Pyramids on the NilePyramids on the Nile

Geography of EgyptGeography of Egypt

Nile RiverNile River 4,100 miles4,100 miles Longest in WorldLongest in World

Gift of NileGift of Nile Yearly floodingYearly flooding JulyJuly

• RainsRains• Snow meltingSnow melting

Nile’s GiftsNile’s Gifts

After floodsAfter floods PlowPlow PlantPlant

HarvestHarvest Everything revolved around NileEverything revolved around Nile

Worshiped NileWorshiped Nile

Upper vs. Lower EgyptUpper vs. Lower Egypt

Lower NileLower Nile Last 750 milesLast 750 miles Only part known for a Only part known for a

whilewhile Ended at cataractEnded at cataract DeltaDelta NorthernNorthern

Upper EgyptUpper Egypt South of 1South of 1stst cataract cataract SouthernSouthern

TransportationTransportation

North bound boats driftNorth bound boats drift South bound boats raise sailsSouth bound boats raise sails

Winds blow North to SouthWinds blow North to South

Environmental ChallengesEnvironmental Challenges

Floods unpredictableFloods unpredictable ProblemProblem

Too little water = not enough silt (thousands Too little water = not enough silt (thousands die)die)

Too much water = villages flooding & Too much water = villages flooding & destructiondestruction

DesertDesert Natural barriersNatural barriers No invadersNo invaders

Movement of Goods & IdeasMovement of Goods & Ideas

3200 B.C. had contact w/ Mesopotamia3200 B.C. had contact w/ Mesopotamia Caravans tradeCaravans trade 2000 B.C. trading to Upper Egypt2000 B.C. trading to Upper Egypt

GoldGold IvoryIvory CattleCattle Granite BlocksGranite Blocks

Land of MultiplicityLand of Multiplicity

MulticulturalMulticultural MultiethnicMultiethnic Influences from Fertile Crescent & AfricaInfluences from Fertile Crescent & Africa 3000 year history3000 year history

Egypt Unites into KingdomEgypt Unites into Kingdom

5000 B.C. lived in villages5000 B.C. lived in villages Each had their own godsEach had their own gods Each had their own ritualsEach had their own rituals ChieftainsChieftains

3200 B.C. = 2 different kingdoms3200 B.C. = 2 different kingdoms Upper EgyptUpper Egypt Lower EgyptLower Egypt

United Kingdom cont.United Kingdom cont.

3100 B.C.3100 B.C. Menes unites 2 KingdomsMenes unites 2 Kingdoms From Upper EgyptFrom Upper Egypt 11stst Dynasty Dynasty Establish capital near 2 meeting pointsEstablish capital near 2 meeting points 2,600 years w/ 31 dynasties2,600 years w/ 31 dynasties 11stst two dynasties shady two dynasties shady 33rdrd dynasties had better record keeping dynasties had better record keeping

2660-2180 B.C. – Old Kingdom (32660-2180 B.C. – Old Kingdom (3rdrd dynasty) dynasty)

Pharaohs rule as godsPharaohs rule as gods

Pharaoh was godPharaoh was god Responsible for well-being of peopleResponsible for well-being of people Nile to floodNile to flood Sun to raiseSun to raise Promote truth & justicePromote truth & justice

TheocracyTheocracy Divine rulerDivine ruler Head of government & religionHead of government & religion

Mesopotamia king was reprehensive of godsMesopotamia king was reprehensive of gods

Builders of PyramidsBuilders of Pyramids

Pharaohs rule after Pharaohs rule after deathdeath

Ka = eternal spiritKa = eternal spirit Tombs more Tombs more

important than important than palacespalaces

Old Kingdom = Golden AgeOld Kingdom = Golden Age

Built w/o wheelBuilt w/o wheel Supply of rockSupply of rock

GraniteGranite LimestoneLimestone

Quarried 400 miles up riverQuarried 400 miles up river Weighed between 2 ½ - 15 tonsWeighed between 2 ½ - 15 tons

2 million stones stacked @ height of 481’2 million stones stacked @ height of 481’ 13 acres13 acres

What did this Represent?What did this Represent?

