Ancient Egypt

Describe the dominant characteristics, contributions of, and interactions among major

civilizations of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East in ancient and medieval times

H.3b.G

What does it take to start a civilization?

What do you need to consider when choosing a place to live?

Table Brainstorming

What do you know about Egypt?– Sphinx– Pyramids– Mummies– Desert

Characteristics

Very little rainfall

Rely on predictable yearly floods

Nile - longest river in the world (4,160 mi)

Nile Valley – lush and green on either side

Late Spring and Summer heavy tropical rains in Central Africa and melting mountain snow

The Nile River Valley

Settling the ValleyWhen floods recede they leave rich silt Early 5000 BC nomadic hunters and gathersFarming (Wheat & Barley), Hunting (Ducks & Geese), Water (Fishing)Harvesting – Papyrus (rope, sandals, matting, baskets, and paper like material)

Then what happened…

Because of the geography (surrounded by deserts and waterfalls) farming villages prospered

Monarchies begin forming – weak villages are absorbed by stronger ones

Egypt splits into Upper Egypt (in the South) and Lower Egypt (in the North)

The Pyramids

Built to give King’s eternal resting place

Believed that Pharaoh’s soul guided kingdom even after death

Preserved the body by embalming and mummification

Many times wealth were buried with clothing, weapons, and other personal items.

Egyptian Monarchy

30 dynasties classified into 3 categories– Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms

Basic characteristics of civilization developThe King (later called Pharaoh) was seen as a God Theocracy – ruled both political and religious Bureaucracy – headed by the King’s Vizier or Prime Minister performed powers delegated by the King

Old Kingdom

Narmer (aka Menes) leads troops to conquer Lower Egypt

Sets up the 1st Government

Beginning of the 1st Egyptian Dynasty (ruling family)

Middle Kingdom

Period of unrest

Impact of rulers– Brought irrigation– Added land to Kingdom– Cultivated additional land for agriculture– Set up fortresses on the Nile– Launched Military Campaign on Syria– Constructed Canals for trading

The Fall of the Middle Kingdom

Hyksos (HiHk Sahs) take over– Bronze weapons

– Horse drawn chariots

Egyptians were using copper and stone weapons while fighting on foot

New Kingdom

Ahmose raises army & defeats Hyksos

Title of Pharaoh begins

Ahmose rebuilds Egypt – restores temples and reopened trade routes

Following rulers used large armies to conquer lands

Hatshepsut

ruled w/ husband and then in place of stepson

Extensive building programs (funeral temples and tombs especially in The Valley of the Kings)

Amenhotep and Nefertit

Broke with traditional ways of worshiping many gods

People didn’t like it

Priest lost power

Egypt loses land

When Amenhotep dies, priest restore power like it was previously

Ramses II (Ramses the Great)Creates permanent peace treaty with HittitesOne of the biggest finds was a tomb that contained 50 of his 52 sonsWith Ramses death, Egypt declines and is taken over by foreign control in 945 BC

Contributions

Hieroglyphics

Science Achievements– Advances in Mathematics

• Number System and way to calculate volume and area

• Geometry used to survey flooded land

– 365 Day Calendar (movement of sun and moon)

– Medical Expertise• Human anatomy and scrolls from doctors on treatment of

injuries