The Nile Valley Chapter 4 Lecture 1 Chapter

The Nile Valley Chapter 4, Lecture 1

Chapter 4, Lecture 1 Objectives • After this lesson, students will be able to: – explain how Egyptian civilization arose in the fertile Nile River valley and how natural borders discouraged invasion. – describe how Lower and Upper Egypt united into one kingdom around 3100 B. C. that was organized into social classes.

Settling the Nile • Herodotus (5 th century B. C. ) – Egypt was the “gift of the Nile” • no Nile River = no Egyptian civilization

A Mighty River • Nile River – longest river in the world (4, 000 miles) – begins as two different rivers the Blue Nile and White Nile – flows northward to the Mediterranean Sea – Upper and Lower Egypt

A Mighty River

A Sheltered Land • What made ancient Egypt a sheltered land? – cataracts (wild rapids formed by boulders and narrow cliffs) to the south – deserts to the east and west – the delta to the north had no natural harbors – all equals a sort of natural “fence”

The River People • regular flooding – predictable and rarely disastrous – astronomy helped to predict flood – nilometers to measure inundation – provides fertile soil by leaving deposits of silt – Egyptians called their land Kemet – means “black land”

How Did the Egyptians Use the Nile? • The Nile provided: – – fish and game drinking water for washing water for agriculture (irrigation and livestock) – transportation (trade) – recreation – soil replenishment

What Were Hieroglyphics? • papyrus – a reed plant used in papermaking and boat building • hieroglyphics – a system of writing developed by the ancient Egyptians – Rosetta Stone – stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics that proved to be the key for unlocking the Egyptian language

A United Egypt

A United Egypt • kingdoms in Upper and Lower Egypt (4000 B. C. ) • King Narmer, aka Menes, credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt (c. 3100 B. C. ) – Palette of Narmer • nomes – administrative divisions of Ancient Egypt in place since the

Egypt’s Ruling Families • dynasty – a line of rulers from (roughly) the same family – Egypt was ruled by 31 dynasties over around 2, 800 years – division into “kingdoms” • Old Kingdom • Middle Kingdom • New Kingdom

Egypt’s Social Classes

Egypt’s Social Classes

Egypt’s Social Classes

Family Life • women – had more rights than most other early civilizations, e. g. could obtain a divorce, own and pass on property. • children – males learned trade from father – females taught how to run a household from mother – played with toys and

Chapter 2, Lecture 1 Questions 1. Why has Egypt been called “the gift of the Nile? ” 2. What factors contribute to Egypt being described as “a sheltered land? ” 3. What did the Egyptians call their land? What does it mean? 4. Name four of the seven things mentioned that the Nile provided the ancient Egyptians. 5. What are hieroglyphics? 6. Who is credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt?

Egypt’s Old Kingdom Chapter 4, Lecture 2

Chapter 4, Lecture 2 Objectives • After this lesson, students will be able to: – explain who ruled the Old Kingdom of Egypt. – describe the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and the purpose of the pyramids they built.

Old Kingdom Rulers • Old Kingdom (c. 2649 B. C. to c. 2150 B. C. ) • pharaohs – all powerful kings in ancient Egypt – considered a living god, and the earthly link to the gods – had to carry out certain ceremonies and rituals – his word was law and he was obeyed without question

Egypt’s Religion • extremely complex • polytheistic worshipped many deities (gods and goddesses) – Re, the sun god, was chief among them • controlled forces of nature and human activities • some were associated

Life After Death • ideas about a “soul” • belief in a hopeful afterlife (life after death) • Book of the Dead – collection of spells and prayers that Egyptians studied to obtain life after death • concept of judgment

Life After Death • embalming and mummification – process to ensure the spirit makes it to the Next World – embalming – process developed by the ancient Egyptians of preserving a person’s body after death – mummification process mummy – body that

What’s Inside? Activity • Can you tell what the item is made of? • Can you tell if there is more than one item? • Is it heavy or light? • Does it sound like it is large or small? • Is there anything else you can tell about it?

The Pyramids – page 50 • pyramid – huge stone structure built by the ancient Egyptians to serve as a tomb – offers protection and stores supplies for the journey to c. 2550 B. C. the afterlife c. 2520 B. C. c. 2600 B. C. c. 2630 B. C. c. 2600 B. C. c. 2490 B. C. c. 2250 B. C.

