Ancient Egypt & the Nile Valley

1. Ancient Egypt & the Nile Valley Chapter Notes

2. A River Valley & Its People • One of the world’s first civilizations developed along the banks of the Nile • In northeastern Africa • Nile = world’s longest river • People of the Nile relied on the river’s yearly floods to bring them water • Green Nile Valley = stark contrast to deserts surrounding it on either side

3. A River Valley & Its People • Rich black soil in Valley = good for farming • 5000 BCE = farmers began to settle down in the Valley • Grew cereal crops (wheat, barley) • Hunted ducks & geese; fished • Early Egyptians harvested papyrus • Used for rope, sandals, baskets, and paper

4. A River Valley & Its People • Early farming villages prospered --> WHY?? Because they were protected from foreign invasions by deserts and cataracts (waterfalls) in the Nile • Strong leaders united the farming villages into kingdoms or monarchies ruled by a king

5. A River Valley & Its People • By 4000 BCE, Egypt had 2 large kingdoms • Lower Egypt (in the north) • Upper Egypt (in the south) • 3000 BCE = Narmer (king of Upper Egypt) attacked Lower Egypt and united the 2 • Capital = Memphis • 1st of the Egyptian dynasties • Egyptian dynasties divided into 3 periods: Old, Middle, New

6. The Old Kingdom(2700 BCE to 2200 BCE) • People saw their kings as gods • Called a theocracy = same person is the political AND religious leader • King gave many responsibilities to a bureaucracy = groups of government officials • King controlled trade & taxes • King supervised building of canals, dams, grain storehouses

7. The Old Kingdom(2700 BCE to 2200 BCE) • Egyptians built pyramids as burial places for their kings • Great Pyramids in Giza • King’s bodies were mummified for preservation

8. Pyramids as Tombs

9. Mummification

10. The Middle Kingdom(2050 BCE to 1800 BCE) • Old Kingdom ended with violence & a new dynasty reunited Egypt • Capital moved to Thebes • Theben kings = seized new territory & added thousands of acres to their civilization • Built canals and irrigation systems

11. The Middle Kingdom(2050 BCE to 1800 BCE) • Local leaders began to challenge the kings’ power, which threatened peace • At same time = 1st real threat to Egypt = invasion by Hyksos (people from western Asia) • Hyksos swept through with new tools for war --> bronze weapons & horse-drawn chariots • Easily conquered the Egyptians & set up a new dynasty (for about 110 years)

12. The New Kingdom • Egyptian prince named Ahmose raised an army & drove the Hyksos out • Ahmose & those that came after him used the title pharaoh • Rebuilt Egypt & conquered more land

13. The New Kingdom • 1480 BCE = Queen Hatshepsut came to power in Egypt = 1st female pharaoh • After her death, her stepson Thutmose III took over • Thutmose III created an army, conquered neighboring Syria, and expanded the Egyptian empire • Empire = many territories under one ruler • Egyptian empire grew rich & benefited from cultural diffusion

14. The New Kingdom • 1370 BCE = ruler named Amenhotep = created new religion with just 1 god • Changed his named to Akhenaton = “spirit of Aton” • Aton = sun-disk god = only 1 to be worshipped • Controversial, so after his death the priests went back to old religion • King Tut took over for him

15. King Tut’s Tomb

16. The New Kingdom • 1200s BCE = Ramses II (Ramses the Great) • Built large statues of himself, temples, and tombs • After his death, Egypt weakened under attacks from invaders & was taken over by foreigners

17. Life in Ancient EgyptSocial Order • Upper class = kings, nobles, priests • Middle class = artisans, scribes, merchants • Lower class (majority of Egyptians) = farmers, poor • Lowest of the low = slaves

18. Life in Ancient EgyptFamilies • In cities & upper class = husband, wife, children • Outside the city & poor families = also included grandparents & other relatives

19. Life in Ancient EgyptWomen • In the beginning = property of their husbands • By the time of the Egyptian Empire = they could own property and divorce their husbands; had more rights

20. Life in Ancient EgyptReligion • Very important to early Egyptians • Polytheistic = believed in more than one god • Gods were often half human, half animal • Believed in an afterlife – burial rituals reflect this The ankh = symbol of life

21. Some Egyptian Gods Ra = Sun God King of the Gods Osiris = God of the Dead Horus = Son of Iris & Osiris Anubis = God of Embalming Iris = Queen of the Goddesses

22. Life in Ancient EgyptWriting • Used hieroglyphics (picture symbols) for writing • Few people could read or write • Language remained a mystery until discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 • (Greek writing matched the hieroglyphs on the Stone)

23. Life in Ancient EgyptScience • Developed a number system • Used geometry to calculate volume and area • Created a 365-day calendar • Developed medical expertise  used splints, bandages, etc.