

Wisdom of Egyptians

• MEDICINE– Extensive knowledge of Human bodies– Surgical operations

• ASTRONOMY– Mapped Stars– Developed Calendar– 12 Months of 30 Days– 5 Days added to the end of the year

• MATHEMATICS– Developed Geometry– Engineering Skills (Pyramids)

Pyramids• Most made during the Old Kingdom• Were made to be the tombs for pharaohs• They began as flat tombs called Mastabas.

Stepped Pyramid• The great architect Imhotep decided to place one

mastaba on top of another• He is the first “artist” whom we know his name• He created the “Stepped” Pyramid

Snefru’s Pyramids

• The Pharaoh Snefru constructed at least three pyramids.

• The “Collapsed” Pyramid• A “Bent Pyramid”• The first “true” Pyramid – Red

Pyramid

The Giza Plateau

• Consists of many Pyramids and monuments:• The largest – Pyramid of Khufu• 2nd – Pyramid of Khafre• Smallest- Pyramid of Menkaure • Many “Queens” Pyramids• Great Sphinx