The Pyramids • early pit graves • mastaba – large, mud brick rectangular building used to bury early kings

The Pyramids • step pyramids – King Djoser (reigned 2630 B. C. – 2611 B. C. ) – built by architect Imhotep – first monumental royal tomb and one of the oldest stone buildings in Egypt

The Pyramids • 4 th Dynasty – Snefru – builder of the first smooth sided pyramid; trendsetter in art and architecture as well as international relations • 90+ royal pyramids built (including step pyramids)

How Was a Pyramid Built? • massive amounts of labor – laborers (farmers) – skilled workers – support • no iron or wheels • blocks of limestone were quarried, moved on boats/sleds/logs • earthen ramps were used to get the blocks up and in place • average weight of blocks: 2. 5 tons (5000 lbs. )

Pyramid Complex at Giza

The Great Pyramid – King Khufu, a. k. a. Cheops, (ruled 2551 B. C. – 2528 B. C. ) • built the Great Pyramid – approximately 500 feet tall – 13 ½ acre base – 2. 5 million blocks at an average of 2. 5 tons each – the only Wonder of the Ancient World that remains standing

Extra Credit Assignment • Assignment: Construct, paint, and decorate an Egyptian style obelisk, using materials described in the detail worksheet, and turn in a photographic journal of the process. • Due date: No later than Friday, October 6, 2017. • Points value: 15 points added to any test grade or distributed to any number of the four test grades for this nine weeks.

Chapter 4, Lecture 2 Questions 1. What were the god-kings of ancient Egypt called? 2. The collection of spells and prayers dealing with the afterlife is known as the _____. 3. What is embalming? 4. Briefly describe the process of ancient Egyptian embalming and mummification. 5. Who built the Great Pyramid?

The Egyptian Empire Chapter 4, Lecture 3

Chapter 4, Lecture 3 Objectives • After this lesson, students will be able to: – describe the culture and peace Egypt experienced during the Middle Kingdom. – describe the growth of Egypt during the New Kingdom and the great monuments constructed during that period.

The Middle Kingdom • Middle Kingdom (c. 2050 B. C. to c. 1670 B. C. ) – golden age of stability, prosperity, and achievement – Egypt conquered new lands • tribute – forced payments made by one group or nation to another to show obedience or to obtain protection – the arts and literature blossomed – Valley of the Kings begins to be the new burial place for pharaohs

The New Kingdom • Ahmose – king who drove the Hyksos from Egypt and established the New Kingdom period • New Kingdom (c. 1550 B. C. to 1080 B. C. )

A Woman Ruler • Hatshepsut – married to her half brother, Thutmose II – served as a regent to her stepson Thutmose III – had herself crowned pharaoh – dressed as a man on occasion – concentrated on building the economy through

Hatshepsut’s Temple at Deir al Bahri

Expanding the Empire • Thutmose III – attempted to erase the memory of Hatshepsut – aggressive wars of conquest – regained control of Nubia – power and wealth

A Religious Reformer • Amenhotep IV – Egyptian priests had too much power – attempted to reestablish power by giving Egypt a new religion – declared there was only one god, Aton, the sun disk – changed name to Akhenaton, means “Spirit of Aton”

The Boy King • Tutankhamen – around 9 years old when he took the throne – restored the old gods – died after about 9 years on the throne (murdered? ) – most well known because of the excavation of his tomb Link: Tut’s Family Tree

Film – King Tut’s Final Secrets

The End of the New Kingdom • Ramses II – one of the greatest of the New Kingdom pharaohs – groomed by his father Seti I for leadership – military efforts • Battle of Kadesh – first recorded peace treaty in history – ambitious builder • Temple at Abū Simbel

Why Were Temples Built? • houses for the gods • rituals and offerings • “banks”

Egypt’s Decline and Fall • Why? – internal divisions – outside invasion • Libyans • “Sea Peoples” of the Aegean • Kushites (Nubia) • Assyrians • and so on…

Chapter 4, Lecture 3 Questions 1. Why has the Middle Kingdom been described as a “golden age of stability, prosperity and achievement? ” 2. What are forced payments made from one group to another to show obedience called? 3. Who were the Hyksos? What did they do that was important? 4. What female ruler focused on building the economy through trade? 5. What did Amenhotep IV try to do during his reign? 6. True or False: Tutankhamen is best known for his lengthy reign. 7. Name the temple that Ramses II had constructed that had to be moved in the 1960 s to avoid being covered

The Civilization of Kush Chapter 4, Lecture 4

Chapter 4, Lecture 4 Objectives • After this lesson, students will be able to: – discuss how the Nubians settled to the south of Egypt and built a civilization based on farming and trade. – explain how Kush emerged as a leading power after it learned iron-making skills.

Nubia • Nubia (later known as Kush) – south of Egypt along the Nile River – probably settled by herders c. 2000 B. C.

The Kingdom of Kerma • Kerma – close ties with Egypt – trade meant wealth • cattle, gold, ivory, slaves, mercenary services, animal skins, incense • Egyptian invasion – cultural diffusion

The Rise of Kush • Kush – sees opportunity when Egypt was weakened – Kashta and Piye – 728 B. C. Piye founded dynasty that rules both Kush and Egypt

A New Capital • Kushite rule ended by the Assyrians • Meroë – trade – iron making center – Egyptian influences

Chapter 4, Lecture 4 Questions 1. Nubia lay (direction) of Egypt. 2. What kinds of items were traded between Nubia and Egypt? 3. True or False. Piye established a dynasty that ruled over both Nubia and Egypt. 4. True or False. Meroë became a trade and iron making center.