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ANCIENT EGYPT. UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT FIRST KINDGOM/FIRST DYNASTY. GEOGRAPHY OF EGYPT. Nile River 4,100 miles Longest in the world Flows northward Ribbon of water in a parched, desert land Red Land Desert Black Land Fertile soil Could stand with one foot in each.
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ANCIENT EGYPT UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT FIRST KINDGOM/FIRST DYNASTY
GEOGRAPHY OF EGYPT • Nile River • 4,100 miles • Longest in the world • Flows northward • Ribbon of water in a parched, desert land • Red Land • Desert • Black Land • Fertile soil • Could stand with one foot in each
NILE • Floods in early July left silt in October • Silt=Fertile black mud • Peasants prepared wheat and barley fields • Watered crops all fall and winter via irrigation system
NILE • Greek historian Herodotus said in the fifth century B.C. • Egypt was the “gift of the Nile.” • Nile’s floods brought life to the desert • Egyptians worshipped the Nile as a god that gave life and seldom turned against them
NILE • Nile’s floods were predictable, but risks existed • When the Nile’s floodwaters were just a few feet lower than normal, the amount of fresh silt and water for crops was greatly reduced. Thousands of people starved. • When floodwaters were a few feet higher than usual, the unwanted water destroyed houses, granaries, and the precious seeds that farmers needed for planting. • The vast and forbidding deserts on either side of the Nile acted as natural barriers between Egypt and other lands. They forced Egyptians to line on a very small portion of the land and reduced interaction with other peoples. • Deserts shut out invaders and Egypt was spared constant warfare
UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT • Upper Egypt • Southern Egypt • First Cataract to southern delta region (about 100 miles south of the Mediterranean) • Lower Egypt • Northern Egypt • Delta region • Broad, marshy, triangular area of land formed by deposits of silt at the mouth of the river
UNIFIED EGYPT • Farming villages 5000 B.C. • Three Periods of Kingdoms 3200 B.C. • Upper Egypt • Lower Egypt • Egyptian dynasties • 31 spanning 2,600 years
UNIFIED EGYPT • King Narmer, also known as Menes, ruling under Egypt’s first royal dynasty, united Upper and Lower Egypt into a single kingdom • This was during the Old Kingdom period • Double Crown • Combined the White Crown of Upper Egypt and the Red Crown of Lower Egypt
UNIFIED EGYPT • Narmer • Red and white crown signified unified Egypt • Capital in Memphis where Upper and Lower Egypt meet
THEOCRACY • Pharaoh • God-king • Splendid and powerful as the gods • Center of religion, government, and army • Sun to rise, Nile to flood, crops to grow • Promote truth and justice • Theocracy • Governmental rule is based no religious authority
PYRAMIDS • Built during the Old Kingdom (2660-2180 BC) • Tomb- first called mastabas • Ka, pharaoh’s eternal life force, continued to participate in government after pharaoh’s death • Met pharaoh’s needs and pleasures in death allowing pharaoh to rule forever • These led to the creation of the step pyramid
GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA • Built for Khufu • Took around 20 years to build. • Limestone facing quarried from across the Nile • 2.5 to 15 tons per stone • 2 million blocks • 481 feet tall • 13 acres
PYRAMIDS • Reflect the strength of Old Kingdom civilization • Economic strength • Technological means • Leadership and governmental organization
Review • 1. How long is the Nile River? • 2. Who was the first the united Upper and Lower Egypt? • 3. What were pyramids original purpose? • 4. Where is the Great Pyramid? • 5. Who built the Great Pyramid?