ANCIENT EGYPT THE NILE VALLEY CHAPTER 3 NOTES

ANCIENT EGYPT & THE NILE VALLEY CHAPTER 3 NOTES

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

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

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

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 • 1 st of the Egyptian dynasties • Egyptian dynasties divided into 3 periods: Old, Middle, New

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

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

PYRAMIDS AS TOMBS

MUMMIFICATION

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

THE MIDDLE KINGDOM (2050 BCE TO 1800 BCE) • Local leaders began to challenge the kings’ power, which threatened peace – At same time = 1 st 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)

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

THE NEW KINGDOM • 1480 BCE = Queen Hatshepsut came to power in Egypt = 1 st 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

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

KING TUT’S TOMB

THE NEW KINGDOM • 1200 s 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

LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT SOCIAL ORDER • Upper class = kings, nobles, priests • Middle class = artisans, scribes, merchants • Lower class (majority of Egyptians) = farmers, poor • Lowest of the low = slaves

LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT FAMILIES • In cities & upper class = husband, wife, children • Outside the city & poor families = also included grandparents & other relatives

LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT WOMEN • 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

LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT RELIGION • 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

SOME EGYPTIAN GODS Ra = Sun God Osiris = God of the Dead King of the Gods Horus = Son of Iris & Osiris Anubis = God of Embalming Iris = Queen of the Goddesses

LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT WRITING • 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)

LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT SCIENCE • • Developed a number system Used geometry to calculate volume and area Created a 365 -day calendar Developed medical expertise used splints, bandages, etc.