Chapter 3 Ancient Egypt the Nile Valley A

Chapter 3 Ancient Egypt & the Nile Valley

A River Valley & Its People n One of the world’s first civilizations developed along the banks of the Nile n n 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 n n Rich black soil in Valley = good for farming 5000 BCE = farmers began to settle down in the Valley n n n Grew cereal crops (wheat, barley) Hunted ducks & geese; fished Early Egyptians harvested papyrus n Used for rope, sandals, baskets, and paper

A River Valley & Its People n n 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 n By 4000 BCE, Egypt had 2 large kingdoms n n n 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 n 1 st of the Egyptian dynasties n Egyptian dynasties divided into 3 periods: Old, Middle, New n

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

Pyramids as Tombs

Mummification

The Middle Kingdom (2050 BCE to 1800 BCE) n n 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) n Local leaders began to challenge the kings’ power, which threatened peace n n n 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 n n Egyptian prince named Ahmose raised an army & drove the Hyksos out Ahmose & those that came after him used the title pharaoh n Rebuilt Egypt & conquered more land

The New Kingdom n 1480 BCE = Queen Hatshepsut came to power in Egypt = 1 st female pharaoh n n 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 n 1370 BCE = ruler named Amenhotep = created new religion with just 1 god n n 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 n 1200 s BCE = Ramses II (Ramses the Great) n n 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 n n 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 n n In cities & upper class = husband, wife, children Outside the city & poor families = also included grandparents & other relatives

Life in Ancient Egypt Women n n 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 n n The ankh = symbol of life 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

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

Life in Ancient Egypt Science n n Developed a number system Used geometry to calculate volume and area Created a 365 -day calendar Developed medical expertise used splints, bandages, etc.