Ancient Egypt Section Two Egypt I Geography A

I. Geography A. Gift of the Nile • the Nile River flows northward across

B. Environmental Challenges – Unlike Tigris & Euphrates, the Nile’s flood timing is very

C. Upper and Lower Egypt – Egypt divided in 2 separated by a cataract

D. Egypt Unites into a Kingdom – Villages of Egypt ruled by 2 kingdoms

E. Politics – Egyptians viewed kings as gods, Egyptian god kings called Pharaohs –

F. Builders of the Pyramids – Kings believed to rule even after death, have

II. Egyptian Culture • A. Religion and Life – Believed in 2, 000 gods

– Believe in afterlife, judged by your deeds at death – Mummification, process prevents

• B. Social Classes – organized like a pyramid, pharaohs down to farmers

• C. Egyptian Writing – Hieroglyphics pictures represent ideas – Used paper sheets

• D. Egyptian Science and Technology – Invented calendar w/ 365 days, 12

Assignment • Turn to pg. 35 in your text book. • use your notes

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Ancient Egypt

Section Two: Egypt

I. Geography A. Gift of the Nile • the Nile River flows northward across • • Africa for 4100 miles Settlements formed on narrow strips of fertile land along the Nile Yearly flooding brings fertile silt irrigation systems built, channel waters The Nile was worshipped as a god

Egypt

B. Environmental Challenges – Unlike Tigris & Euphrates, the Nile’s flood timing is very predictable though the amount varies – Light floods reduce the output of crops, causing starvation – Heavy floods destroyed property, deserts isolate and protect Egypt

C. Upper and Lower Egypt – Egypt divided in 2 separated by a cataract where boulders turn Nile River into churning rapids – south of First Cataract is Upper Egypt – north including Nile delta, becomes Lower Egypt – Delta- land formed by silt deposits at mouth of river; triangular

D. Egypt Unites into a Kingdom – Villages of Egypt ruled by 2 kingdoms lower and upper – King Narmer unites them around 3000 BC and makes Memphis the capital – establishes the first Egyptian dynasty

E. Politics – Egyptians viewed kings as gods, Egyptian god kings called Pharaohs – Pharaohs control religion, gov’t, army, over all well being of the kingdom – Gov’t based on religious authority—theocracy

F. Builders of the Pyramids – Kings believed to rule even after death, have an eternal life force called Ka – Built pyramids to meet needs of pharaohs after death – Pyramids made of stone blocks that weighed 2 15 tons and reached as high as 481 ft

II. Egyptian Culture • A. Religion and Life – Believed in 2, 000 gods and goddesses— polytheistic – Re sun god; Osiris god of the dead

– Believe in afterlife, judged by your deeds at death – Mummification, process prevents body from decaying – Book of the Dead contains prayers and spells, guides soul after death

• B. Social Classes – organized like a pyramid, pharaohs down to farmers and labors – Few ppl at top most at bottom of pyramid – Can move into higher social classes through marriage or merit – Women have many of the same rights as men

• C. Egyptian Writing – Hieroglyphics pictures represent ideas – Used paper sheets made from papyrus reeds for writing

• D. Egyptian Science and Technology – Invented calendar w/ 365 days, 12 months – Developed system of written numbers and a form of geometry – Skilled engineers and architects – Egyptian medicine famous in the ancient world

Assignment • Turn to pg. 35 in your text book. • use your notes and text book, choose one of the Egyptian inventions or achievements. Write a paragraph about how your selected achievement changed Egyptian life.