Preview Starting Points Map: The Nile Valley Main Idea / Reading Focus Geography and Early Egypt

2. Preview Starting Points Map: The Nile Valley Main Idea / Reading Focus Geography and Early Egypt The Old Kingdom The Middle Kingdom The New Kingdom Map: The New Kingdom Faces of History: Hatshepsut The Kingdom of Egypt

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4. The Kingdom of Egypt Main Idea Egypt was one of the most stable and long-lasting civilizations of the ancient world. • Reading Focus • How did geography influence Egypt’s early history? • What achievements were made in the Old Kingdom? • What happened during the Middle Kingdom? • What was Egypt like during the New Kingdom?

5. Geography and Early Egypt • The Nile • Most important physical feature in Egypt • 4,000 miles long; flows through the Sahara Desert • Without the Nile’s waters, no one could live there. • Geography of Egypt • The Nile flooded every year • Predictable floodwaters with spring rains • Left rich, black silt • Narrow band of fertile soil • Became home of Egyptian civilization

6. Cataracts Delta • Nile afforded protection itself • Flowed through cataracts to the south • Currents and waterfalls made sailing impossible • Not an easy invasion route • Egypt’s most fertile soil in Nile Delta • Silt deposits at mouth of river • Black Land of rich arable soil • Red Land unlivable but afforded protection Geographical Features

7. Two Kingdoms • First farming villages as early as 5000 BC • Northern Kingdom, Lower Egypt • Mild climate; cobra goddess worshipped • Southern Kingdom, Upper Egypt • Warmer climate; prayed to a vulture goddess • Unification • Two kingdoms unified around 3100 BC • Upper Egypt ruler Menes conquered north • Founded capital city of Memphis • Adopted both symbols, the snake and the vulture • First of 31 dynasties

8. Draw Conclusions How did geography affect where the early Egyptians lived? Answer(s): They lived in a narrow strip of fertile land where they could raise crops. It was surrounded by inhospitable desert, which would not easily support life.

9. The Pyramids Building Pyramids • Most famous symbols of Egypt • Largest located near Giza • Built as tombs for rulers • Hollow chamber for burial • Treasures buried with them • Deadly traps within • Design changed to smooth-sided over time • Took great planning and skill • Ordered when kings took the throne • Built from the inside out • Not built by slaves • Peasants required to work one month per year • Professional craftspeople like architects, artists The Old Kingdom Many of the institutions for which the Egyptian civilization is known were created during the period which began around 2650 BC.

10. The Pharaohs • The head of the government was the king • Became known as pharaoh (“great house”) • Had great power because he was believed to be a god • Egypt a theocracy, a state ruled by religious figures • Egyptian Bureaucracy • Pharaoh could not rule Egypt alone • Aided by bureaucracy, many of whom were pharaoh’s relatives • Most powerful official was the vizier • Hundreds of lesser officials kept Egypt running smoothly

11. Summarize What Egyptian institutions were developed during the Old Kingdom? Answer(s): a government headed by the pharaoh, highly structured bureaucracy

12. Old Kingdom collapsed around 2100 BC Warfare, economic strife for almost 200 years New dynasty began Middle Kingdom 2055 BC Strong leadership brought stability Trade with surrounding lands encouraged Trade routes not always safe Fortresses built along the Nile The Hyksos invaded, conquered around 1650 BC The Middle Kingdom

13. Summarize How did the Middle Kingdom rise and fall? Answer(s): new dynasty came to power after almost 200 years of chaos; brought stability and economic prosperity; Middle Kingdom fell when Egypt was invaded by the Hyksos, who conquered Lower Egypt

14. The New Kingdom • Hyksos ruled almost 100 years • Not harsh, but resented • Defeated by nobles from Thebes who became new rulers of Egypt • Securing Egypt • Egypt could not rely on geography for protection • Desert and sea not enough • Had to build powerful military • First permanent army • Traditional foot soldiers • Archers and charioteers • Adopted weapons from Hyksos • Created an empire • Egypt to rule beyond Nile Valley • Headed south into Nubia • Also campaigns east into Asia

16. The Reign of Hatshepsut • Hatshepsut best known for encouraging trade • Only woman pharaoh • Wanted to be treated like any other pharaoh • Dressed like a man, statues of her as a man • Monotheism in Egypt • Amenhotep IV, 1353 • Worshipped only one god, Aten • Banned worship of all other gods • Built temple to Aten at Akhetaten • The next pharaoh restored worship of traditional gods

18. Ramses the Great • Egypt expanded empire • Fought campaigns in Nubia and Syria • A new foe around 1250 BC • Hittites invaded from Mesopotamia • Confrontation with Hittites • Ramses the Great led army • Accounts of battle vary, but two armies signed truce • Ramses married Hittite princess and conflict ended • Ramses’ rule • Reign marked with extravagant splendor • Built more temples and monuments than other pharaohs • Many political and artistic achievements

19. Ramses’ successors faced challenges to authority Major invasions of Egypt Sea Peoples devastated empires Ended Hittite Empire, weakened Egypt’s control of Syria Egypt broke into small states Many foreign rulers over next 700 years Libyans, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks Finally fell to Rome Egypt’s Decline

20. Sequence How did Egypt grow and change during the New Kingdom? Answer(s): built strong military, created own empire, increased trade