Nile River Valley Civilization Egypt Gift of the

Nile River Valley Civilization Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”

Geography n Developed along the Nile River • Longest river in the world • Flood, plant, harvest, flood • Silt: rich, fertile soil • Worshipped as a god n Deserts • Protected from invasions • Reduced interaction with other peoples

Geography n Upper Egypt • South • 1 st cataract (rapids) to where river fans out n Lower Egypt • North near the sea • Nile delta region • Broad, marshy area formed by silt deposits at mouth of river

Lower Egypt

Geography ADVANTAGE Advantage over Mesopotamian civilizations: Nile River very predictable in flooding. Tigris/Euphrates Rivers very unpredictable.

Geography n Flooding • Yearly flodding in July • Rain and melted snow traveled from central-east Africa Navigation • Drift North towards the delta • Sail south with the wind

Geography n Natural Barriers • The desert surroundings reduced contact with other civilizations • The desert also provided a natural barrier that shut out invaders

History n Menes – first ruler of a united Egypt n The Old Kingdom 2660 -2180 B. C. n The Middle Kingdom 2080 -1640 B. C. n The New Kingdom 1640 -1075 B. C.

United EGYPT

OLD Kingdom n Social Cultural • Polytheistic- deities associated with objects and emotions • Pyramids-final resting place for pharaohs • Hierarchy-royal family and nobles, middle class, and lower class • Afterlife-soul weighed against a feather

Social Hierarchy

OLD Kingdom n Political • God-Kings- success depended on his ability to fulfill his religious obligations and believe to be divine • THEOCRACY- government where the religion and state are not seperated • Capital at Memphis

OLD Kingdom n Economic • Massive Public Works-building of the pyramids • Pyramids at Giza • Papyrus-record keeping on first paper disadvantage: decomposes

Giza

Middle Kingdom n Social • Hierarchy continues- strong central authority established by nobles and pharaohs power diminished

Middle Kingdom n Political • Hyksos-asian nomads swept into Egypt with horse drawn chariots

Middle Kingdom n Economic • Trade and Transportation- canal dug from Nile to Red Sea • MODERN day Suez canal runs to Med

New Kingdom n Social • Valley of the Kings • Hierarchy continues

New Kingdom n Political • Hatshepsut-encouraged trade instead of war since queen was not accepted even she is depicted as having a beard • Term “Pharaoh” is first used • Capital moved to Thebes • KING TUT-unimportant rule, but famous

King Tut

New Kingdom n Economic • First time trade is encouraged

General Political/Rulers n n n God-Kings Pharaohs = divine Theocracy = ruler a divine figure Responsible for Kingdom’s well being Dynasties = ruling families

Social/Cultural n Religion = polytheistic (many gods) • Believed in after-life and judgment • Pyramids = tombs after death • The Old Kingdom was great age of pyramid building • Mummification: preserve body by embalming and drying • Consumed with the after-life

What happened when a Pharaoh died? n n When a pharaoh died, the body was preserved by people called embalmers. Embalmers took the body to the Beautiful House- the name of where they worked. They removed some of the inner parts of the body first. The organs were taken out and stored in special containers called canopic jars. The heart was left in the body however, so that it could be weighed in the afterlife.

n n Then they rubbed the body with special ointments and wrapped it tightly with bandages. When a body had been treated in this way it was called a mummy. The mummy was put in a coffin. The coffin was the same shape as the body, and had a carved , painted face on it. A funeral was held by a Priest in the temple.

n n n The coffin was then taken to the pharaoh’s tomb. The pharaoh was buried with all their possessions, for use on the journey to the next world. The Egyptians believed that mummification preserved the body of the deceased and ensured their survival forever.

Pyramid

Great Sphinx

Social/Cultural n Society structured like a pyramid • Royalty at top • Upper Class = wealthy landowners, government officials, priests, etc. • Middle Class = merchants and artisans • Lower Class = peasants, etc. • Women had many of same rights as men

Pharaohs and Queens Who were the Pharaohs? They were the kings or Queens of Egypt. They were the head of the government and high priest of every temple. The pharaoh owned all of Egypt. He or she decided what was right or wrong and their word was law. The people of Egypt considered the pharaoh to be a half-human and half-god.

Priests were very important people in Egyptian times. Besides serving the gods, priests did many other jobs, such as teaching, or even helping with the harvest. Priests had to be pure and clean. They shaved their heads and bodies and washed four times a day. This statue of a priest has a bald head, a fake beard and he is in the praying position

Nobles Court Officials and Noblemen held high office in Ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country. The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land, so that they would earn their own money from taxes. Being a noble was one of the best jobs in Egypt. Nobles were rich and could enjoy themselves hunting and having banquets. Noble on a hunting trip with his family

Scribes What is a Scribe? Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how to read and write. Being a scribe was an extremely difficult job because in total, there were hundreds of different hieroglyphs to remember. Scribes were very wise A scribe's job was highly regarded in Ancient Egypt. Although being a scribe was rewarding, the training could take as long as twelve years. This statue of a Scribe was found in his tomb A peasant making papyrus

Craftsmen Egyptian craftsmen were highly skilled. They learned their trade from their fathers and, in turn, taught their sons. They used simple techniques and tools to make all sorts of useful things. The Pharaoh, government or temples often employed them. Craftsmen carving statues and ornaments Carpenters using a bow drill Metal workers making precious objects

Peasants The most important business in Egypt was farming. Most of the people who worked in the fields and barns were peasants. During the flood season when no farming could be done the peasants did building work on temples and palaces. Peasants herding cattle for the Pharaoh Peasants preparing food for a banquet

Social/Cultural n Writing • Hieroglyphics • Papyrus – writing surface (paper) • Rosetta Stone Discovered in 1799 n Clue to deciphering hieroglyphics n

Economic n n Nile River helped unify Egypt and promote trade Reliable transportation between Upper and Lower Egypt During Middle Kingdom, dug canals from Nile to Red Sea Trade with Mesopotamia and Indus river valley civilizations

Economic n n Wealth from new trade used for public works projects Dikes and irrigation

Accomplishments n n n n Hieroglyphics Papyrus Geometry-property boundries Mathematics and Engineeringbuilding of pyramids Solar calendar Advances in medicine-pulse, surgery Use of bronze-two wheeled chariots