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Ancient Civilizations: Egypt. Ventre’s Adventures. Geography & Environment. The Geography. On which continent is Egypt located?
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The Geography • On which continent is Egypt located? • Africa; in the northeastern region
The Geography • Location • North Africa • Natural barriers: Mediterranean Sea, Sahara Desert, Red Sea • Result = less prone to invasion.
The Geography • On which river did the ancient Egyptians settle? • Nile River • WHY??
The Geography • Nile River • World’s longest river (4130 miles) • “Gift of the Nile” annual flooding that deposits rich soil. • Benefits • Easy communication. • Transportation. • Ample water supply.
Menes: Unifier of Upper & Lower Egypt Upper vs Lower Upper Lower Menes
Great to be an Egyptian? • A social hierarchy not locked in. • Possible to change status via marriage, personal success, etc.
Writing • Earliest form of writing = pictograph
The Importance of Writing • In hieroglyphics: • Images stand for ideas, as well as for sounds • The image of an OWL stands for the m sound, as well as for the bird itself
The Importance of Writing • Hieroglyphics: developed from pictographs • Images stand for ideas, as well as for sounds
Papyrus -A paper-like material - Now scribes could write on a more compact surface, instead of stone or clay.
As the Egyptian civilization declined, any chance of deciphering hieroglyphics was lost…. Rosetta Stone
Egyptian Religion • Polytheism: • The worship of many gods • Worshipped 2000+ gods and goddesses
Isis – the protective goddess. She used powerful magic to help people in need. Ra – the sun god. He was the most important god of the ancient Egyptians. Brother and Sister Anubis – the god of embalming and the dead. Osiris – god of the dead, and ruler of the underworld.
Atum – the creator god. Believed to be the first god to exist. Seth – the god of chaos. Horus – god of the sky. Protector of the pharaoh. Sekhmet – goddess of war.
Egyptian Government • Theocracy: • Type of gov’tin which rule is based upon religious authority
Egyptian Government • Pharoh • Egyptians believed that their kings, or pharaohs, WERE gods • Pharaohs VERY POWERFUL! • Ruled religion, government & military
What is Ka? • Egyptians believed that the Pharaohs possessed an eternal life force, also known as ka
What is Ka? • Ka allowed pharaohs to rule for all of eternity; therefore, their tombs were even more important than their palaces on earth