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Chapter 4 Section 1: Egypt Under the Pharaohs. The Nile River Valley: The World’s Longest River Begins in East Africa and flows about 3,500 miles north to the Mediterranean Sea. The great river has two main sources- the White Nile and the Blue Nile which meet in present-day Sudan
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Chapter 4 Section 1: Egypt Under the Pharaohs The Nile River Valley: The World’s Longest River • Begins in East Africa and flows about 3,500 miles north to the Mediterranean Sea. • The great river has two main sources- the White Nile and the Blue Nile which meet in present-day Sudan • In ancient times, northern Sudan was known as Nubia, or Kush • The Nile flows through the Sahara desert and six cataracts- groups of rocky rapids, which made it impossible for people to travel by ship upstream to Egypt
Upper and Lower Egypt • Below the cataracts is known as Upper Egypt • The river carries silt- fine mineral particles that can form fertile soil • Near the end, the Nile slows down and fans out into many streams and marshy areas • As it slows, the river drops its silt • Over thousands of years, the silt formed a river delta- an area of sediment- soil or minerals carried by water- deposited at the mouth of river. • The Nile delta forms Lower Egypt
Floods and the Black Land • The yearly flooding created the Black Land • Flooding was unpredictable • Too much water created a natural disaster that swept away soil • Too little water created a drought which brought hunger The Red Land • On either side of the Black Land lay vast deserts called the Red Land • Deadly place of hot, burning sands
Civilization Develops: Growing a Surplus • Farmers built earthen walls around fields to trap the Nile’s flood waters • Created a food surplus • Powerful people and families collected the surplus crop as taxes The Birth of Cities • Local rulers used the surplus to buy rich cloth, jewelry, and luxury goodssupplied by merchants and artisans- skilled workers who practice a handicraft • Artisans and merchants settled around the homes of local ruler and they grew into cities • Centers of culture and power • Skilled architects built impressive buildings • Artists created great works to decorate buildings
The Kingdoms of Egypt • During the 3000s BCE two kingdoms developed. • Upper Egypt wore white crowns • Lower Egypt wore red crowns Uniting Egypt • Narmer united two kingdoms around 3000 BCE which made him the first pharaoh or king and founded Egypt’s earliest dynasty- a ruling family • Egypt’s history is divided into periods based on kingdoms and dynasties The Old and Middle Kingdoms • Old Kingdom- 2686 BCE to 2125 BCE • A period of prosperity, political strength, and cultural achievement • After many civil wars the Middle Kingdom began- 2055 BCE to 1650 BCE • Major environmental challenge- the Nile floods • Built a system of canals that could drain flood waters and irrigate new farmland
High Point and Decline • After more civil wars and invasions, the New Kingdom began- 1550 BCE to 1070 BCE • Conquered lands in Asia and Africa • High point of Egyptian power and prosperity • Conquered by the Persian Empire Egyptian Government • Pharaoh relied on bureaucracy- a system of offices and officials that handle the business of government • The head was called the vizier • Collected taxes from farmers- surplus crops • Bureaucracy became a model for later governments
Two Great New Kingdom Rulers • Hatshepsut • Watch MyStory • One of the few women to rule Egypt • Carried out all the rituals expected of a king • Dressed like a king, fake beard • Peaceful and built wealth and power through trade • Ramses II • 200 years after Hatshepsut • Gained wealth and power through war • Built more monuments than any other pharaoh
Egyptian Society • Gods controlled everything • Pharaohs • Nobles, priests, and officials • Merchants and artisans • Farmers • slaves
Egyptian Religion • Gods controlled everything and could be kind or dangerous • Built temples to please the gods and offered them prayers and gifts Many Gods • Polytheism- worshiped hundreds of gods • Many associated with animals and shared the strength, speed, or temper of the animal • Amon-Re: The Sun God who travelled across the sky and each night would die in the west and be reborn in the east • Osiris was the god of the underworld or world of the dead • Isis, the wife of Osiris, was the mother goddess and represented love, caring, and protection • Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris. • Every pharaoh was thought to be Horus in human form
Preparing for the Afterlife • Live a good life • Bodies must be preserved • Poor people were buried in the desert where the hot, dry sand quickly dried out their bodies • Wealthy people were made into mummies