Section 1 Notes

Chapter 2

“Egypt is wholly the gift of the Nile”

Herodotus

Farming villages were formed along the Nile River

“Black Land”---narrow band (10 miles) of irrigated land

“Red Land”---Sahara DesertFarmers used the fertile soil of the Nile Valley

to grow crops such as wheat and flaxThe ancient Egyptians eagerly awaited the

yearly flooding of the Nile---it brought life-giving water and spread a layer of silt

Geography of the Nile Valley

Flooding needed to be controlledAncient Egyptians used dikes, reservoirs, and

irrigation ditches to channel the rising river and store water for the dry season

Geography of the Nile Valley

The Nile River

The Nile River

Ancient Egypt had two distinct regions: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt

Upper Egypt stretched from the first cataract of the Nile northward to within 100 miles of the Mediterranean

Lower Egypt covered the delta region where the Nile empties into the Mediterranean

About 3100 BC, Menes united the two regions---the Nile helped to make Egypt the world’s first unified state and served as the major trade route in Egypt

Geography of the Nile Valley

Regions of Egypt

History of ancient Egypt is divided into three main periods

Old Kingdom---about 2700BC to 2200BCDuring the Old Kingdom, Egyptian rulers called

pharaohs organized a strong, centralized statePharaohs claimed divine support for their ruleEgyptians believed the pharaoh was a god---the

pharaoh thus had absolute power, owning and ruling all the land in the kingdom

Vizier---chief minister of a pharaoh who supervised the business of government

The Old Kingdom

Under the vizier, various departments looked after tax collection, farming, and the all-important irrigation system

The majestic pyramids at Giza were built during the Old Kingdom

To complete the pyramids, workers hauled and lifted millions of limestone blocks, some weighing two tons or more. The builders had NO iron tools or wheeled vehicles. Workers quarried the stones by hand, pulled them on sleds to the site, and hoisted them up earthen ramps. Building a pyramid took so long that often a pharaoh would begin to build his tomb as soon as he inherited the throne.

The Old Kingdom

Pharaoh

Pyramids

Pyramids

Pyramids

Middle Kingdom---about 2050BC to 1800BCThe Middle Kingdom was a turbulent periodThe Nile did not rise as regularly as it had Corruption and rebellions were common

The Middle Kingdom

New Kingdom---about 1550BC to 1100BCDuring the New Kingdom, powerful and

ambitious pharaohs created a large empireAt its height, the Egyptian empire reached

the Euphrates River (in Iraq)

The New Kingdom

The most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom was Ramses II

Between 1290BC and 1224BC, Ramses pushed Egyptian rule northward as far as Syria

The New Kingdom

Ramses II

Ramses II

Nubia was located just to the south of ancient Egypt

For centuries, Egyptians traded or fought with their southern neighbor. From Nubia, they acquired ivory, cattle, and slaves.

During the New Kingdom, Egypt conquered Nubia. Ramses II used gold from Nubia to pay charioteers in his army

Egypt and Nubia