Ancient Egypt

An Early Complex Civilization

Warm Up

1. What are the eight basic characteristics shared by first complex societies?

Cities A state or government Occupational specialization Institutions for storing and distributing products Social class hierarchy Institutionalized religion Monumental public architecture Writing and a body of accumulated knowledge.

The Nile Valley1. Based upon the picture below, describe the setting of Egyptian civilization.2. Why was the Nile so important to life?

The Nile Valley

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Annual Flooding

Every year the Nile flooded due to upstream rain. Flooding caused the deposit of rich black soil called silt along the banks of the river. Silt was also deposited at the delta or mouth of the

river. As a result, much of Egypt’s population began to

live in the region. Ancient Egyptians called their country Kemet or

Black Land, after the color of the fertile soil.

5. What is a cataract?

What is a cataract? How did people avoid the cataract? How did the geography protect Egypt?

Cataracts – rocky rapids or waterfalls. They were avoided by people digging canals

For centuries Egypt was isolated from the world by its geography.

Six cataracts made the Southern Nile difficult to navigate protecting Egypt upstream

Deserts and the seas protected Egypt on the other sides.

6. The Nile is home to many fish and birds that were part of Egyptian diet.

Why was the city of Thebes important? What was built there?

Thebes was Egypt’s capital when it was at its peak. Queen Hatshepsut built a temple out of the cliff in her own honor here.

How did the Egyptians get water to their crops? How did the Nile create “seasons” in Egypt.

They dug irrigation channels to deliver water from the Nile.

The River Seasons Flood Season

During the floods, people provided service to the government, moving stones to ships that were used to create temples.

The government in exchange provided food the people needed to survive. Season of Going Out

People used cows and plows to plant fields of wheat and barley. They also planted gardens near their homes where they grew onions,

beans, carrots, and radishes. A device called the shaduf was used to spread water from the irrigation

ditches to the crops. Season of the Harvest

4 months after planting the harvest begins Men were responsible for cutting the grain and women gathered it and

stored it. Half of the harvest went to pay taxes. Taxes were collected to support the royal court and to sometimes aid

people during years of bad harvest.

Egyptian History Formation

In 4000 BC farming villages began to develop along the banks of the Nile.

These villages became 2 kingdoms: the Upper Egypt (located in the south) and the Lower Egypt located near the Nile delta.

In 3100 BC King Menes of Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt uniting the two kingdoms. Today, we believe that the story of King Menes is a legend.

It probably took several rulers to join the kingdoms. Despite this, King Menes is said to have started the first

Egyptian dynasty or family of rulers. The rulers of ancient Egypt were known as pharaohs.

Old Kingdom

During this period a strong central government supervised the construction of huge tombs, called pyramids.

They were built by farmers and laborers during the flood season while their fields were under water.

Middle Kingdom

Egypt conqueror its neighbor, Nubia

This provides Egypt with slaves, soldiers, and gold.

Pharaohs built new tombs in the desert sands during this period.

New Kingdom

During this period, Egypt becomes a world power.

Egyptian power reached its peak under Ramses II.

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Institutionalized Religion

Egypt’s religion was polytheistic. It had many gods who controlled forces of nature.

Egypt’s chief god was Amon-Re, the sun god. Other notable gods included Isis and Osiris.

Pharaohs were believed to be earthly versions of deities descended from Amon-Re.

Under the rule of Akhenaton, Egypt experimented with monotheism but it did not last.

Institutionalized Religion Egyptian religion was strongly centered upon the

afterlife. The Egyptian afterlife resembled life on earth.

Thus it was important to prepare a person’s body for the next world.

The body was embalmed, dried, and wrapped in linen as a mummy.

They also mummified pets. Tombs were loaded with items that deceased would

use in the next life. Examples: clothes, food, make up, and jewelry. The tombs of pharaoh’s were full of treasure.

Cities

Egyptians built great cities to house their population along the banks of the Nile.

Egypt had many capital and major cities, like Thebes, Memphsis, Giza, and Abu Simbel among others.

Each city had a unique character and role in Egyptian culture.

Occupational Specialization

Some people in Egyptian society had specific jobs in society. They were architects, craft workers, or engineers. Some people were educated and became scribes.

Most boys followed in their father’s line of work.

Girls became wives and mothers but possessed many rights. They were able to buy and sell property and also

inherit wealth.

Economy

Egyptian markets were run on the barter system. People exchanged goods for other goods.

Government

The Pharaoh was the head of state and had total control over the government as a result of his ties to the gods.

Pharaoh’s were aided by priests and nobles who collected taxes and performed ceremonies.

Writing and Base of Knowledge

Egyptians’ developed a written language called hieroglyphics that used symbols to record knowledge.

Egyptians used math and the stars to create an accurate 365 day calendar

They surveyed the land and maintained records They made advances in medicine, studying the

human body, setting broken bones, and performing surgeries.

The invention of papyrus made the writing and recording of knowledge even easier.

Monumental Architecture:The Great Pyramid

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The PharaohConsidered to be a descendent of the gods.

The ruler of Egyptian society

Preists and NoblesPreists cared for the temples and held religious ceremonies.

Nobles are wealthy members of the society who are close to the king.

Scribes and Government OfficialsPeople who maintained records and administered government by collecting taxes.

Craftspeople and MerchantsPeople who made and sold the products necessary for life.

They bartered for items.

FarmersPeople who tended the fields and made sure that the society had enough food.

Laborers and SlavesThe lowest members of society.

Manual laborers.Slaves might be prisoners of war, people who owed debts, or had committed crimes. Slavery was not perminnetn. Most slaves were eventually freed.

Social Hierarchy

Kush

Egypt traded with Kush, a civilization farther south on the Nile.

In 750 AD, King Kastha of the Kush conquered the whole Nile Valley.

The rule of the Kush was short due to contact with the Middle Eastern Assyrians who had invented iron tipped weapons.

The Kush built a new capital called Meroe. At first it was influenced by Egyptian designs. Egyptian gods, like Amon-Re, remained but were

eventually replaced by their own gods Hieroglyphics were also adopted and eventually modified

by the Kush civilization.

Kush

Kush learned about iron from the Assyrians and began using it to make iron tool and weapons. They melted iron or by heating it in their ovens. Egyptians however continued to use bronze.

The Kush traded with merchants in Egypt, the Mediterranean, Arabia, and even in the Indian Ocean. They also traded as far west as Lake Chad.

The Kush society eventually collapsed after 200 years.

Kush & Axum

Axum

Further south on the Nile, located in the Ethiopian highlands was Axum.

Axum was another trading center. In 350 AD King Ezana conquered the Kush

destroying their civilization in his conquest. Ezana was a Christian. He converted the people Christianity. Even when Islam swept North Africa, the area around

Axum remained Christian. As a result modern Ethiopians are still predominately

Christian

Homework

Complete the DBQ questions based upon informational graphics.

Cool DownTrait Egyptian Example

Cities

State or Government

Storing and Distributing Goods

Institutional Religion

Monumental Architecture

Social Hierarchy

Occupational Specialization

Writing and Knowledge

Homework : DBQ

DBQ Review

DBQ Review Which social group

comprised the largest portion of the population of the Old Kingdom?

Which social group was the smallest?

How much of the population was comprised by people with official power in Egyptian society?

DBQ Review

When was the population of Ancient Egypt 3 million people?

What was the population of Ancient Egypt in year 0?

DBQ Review

1. What is located in the burial chamber?2. What is the name of the steps closest to the Sarcophagus?3. What passage is not a set of steps?

4. Why would the burial chamber need to be so large?