Pyramids on the Nile

Egypt

•Unlike Sumerian culture – Egypt had one united Kingdom

•No city states which created a stable environment for over 3000 years

Geography of Egypt

•Nile River- 4,100 miles long- longest river in world

•Settlements arose along the Nile•7000 B.C.

•Land made fertile by flooding of river

•Black Land (fertile) vs. Red Land (desert)

The Gift of the Nile

•Rain and melting snow caused the Nile to flood (July)

•When it receded it left silt (October)•Water highway- unified villages and promoted trade

•Nile was a god to Egyptians •Gave life

Environmental Challenges

•Egyptian farmers more fortunate than Sumerian

•Nile was regular unlike Tigris and Euphrates•However, other risks:

•Lower water level= less silt= less crops= starvation

•Higher water level= destruction of houses, granaries and seeds planted

•Deserts on sides= less farmable/livable land and less interaction w/ other people

Upper and Lower Egypt

•Upper Egypt- river area in the south from First Cataract to point where river branches outElevation is higher

Cataract – churning rapids

•Lower Egypt- to the north near the Mediterranean Sea.•Delta region- broad, marshy, triangular area of land formed by deposits of silt at the mouth of the river.

3200 BC

Villages of Egypt were under the rule of 2 separate kingdoms

~Lower and upperEventually they united – unsure who did it though?

Egypt Unites into a Kingdom

Conflicting evidence •King Scorpion or•King Narmer (more evidence)

King of Lower Egypt•Red crown

King of Upper Egypt •white crown

Narmer created a double crown•Symbolized a unified kingdom

•Around 3000 B.C.

Narmer made his capital city Memphis

Pharaohs Rule as Gods

In Egypt, kings were Gods•Pharaohs

•Center of religion, govt., and army –almost as powerful as the gods.

•Caused the sun to rise, the Nile to flood

Theocracy•rule based on religious authority

Pyramids

•King ruled even after death•Ka- eternal life force•Reigned forever•Tombs in pyramids – needed a very important resting place

•Pyramids represented strength of Egyptians

•Economic strength, tech. means•Leadership and govt. organization

Pyramids at Giza – each block about 2 ½ tons – some 15

2 million blocks stacked made one pyramid

Egyptians polytheistic –

Re- the sun godOsiris – god of the deadIsis – the most important! Mother and wife god

2000 gods Mummification – For Royal Egyptians

Society

Science and Technology•Calendar – came up with 365 ¼ days in a year

•System of written numbers•Assess and collect taxes•Geometry•Architecture

•Medicine•Pulse•Splints•surgery