Brainstart for today...• Title your page, "Ancient Egypt Politics - Brainstart"• Write the word, "PHARAOH" on your paper, then number 1-10

below it.• Remember – Pharaohs were not only the head of government, but

also religious leaders that were considered to be divine (god-like)PHARAOH1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

• For the next 5 minutes, you must generate 10 words that pop into your head when you think about ancient Egyptian pharaohs.

• GO!

Politics of Ancient Egypt

Alphablocks

• As we look at the following information about politics in ancient Egypt, begin to fill in your blocks

• Remember, you need to write a complete fact related to a term starting with that letter, not just the term

Kingdoms of Upper & Lower Egypt

• ~5000 BCE, people began to settle along the Nile River• Over time, the people banded into 2 main groups:

– Lower Egypt (northern) - delta region and end of the Nileo symbol - red crowno mild, calm people

–Upper Egypt (southern) - closer to source of Nile & higher groundo symbol - white crowno rugged, stern (tough) people

King Menes Unites Egypt

• King Menes (aka Narmer) united two kingdoms of Egypt ~3100 BCE

• Menes = 1st pharaoh (king)

• Capital city @ Memphis (dividing line between Upper & Lower Egypt)

• Symbol of new Egypt = double crown (red & white) Source

The Three Kingdoms of Ancient EgyptHistorians divide the ~3,000-year history of ancient Egypt into three periods of time called kingdoms:• Old Kingdom -

2700 to 2200 BCE• Middle Kingdom –

2000 to 1800 BCE• New Kingdom -

1600 to 1100 BCESource

Old Kingdom - "The Pyramid Age"• Pharaohs had

absolute power• Central governments

were set up• Upper & Lower Egypt

united• First stone pyramid

built• Pyramids at Giza built

 

Source

Middle Kingdom – "Period of Reunification"• Followed years of chaos

and disunity after the collapse of the Old Kingdom

• Time of wise & gifted pharaohs

• Built strong armies & fortresses to defend Egypt from invaders

• Great achievements in literature, art, and architecture 

 

Source

New Kingdom – "Golden Age of Egyptian Empire"  • Pharaohs ruled as all

powerful• Women achieved high social status and rights• Queen Hatshepsut ruled as 1st female pharaoh• Egypt expanded territory through force and military conquest• Egypt grew into a huge empire during this time.

Source

The End of Egyptian Civilization• After the New Kingdom period, Upper & Lower Egypt

eventually split• The two kingdoms were ruled by multiple kings• Civil war broke out and Egypt eventually fell into political chaos• Egypt grew weak• 700s BCE – Kingdom of Kush (south) invades • 500s BCE - Persians (northeast) invade• 300 BCE - Greeks and Romans (north/northwest) invade• 27 BCE - Queen Cleopatra dies as the last pharaoh of Egypt• Egypt becomes part of the Roman Empire

Source

This was Egypt

This was the Roman Empire

• Next step…complete your Alphablocks using other resources from in the room or online:– Chapter 1 in the text

-- Online resources

• Tips– Remember, politics includes leaders, political

boundaries, laws, war & military, types of government and how they work

– If you find information about a pharaoh, ask yourself, “does he or she really seem important?” We want to DETERMINE IMPORTANCE

Pharaohs: Then and Now• Although we no longer have pharaohs, we do still have political

leaders. • Draw a Venn diagram the covers half of a piece of paper.

• Above one circle, write “PHARAOHS” and on the other circle write “PRESIDENTS.”

• Read the job description of the President of the United States, and think about what you have learned about the role of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt.

• Take 10 minutes and jot down as many bullets comparing and contrasting pharaohs and presidents: how are they different; how are they similar?

Politics: Guiding Questions

• Divide the a piece of paper into 4 equal boxes.• Write these questions as the headings in the

boxes (1 question/box).1. How was the government of ancient Egypt

structured?2. What role did the “pharaoh” play in Egyptian

society?3. Who were the principle (main) leading figures of

ancient Egypt?4. How did these leaders contribute/affect Egypt’s

development?• Using your notes and research as evidence,

please answer these questions in the boxes.