The Egyptian Empire and Pharaohs

Done by: Lucía Gutierrez, Sofía Solohaga, Sofía Rosemblatt and Malena

Valladares.

Ancient Egypt was a long, narrow country

which stretched along the Nile Valley. Village grew up along the Nile, because the

land on either side of the river was goof to farm.

Farmers of the Nile Valley

By around 3100BC, there were two separate kingdoms, called Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt.

The Egyptians grew peas, beans, onions, garlic,

leeks, cucumbers, grapes, melons, pomegranates, figs and dates. The main crops were wheat and barley, which were used to make bread and beer.

Crops

Crops Beans

Egyptians farmers kept cattle, sheep, goats,

pigs, geese, ducks and pigeons.

Animals

In November, after the floodwater had gone

down, the farmer prepared his fields and planted his crops. In the spring, the whole family helped with the harvest. Then the farmer mended the ditches that carried water to the fields, ready for the next year’s flood.

The farmer’s year

Around 1720BC, Egypt was invaded by people called the Hyksos. They began to invade nearby lands and quickly built up a large empire.

The Egyptians were led into battle by their

pharaohs (kings), who were skilled soldiers. The greatest warrior pharaoh was Tuthmosis III, who led his army to war 17 times. The most dangerous of Egypt’s enemies were the Hittites. Pharaoh Ramesses II fought against then for over 30 year.

Warrior Pharaohs

The Egyptians had their own gold mines and

could use the gold to buy things they needed. Some traders even went as far as Punt, a place on the east coast of Africa. There, they bought valuable myrrh trees, which were used to make sweet-smelling incense.

Trading Trips

People came from all over the Empire to the

pharaoh’s court. They brought goods to trade and rich gifts for the pharaoh. The gifts were a kind of tax, called tribute, that all conquered people had to pay.

The pharaoh’s court

Inside each temple was a statue of the god who lived there. Every morning priests, washed the statue, dressed it, gave it food and prayed to it. Ordinary people did not normally go inside the temple. They only saw the statue of the god on festival days.

Temples

A few boys from rich families went to the

temple school to learn how to read and write. Girls did not go to school. They were taught at home by their mothers.

The Egyptians wrote in pictures or signs, which we call hieroglyphs. Scribes wrote on special paper, called papyrus, which was made from reeds.

Writing