Introduction of Ancient Egypt The Nile Nile River

Introduction of Ancient Egypt

The Nile • Nile River runs from South to North. • Cataracts in the river separate the Upper and Lower Kingdoms. – Cataract: rough rapids that are difficult to pass through.

The Nile • Regular flooding of the Nile creates fertile farmland to grow crops – Leaves behind a layer of silt – Marshy delta at the mouth of the river also fertile. • Rest of Egypt is very dry and dangerous to live in. – Flooding of the Nile creates a very small area for people to live in – Desert provides protection from the invaders – However, less interaction with other cultures

Narmer Unifies 2 Kingdoms • The Pharoah Narmer unites Upper and Lower Egypt and establishes the Capital at Memphis. – Also establishes Egypt’s first dynasty. • The kingdoms trading relationship helps to unify them.

Government of Egypt • Theocracy: religion and government are intertwined. • Pharaoh was considered a god who came to earth to rule as well as a political and military leader. – He is responsible for every aspect of life in Egypt • Farming, warfare, weather, etc. – Charged with bringing truth and justice to his people.

Religion of Ancient Egypt • Polytheistic : Worshipped 30+ Gods • Gods controlled every aspect of human life – Fertility, weather, nature, farming, etc. – Many different rituals including offerings and cults to the differing gods • Most important Gods – Re: The Sun God – Isis: Mother Goddess – Osiris: God of the Dead – Anubis: weighed the hearts of the dead to determine whether or not they could enter the afterlife

Timeline for Ancient Egypt • 3100 BC: Egypt was united under Menes who founded the 1 st dynasty. • 2700 BC: Beginning of the Old Kingdom or Age of the Pyramids • 2100 BC: Beginning of the Middle Kingdom or the Age of the Nobles • 1700 BC. Egypt is conquered by the Hyksos • 1580 BC. Egyptians drive out the Hyksos.

Timeline for Ancient Egypt • 1570 BC: Beginning of the New Kingdoms • 1500 BC: Egyptian Empire reaches its height. • 1380 BC: Reign of Akhenaten begins. He tries to change the religion of the land to that of one god, Aten, the sun. • 1361 BC: The Reign of Tutankhamen begins. He restores old gods. • 1352 BC. : Death of Tutankhamen.

Timeline for Ancient Egypt • 1304 BC: Reign of Ramses II, great warrior against the Hittites. • 1085 BC: The Period of Decline begins • 669 BC: Assyrians invade Egypt. • 525 BC: Persians drive the Assyrians out and take over Egypt. • 332 BC: Alexander the Great invades Egypt. • 31 BC: The army of the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, is defeated at Actium. Egypt becomes a province of Rome.