Great Civilizations l The Nile River Valley Civilization

Great Civilizations l The Nile River Valley Civilization developed in 3800 B. C. l The Nile River rulers were called pharaohs. l The Nile River Valley is surrounded by desert, with an occasional oasis. l Herodotus - “The Gift of the Nile” the river is life.

The Geography l The Nile River is the longest river in the world. l The silt from annual floods renews the soil, makes the soil fertile. l Irrigation helped the farmers plant more than one time during the year. l The prevailing winds and the abundance of clay.

The Geography

l By Early Steps To Civilization 3800 B. C the people of the Nile Valley were forming a complex society. l 3000 B. C. they developed hieroglyphic writing, sacred carving in Greek. l The Egyptians also wrote on paper made from papyrus. l A French officer uncovered the Rosetta stone. l Jean Francois Champollion translated the stone.

The Rosetta Stone

l In A United Kingdom early Egypt there were two kingdoms in 3100 B. C Menes united the two kingdoms. l The Egyptian kings took the title pharaoh which means great house. l Menes founded a dynasty or a family succession. l Egyptian history is divided into the Old Kingdom, The Middle Kingdom, The New Kingdom, and The Late Period.

l 2700 The Old Kingdom B. C. - 2181 The Old Kingdom called the greatest time in Egyptian history. l Also called the Pyramid Age because the greatest pyramids were built during this period. l The kingdom was divided into the upper class ( nobles, pharaoh, priests, and royal family) and lower class, (everyone else). Nobles tried to take over.

l 2000 The Middle Kingdom B. C. - A strong group of pharaohs united Egypt again. The Middle Kingdom ended around 1780 B. C. due to rivalries for power. l In 1730 the Hyksos conquered Egypt using horse drawn carts. The Hyksos ruled lower Egypt for 150 years. l The New Kingdom - 1550 BC - 1085. The new pharaohs used Thebes as their capital city.

l The New Kingdom Pharaohs of the New Kingdom built a strong empire using horse drawn chariots. Conquered other people. l Hatshepsut, the first female Pharaoh. She ruled from 1500 BC to 1480. l Hatshepsut ruled with her half-brother Thustmose II. l Thutmose III had her name removed from all records after she died. l Amenhotep IV 1379 -1362 -monotheism.

T H U T M O S E & wife

Amenhotep - Akhenaton l Amenhotep tried to change the religion of Egypt from polytheistic to monotheistic. Aton-the sun. l He changed his name to Akhenaton and moved the capital to Tell el Armana. l When Akhenaton dies Tutankhamen the boy pharaoh rules Egypt. l Ramses II rules Egypt from 1304 BC to 1237. Late Period 1100 B. C. invaded by Nubians. Assyrians, and Persians.

Amon-Ra