Ancient Egypt
Describe the dominant characteristics, contributions of, and interactions among major
civilizations of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East in ancient and medieval times
H.3b.G
What does it take to start a civilization?
What do you need to consider when choosing a place to live?
Table Brainstorming
What do you know about Egypt?– Sphinx– Pyramids– Mummies– Desert
Characteristics
Very little rainfall
Rely on predictable yearly floods
Nile - longest river in the world (4,160 mi)
Nile Valley – lush and green on either side
Late Spring and Summer heavy tropical rains in Central Africa and melting mountain snow
The Nile River Valley
Settling the ValleyWhen floods recede they leave rich silt Early 5000 BC nomadic hunters and gathersFarming (Wheat & Barley), Hunting (Ducks & Geese), Water (Fishing)Harvesting – Papyrus (rope, sandals, matting, baskets, and paper like material)
Then what happened…
Because of the geography (surrounded by deserts and waterfalls) farming villages prospered
Monarchies begin forming – weak villages are absorbed by stronger ones
Egypt splits into Upper Egypt (in the South) and Lower Egypt (in the North)
The Pyramids
Built to give King’s eternal resting place
Believed that Pharaoh’s soul guided kingdom even after death
Preserved the body by embalming and mummification
Many times wealth were buried with clothing, weapons, and other personal items.
Egyptian Monarchy
30 dynasties classified into 3 categories– Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms
Basic characteristics of civilization developThe King (later called Pharaoh) was seen as a God Theocracy – ruled both political and religious Bureaucracy – headed by the King’s Vizier or Prime Minister performed powers delegated by the King
Old Kingdom
Narmer (aka Menes) leads troops to conquer Lower Egypt
Sets up the 1st Government
Beginning of the 1st Egyptian Dynasty (ruling family)
Middle Kingdom
Period of unrest
Impact of rulers– Brought irrigation– Added land to Kingdom– Cultivated additional land for agriculture– Set up fortresses on the Nile– Launched Military Campaign on Syria– Constructed Canals for trading
The Fall of the Middle Kingdom
Hyksos (HiHk Sahs) take over– Bronze weapons
– Horse drawn chariots
Egyptians were using copper and stone weapons while fighting on foot
New Kingdom
Ahmose raises army & defeats Hyksos
Title of Pharaoh begins
Ahmose rebuilds Egypt – restores temples and reopened trade routes
Following rulers used large armies to conquer lands
Hatshepsut
ruled w/ husband and then in place of stepson
Extensive building programs (funeral temples and tombs especially in The Valley of the Kings)
Amenhotep and Nefertit
Broke with traditional ways of worshiping many gods
People didn’t like it
Priest lost power
Egypt loses land
When Amenhotep dies, priest restore power like it was previously
Ramses II (Ramses the Great)Creates permanent peace treaty with HittitesOne of the biggest finds was a tomb that contained 50 of his 52 sonsWith Ramses death, Egypt declines and is taken over by foreign control in 945 BC
Contributions
Hieroglyphics
Science Achievements– Advances in Mathematics
• Number System and way to calculate volume and area
• Geometry used to survey flooded land
– 365 Day Calendar (movement of sun and moon)
– Medical Expertise• Human anatomy and scrolls from doctors on treatment of
injuries