Egypt – The Nile River ValleyCivilization

developed in a river valley with fertile soil

Nile is the world’s longest river

Nile river begins in East Africa and flows 3,500 miles north towards the Mediterranean Sea

Egypt – The Nile River ValleyNile has two main sources

White Nile flows from Lake VictoriaBlue Nile flows from modern-day Ethiopia

The two rivers meet in present day Sudan (before known as Nubia or Kush)

Nile flows through the Sahara Desert Sahara is the largest desert in the world

Nile was difficult to travel by ship Contained cataracts, or rocky rapids

Upper and Lower Egypt

Upper Egypt Lower Egypt

Southern EgyptNarrow Valley lined

with cliffsCataractsUpstream from

Mediterranean Sea

Northern EgyptRiver here is slowerRiver carries silt,

mineral particles that make soil fertile

Contains river delta, an area of sediment deposited at the mouth of the river

Black and Red Land

Black Land (Kemet) Red LandNarrow strip of dark,

fertile soil around banks of the Nile river

Positive: Yearly flooding left behind a layer of rich, fertile soil

Negative: Floods were unpredictable (natural disasters) and droughts (shortage of water) made crops fail.

Vast deserts on the sides of Black Land

Deadly place of hot, burning sands.

A Civilization Develops7,000 years ago: People start growing grains

around Nile riverIrrigation system produced food surplusFarmers’ surplus crops were collected as taxesLocal rulers used surplus to buy cloth, jewelry,

and luxury goodsFarmers’ surplus supported full-time artisans,

who had time to perfect their skillsCities brought together wealthy and skilled

people.Why could some Egyptians take jobs other than

farming?

Egypt is in the continent of Africa.

Can you find Egypt?

The desert surrounded Egypt on the West, East, and South.

Up North, the Mediterranean Sea protected them. Egypt was allowed to evolve in its own way.

What is the name of the hot, dry and sandy land that covers most of Egypt?

SAHARA DESERT

Egyptian ReligionBelieved Gods controlled everything

Ex. Flooding of the Nile river Ex. Death of a child

Egyptians built temples and offered prayers and gifts

Early Egyptians were polytheists (hundreds)

Many Gods associated with animals

Osiris

King of the afterlifeSymbolized the yearly

drought and flooding of the Nile.

Gave Egypt civilization.Married his sister, IsisConspirators killed him by

chopping him up into piecesIsis, his wife, found the

pieces and put him back together

Ra / Re / Amun-RaKing of the GodsSun god, King of the Gods.Hawk head with solar disk on top.Sometimes seen as the creator of

men (Egyptians called themselves "the cattle of Ra”)

Made daily journey across the skyDied in the West each night and

was reborn in the East the next day.

How could the movement of the Sun affect the beliefs of early Egyptians?

HorusFalcon headedThe Pharaoh was his

earthly embodiment. Son of Osiris and IsisSeth, his brother, is

always trying to hurt himHis sons take care of the

organs during the mummification process

IsisIsis was the

sister/wife of OsirisMay be one of the

judges of the deadHas magical powersThe purest example

of the loving wife and mother

AnubisHead of a jackalGuides the dead to the

underworld and weighs their heart (bad deeds make your heart weigh more)

Works with Osiris in the underworld

Mummification god

Ammut“Eater of the Dead”She stands by the scales of the

hearts and eats the hearts of the wicked

Head of a crocodile, body of a leopard, hind legs of a hippo

ThothMoon GodScribe (records the weight

of the hearts in the underworld)

Invented writing

Bast

Cat-headed Goddess of love and childbirth

Cats are sacred (many catswere mummified in her honor)

BesProtector of

households, mothers, children, and childbirth

Later regarded as defender of everything good

Images were kept in homes

Tasks: killing snakes, fighting off evil spirits, aiding women in labor, protect soldiers before battle

SekhmetLion headedBreathes fire against

her enemiesHer breath created

the desertDelivers punishment

to the godsProtector of

pharaohs and leader in war

PowerPoint – Day 12