Ancient Egypt Pyramids and Pharaohs. Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile In ancient times Egypt was covered with swampland The Nile river Longest river in the

Ancient EgyptPyramids and Pharaohs

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile • In ancient times Egypt was covered with

swampland• The Nile river

• Longest river in the world – 4,160 miles• Ancient Egypt was located along a 750 mile

stretch of the Nile

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

• Other natural advantages• Egypt has a frost free climate

• Easy to grow many kinds of food• The Nile Valley contains several natural deposits

• Granite• Sandstone• Limestone

• The deserts and seas provided a natural barrier• The isthmus of Suez- trade route


• Early steps towards civilization• Hieroglyphics• Papyrus• The Rosetta Stone

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile• Two distinct kingdoms developed in Egypt

• Upper Egypt (Southern Egypt)• Lower Egypt (Northern Egypt)

• Menes• King of Upper Egypt• United all of Egypt around 3,200 B.C.

• Pharaoh- “Great House”

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile• The Old Kingdom

• Many developments in science and art• Sphinx• Largest pyramids

• 2 classes• Peasants and Farmers• Nobility


• The Middle Kingdom• Golden Age of Egypt• Nobles and priest began to weaken the power of the Pharaoh• Hyksos (war- like people from Asia)

• Conquered part of Egypt, ruled for 100 years• Chariots• Compound Bow


• The New Kingdom• Strong Pharaohs reunited the land• Drove the Hyksos out of Egypt• Thebes became capital• They built an Empire• Hatshepsut- first female ruler

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile• The New Kingdom Continued

• Amenhotep IV• Tried to bring out religious and social change• Egyptians were polytheistic• Amen believed in one god, the Sun (Aton)• He was unsuccessful in his attempt to change,

priests did not want to give up power


• Egypt's Decline• The Assyrians began to take over as world powers• Egypt’s world dominance finally diminished

Egyptian Life and Culture

• The Achievements of Ancient Egypt• Architecture and the Arts

• Pyramids & Sphinx• There are still about 80 pyramids

• Sculpture and paintings


Sphinx and Pyramids The Great Pyramid

Ancient Egyptian Art Ancient ThebesRamses built this for his wife

http://www.culturefocus.com/pyramids-4.htm



http://www.culturefocus.com/valley-of-kings-6.htm

http://www.culturefocus.com/egypt-8.htm


Kom Ombo Temple

Statue of Amun Head of Ramses

Court of Amenhotep


• Science Math and Medicine• Calendars

• Had a lunar calendar• Could predict the flooding of the Nile• Came up with a 30 day / 12 month calendar

• Number system based on tens• Similar to the decimal system

• Used geometry to build pyramids• Medicines

Egyptian Life and Culture• Education and Religion

• Scribes• Learned to read and write• Worked for government

• Other education was religious


• Education and Religion Cont.• The afterlife

• At first, only Pharaohs had an afterlife• Had to preserve body for the afterlife

• Mummification • Placed objects in the tomb to help them in the afterlife

• Treasure, a Book of the Dead

Egyptian Life and Culture• Society and Economy

• Class was rigidly divided• Women were equal to their husbands

• Could own property• Leave it to her daughter

• Farmed cotton• Traded via caravan routes

Documents

Ancient Egypt Pyramids and Pharaohs. Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile In ancient times Egypt was covered with swampland The Nile river Longest river in the