Ancient Egypt

1. Ancient Egypt

2. Name _____________________________________ School________________Date of Lesson ______________________________ Grade ________________ LESSON PLAN FORMAT Title of Lesson:Ancient Egypt Goal(s):  To teach about the history of Ancient Egypt through an interactive power point presentation. Learning Objectives: Gain knowledge of Ancient Egypt. Purpose/Rationale: I am teaching this lesson this way to allow the students to get involved in the lesson, instead of a simple lecture. Standards: Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives. (http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nysatl/ssstand.html) Teacher Preparation:To prepare for this lesson, I had to research the different aspects of Ancient Egypt and put the information together in an organized presentation that would be easy to follow by students. Materials/Resources: Power point access and over head projector. ASSESSMENT: At the end of the power point there is a jeopardy game that the students will be able to play to see how well they grasp the information. The jeopardy game will also allow them to work in groups to reach their answers.

3. The Old Kingdom • Egypt was unified nearly 400 years before the start of the Old Kingdom • Also known as the “Pyramid Age” • Pharaohs (an Egyptian king or queen) ruled the country • Art and architecture grew with the building of the great pyramids • collapsed in about 2160 B.C. • The Middle Kingdom • The Middle Kingdom was founded in 2040 B.C. • Pharaohs strengthened government and foreign trade • More pyramids were built again • Black pyramids were built in this age • The New Kingdom • Greatest period of Egypt’s history • Warrior kings expanded the empire into Nubia, Libya and the Middle East • Temples were built • Pharaohs were buried in painted tombs in the Valley of Kings

4. People of Egypt • PHARAOH • Commanded the army • Ruled the country • Supreme control • Egyptians believed he was a living God • Set taxes • Judged criminals • Controlled the temples • NOBLES • Surrounded the king at his time of death • Women • Responsible for looking after the house and raising the Children • Some worked in the fields • Women had the same rights as men • CRAFTSMEN • Employed in workshops run by royal palaces • OFFICIALS • Every town had officials • Collected taxes • Regulated businesses • Organized loans and marriage contracts • PEASENTS • Majority of Egyptians • Worked in the fields • Harvest crops • Few could read or write

5. The Nile River • Egypt has been called the “gift of the Nile” • The water has been used for drinking, bathing and watering crops • The Nile is Egypt’s main highway; boats would float up and down stream • Egyptians have been growing crops along the Nile for more than 7,000 years • Settlers began to farm in the Nile Valley around 500 B.C. (they formed two two kingdoms: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt)

6. Pyramids • Step Pyramids • First pyramids constructed • The outside of the pyramids look liked steps • The steps were believed to be used by the king to reach the gods • One layer was built at a time • Smooth-sided pyramids • All four sides of the pyramids were completely smooth • More advanced of the two types • The “great pyramid” was an example of this type • Black Pyramids • Built Amenemhet 111 • Kind of a disaster • Built on unstable subsoil

7. There are about eighty pyramids known today in Ancient Egypt • The three largest and best preserved were built at Giza • The most well-known was built for the pharaoh, Khufu, and is called the “Great Pyramid” • Many pyramids were built along the Nile River in Egypt. • In the 6th and 7th centuries pyramids were built by princes near the modern cities. • The main purpose of the pyramid was to serve as tombs. • Problems with grave robbers resulted in the decreasing importance of pyramids. • After this, underground tombs became more preferred.

8. Construction of Pyramids • A major problem with construction of the pyramids was getting the large stones to the height needed • Ramps were built on inclined slopes of mud brick and rubble • As the pyramids grew taller the slopes had to be extended in length • In a step pyramid, packing blocks fill the steps to keep them sturdy • The outside of a pyramid surrounds a central core

9. Egyptian Life • Life revolved around the three seasons • Akhet-Flood Season (July to October) • -farm work stopped • Peret-began when the water went down in November • Shemu-the harvest (March to June) • -farmers worked hard to bring in the crops before the water rose again • During the flood season, most farmers joined the work laborers in building pyramids and temples • Most of history, ancient Egypt was the richest country in the world • Linen, papyrus, dried fish and surplus food was exported in exchange for luxury items like incense, silver and cedar wood • Most houses were made from mud brick with roof terraces • Egyptians believed that all events were controlled by the gods and by giving them offerings, they would live a happy life

10. Mummies • Egyptians wanted to live forever, in order to do this the body had to be preserved or “mummified” • Internal organs were removed and then the body was washed and coated with oils and then wrapped in tight linen bandages • The finished mummy was laid in a coffin or mummy case • Mummy cases were covered with magic symbols to please the Gods • The whole process took 70 days • Writing tools • Paper made from papyrus reed • Reed brushes, pens • Ink (soot or charcoal) • Hieroglyphs • Picture writing • “sacred cravings” • Hard to read • Sphinx • Stone figure of a lion with the head of a king • In front of pyramid complex at Giza • The face is believed to be of pharaoh khafra

11. Jeopardy Pyramids People Kingdoms Egyptian life 100 100 100 100 200 200 200 200 300 300 300 300 400 400 400 400

12. What are the three types of pyramids? Answer

13. Step pyramids • Smooth-sided pyramids • Black pyramids

14. What needed to be built to help with the building of the pyramids? Answer

15. Ramps on inclined slopes of mud bricks

16. Where were the largest and best preserved pyramids built? Answer

17. Giza

18. What resulted in the decrease importance of pyramids? Answer

19. Grave Robbers

20. What did the majority of Egyptians do? Answer

21. They worked as peasants in the fields

22. Who collected the taxes and controlled businesses? Answer

23. The Officials

24. Who commanded the army? Answer

25. Pharaohs

26. Where did the craftsmen work? Answer

27. Workshops run by royal palaces

28. Which kingdom was known as the “pyramid age”? Answer

29. Old Kingdom

30. In the new kingdom, where were pharaohs buried? Answer

31. In tombs in the valley of kings

32. During which kingdom was the black pyramid built? Answer

33. Middle kingdom

34. Which is the greatest period of Egypt’s history? Answer

35. New kingdom

36. What were most houses made of? answer

37. Mud brick

38. What did most farmers do during the flood season? answer

39. They joined work laborers in building pyramids and temples

40. What was exported in exchange for luxury items? answer

41. Linen, papyrus, dried fish, and surplus food

42. What were the three seasons called? answer

43. Akhet, Peret, Shemu