Unit 3 - Egypt

1. Unit 3 - Egypt Geography Imapct

2. Warm-Up • 1. Silently enter class. • 2. Sit in assigned seat. • 3. Copy homework into agenda. • 4. Restroom/Water • 5. Using your map and notes. Answer this question. What are some physical features of ancient Egypt? Include the question in your answer and a minimum of four examples in your answer. Heading and Title please.

3. Essential Questions • 1. How did Egypt’s location, geographic features, and the Nile River influence it’s development? • 2. How did agriculture influence the growth of civilization in Ancient Egypt? • 3. Why did the people of Egypt trade with other cultures? What goods were traded? • 4. What was the impact of trade upon Egyptian civilization?

4. How did the Nile River influence the growth of agriculture in ancient Egypt? • The chief crops grown along the Nile River Valley were: wheat, barley, vegetables, and flax. Egyptians made bread and beverages from the wheat and barley, which were stored in large silos. They wove flax into linen (cloth). • Another important crop in ancient Egypt was a reed called papyrus. Papyrus was a plant that could be made into a paper-like writing material of the same name. Papyrus grew easily in marshes and was also used to make rope, matting, and sandals. Papyrus eventually became one of Egypt’s most important crops. • Egyptians also raised animals for food and to work the fields. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, and geese were common domestic animals. A particular breed of cattle was raised for meat, while another was used for milk. Egyptians also bred hunting dogs, as well as a type of fat-tailed sheep which they used for its meat and milk.

5. How did agriculture influence the growth of civilization in ancient Egypt? • Agriculture and the irrigation projects needed to sustain it were the foundations for early Egyptian civilization. • Leaders emerged to manage workers and supervise construction efforts. Historians have found evidence to suggest that organized governments began to take shape prior to the time of the pharaohs in 3000 BCE. • A surplus of crops enabled some Egyptians to work in other jobs besides farming. The combination of growing governments and specialized workers led to the growth of towns. Larger towns came to rule over small villages and gradually grew into states.

6. How did agriculture influence the growth of civilization in ancient Egypt? • During the time of the pharaohs, managing agriculture was one of the most important jobs of the government. Eventually, the Egyptians undertook large-scale irrigation works such as the building of dams and long canals. • By using improved irrigation methods, the Egyptians were able to grow a surplus of crops.Other civilizations, where farming was less successful, began to rely on Egypt for food and other goods that they needed.

7. Why did Egypt trade with others? What goods were traded? • Egyptians were able to trade their surplus crops for goods they desired from other parts of Africa and Southwest Asia, including Mesopotamia. • The main Egyptian exports were wheat, barley, papyrus, and linen. In exchange, Egyptians received the resources they needed to make tools, build ships, and create jewelry and art. The trading of goods became a significant part of the Egyptian economy. • Egyptians needed to import timber, or wood, from other regions. Egyptians imported cedar and cypress from the forests of Lebanon and tropical woods from Nubia, which is located southeast of Egypt. • They then used this timber to make furniture and to build ships. Traders also brought back gold from Nubia.

8. Why did Egypt trade with others? What goods were traded? • The Egyptians also sent trading ships to Mediterranean lands. In Sinai, they traded for copper. They even traveled over land as far as Afghanistan for the coveted precious blue gemstone called lapis lazuli. The lapis was used to make jewelry and other ornaments. • Queen Hatshepsut, who reigned during the mid-1400s BCE, sent a trading expedition along the eastern coast of Africa to Punt. Punt was an ancient region located in modern day Ethiopia and Djibouti and known for its, incense which the Egyptians brought back with them.

9. What was the impact upon trade on Egyptian civilization? • The Nile provided ample resources. Therefore, the Egyptians did not have to rely on trade for the goods they needed to survive. Instead, they could exchange the river’s bounty for goods desired by the rich. • The copper that traders brought back from Sinai and the gold they brought from Nubia were made into fine dishes. Gold and silver jewelry was adorned with semiprecious gems and stones, such as lapis lazuli. Most of these luxury items were used by the pharaohs and elite members of Egyptian society. • By the 1500s BCE, Egypt had become the wealthiest civilization in the ancient Middle East. The Egyptians had the Nile and its valley to thank for their riches. • By learning how to harness the power of the Nile, Egyptians were able to create a flourishing civilization. Even today, people still depend on the Nile and the resources it provides.

10. Review • 1. How did Egypt’s location, geographic features, and the Nile River influence it’s development? • 2. How did agriculture influence the growth of civilization in Ancient Egypt? • 3. Why did the people of Egypt trade with other cultures? What goods were traded? • 4. What was the impact of trade upon Egyptian civilization?

11. Independent • In his book Everything There Is to Know About Ancient Egypt, Professor Know-It-All wrote: • “Life in ancient Egypt was truly the ‘gift of the Nile.’ The river helped provide everything the kingdom needed to grow and be successful. Ancient Egypt was a self sufficient civilization.” • Was Egypt self-sufficient? How important was external trade to Egypt? • On a scale of 1 (being the lowest) to 10 (being the highest) rate whether on not Egypt was self-sufficient. And How important was external trade to Egypt? • Use a minimum of 5 detailed examples to support your discovery. • Use pictures, words, visuals, phrases to assist you in this activity.

12. Homework • Review notes and map