Economic strengthEconomic strength Massive public works projectMassive public works project LeadershipLeadership Government organizationGovernment organization

ReligionReligion

PolytheisticPolytheistic Worship many godsWorship many gods Ra: sun godRa: sun god Horus: god of lightHorus: god of light Isis: goddess, ideal mother & womenIsis: goddess, ideal mother & women 2,000 gods & goddess2,000 gods & goddess

After lifeAfter life Judged on deeds after they dieJudged on deeds after they die Osiris: god of death judgedOsiris: god of death judged

• Heart had to be lightHeart had to be light• Meant no sinMeant no sin• Devourer of souls to the impure heartsDevourer of souls to the impure hearts

Why were Egyptians happier than Fertile Crescent?Why were Egyptians happier than Fertile Crescent?

Social ClassesSocial Classes

King & Queen

Wealthy landowners, Priests, Government officials, Army commanders

Merchants & Artisans

Peasant farmers, unskilled laborers

Slaves came later

Social ClassesSocial Classes Could move up in social classesCould move up in social classes

MarriageMarriage Success in jobsSuccess in jobs

To be highTo be high ReadRead WriteWrite CareersCareers

• ArmyArmy• Royal treasuryRoyal treasury• PriesthoodPriesthood• Kings courtKings court

WomenWomen Own/trade landOwn/trade land Propose marriage/divorcePropose marriage/divorce

• Divorce entitled 1/3 of couples propertyDivorce entitled 1/3 of couples property

Egyptian WritingEgyptian Writing

Started as drawingStarted as drawing Moved to hieroglyphicsMoved to hieroglyphics

Picture stood for ideaPicture stood for idea Picture then stood for soundsPicture then stood for sounds 11stst written on stone written on stone Moved on papyrusMoved on papyrus

• Reeds driedReeds dried• Glued strips togetherGlued strips together• Make paperMake paper

Science & TechnologyScience & Technology Collected taxesCollected taxes

System of written #’sSystem of written #’s CountingCounting (+) & (-)(+) & (-)

Early form of geometryEarly form of geometry SurveySurvey Reset property boundaries after floodsReset property boundaries after floods

MathMath Help architectsHelp architects EngineersEngineers

Stone columnsStone columns

Science cont.Science cont.

MedicineMedicine Feel for pulseFeel for pulse SplintsSplints

CalendarCalendar Time between floodsTime between floods Growing seasonGrowing season Used star SiriusUsed star Sirius 12 months/30 days12 months/30 days 5 days for holidays & 5 days for holidays &

feastingfeasting W/in 6 hours of solar yearW/in 6 hours of solar year

Chariots Invade EgyptChariots Invade Egypt Power of pharaohs declinePower of pharaohs decline

2180 B.C.2180 B.C. End of Old KingdomEnd of Old Kingdom 11stst Intermediate period Intermediate period

• WeaknessWeakness• TurmoilTurmoil

Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 B.C.Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 B.C. Improve trade & transportationImprove trade & transportation

• Canal dug from Nile to Red SeaCanal dug from Nile to Red Sea Dikes builtDikes built

• Capture flood watersCapture flood waters• IrrigationIrrigation

1,000’s acres of new farmlands by draining swamps in Lower 1,000’s acres of new farmlands by draining swamps in Lower EgyptEgypt

1640 B.C.1640 B.C. Asian nomadsAsian nomads Cross Isthmus of Suez on ChariotsCross Isthmus of Suez on Chariots Hyksos, “Rulers of Uplands”Hyksos, “Rulers of Uplands”

• Ruled 1640-1570 B.C.Ruled 1640-1570 B.C.• 22ndnd intermediate period intermediate period