EgyptLand of the Pharaohs

Geography of ancient Egypt

Located in northern Africa Nile River

Source: Lake Victoria Longest river in

the world Only river to flow

south to north Begins in central Africa

where the Blue and White Nile begin

Nile River con’t

The Nile is the lifeblood of Egypt

The river flows for 4,145 miles

Empties into the Med Sea

Mostly navigable Except for 6

rapids/waterfalls or cataracts

Nile Delta

Triangular shaped piece of land at the mouth of the river that is the most fertile area of Egypt

Provides 10,000 miles of rich farmland

Nile River Valley

Long, narrow strip of fertile land usually from 1 mile to 12 miles wide until it reaches the lower portion of the Nile Delta

Land is made fertile by deposits of silt, sand and small stones during the yearly flooding

Egyptians called their land “Kemet” (the Black Land)

Sahara Desert

Largest desert in the world

About 4 inches of rainfall each year

The deserts are referred to as the “red land” because of burning heat

Provided protection

Other natural barriers:

Cataracts in the south

and delta marshes in the

north

Upper and Lower Egypt

Upper Egypt Fertile lands to the south

Lower Egypt Fertile lands to the north

Ancient Egypt ran all the way into Nubia. It was much larger than modern Egypt

Egypt: “The Gift of the Nile”

Provided water Fertilized soil Provided protection Provided natural

resources Sandstone, limestone,

papyrus, gold & flax Provided transportation– Along with the Med

Seaand Red Sea

Regular Flooding

Egyptians relied on the yearly flooding of the Nile—called the inundation– Happens between July and October

– Leaves behind dark fertile mud• Egyptians called the land Kemet: “The Black Land”

Flooding more reliable than that of T and E Rivers The inundation would replenish the soil allowing farmers to

plant crops to feed the people Developed irrigation to create thousands of more miles of

farmland Often called the Breadbasket of the ancient world because of

the surplus of food

How did the Egyptians use the Nile?Planted barley, wheat and flax seedSuccess depending on the use of irrigation

-basins, canals and dikes-Shadouf: bucket attached to a long pole to lift water

from the basins-Developed geometry to survey the land and mark

off fields-Papyrus was harvested to make baskets, sandals,

rafts and eventually paper

Irrigation

Created streams,canals and storage pools

What were hieroglyphics?

Comes from the greek hieros=sacred glyphe=carving More than 100's signs, symbols or pictures to

indicate words or sounds Records were kept by scribes for priests, rulers and

traders Written on stone or papyrus Typically used for religious purposes

Rosetta Stone

-stone discovered by Napoleon’s troops in 1798 AD

-contained 3 languages (greek, hieroglyphics and demotic)

-deciphered by Jean Francois Champollion

The Rise of Government

The rise in farming, crafts and trade resulted in need for government

-as did maintaining of irrigation systems, surplus goods and land disputes

-Egypt was first ruled by village chiefs -The unification of Egypt led to a development of a

monarchy

Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt Menes (Narmer) the

king of Upper Egypt defeated the King of Lower Egypt @ 3,200 B.C.

The crown of the pharaoh shows the unification

Red Crown White Crown

Crown of a united Egypt

Developed first dynasty: family of rulers

Pharaoh

Means “great house”

Egypt would be ruled by 31 dynasties last 2800 years.

Crook and Flail

Crook: emblem of royalty. Tool of a shepherd: Represents pharaoh leading his people

Flail: emblem of royalty. Tool used to keep insects away. Represents pharaoh protecting his people

Pharaoh

Was thought of as a god Believed to have power over the Nile Had total power over the welfare of the

people, conditions of the land and the laws Farmers had to pay taxes to rent the land

3/5 of crops given to pharaoh % of livestock Donation of months of work to pharaoh’s projects

Egypt's Social Classes

Pharaoh

Priest and nobles

Traders, artisans, shopkeepers and scribes

Farmers and herders

Unskilled workers

Social Pyramid explained Slaves

Largest class, worked for pharaoh, priests, merchants and wealthy nobles

Farmers Farmed land that pharaoh provided. Largest section of

Egyptian society Artisans

Middle class, worked in sculpture, copper, bronze, stone, wood, and gold. Also produced linen cloth

Scribes Attended special schools, learned literature and history of

Egypt, math, bookkeeping, mechanics, surveying & law

Family Life

-Father was the head of the household- Egyptian women did have rights

-could own and pass on property, buy and sell goods, make wills and obtain divorces

- Few children went to school-girls were taught at home to sew, cook and run

household-boys learned farming or a skilled trade