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Nile River Valley Civilization Egypt: “Gift of the Nile” Unit 2 Chapter 4 Lesson 1 p.134- 139

Nile River Valley Civilization

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Unit 2 Chapter 4 Lesson 1 p.134-139. Nile River Valley Civilization. Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”. Objectives. Describe the location and geography of the Nile River Explain how geography affected the political, economic, and religious structures of the early civilization of Egypt. Vocabulary. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Nile River Valley Civilization

Nile River Valley Civilization

Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”

Unit 2 Chapter 4 Lesson 1 p.134-139

Page 2: Nile River Valley Civilization

Objectives Describe the location and geography

of the Nile River

Explain how geography affected the political, economic, and religious structures of the early civilization of Egypt.

Page 3: Nile River Valley Civilization

Vocabulary Delta- triangular piece of rich land

formed from soil deposited at the mouth of the river

Cataracts- waterfalls Arid- dry desert (Sahara) Predict- tell in advance (predict

flooding) Afterlife- life after death

Page 4: Nile River Valley Civilization

Land of the Nile Worlds longest river

Flows north from east-central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea

4160 miles long

Page 5: Nile River Valley Civilization

Lower Egypt Lies at the mouth of the Nile River at

the Mediterranean Sea

Mainly considered the Nile Delta

Page 6: Nile River Valley Civilization

Lower Egypt

Page 7: Nile River Valley Civilization

Upper Egypt

• South, higher land to south of Cairo• 1st cataract (rapids) to where river fans

out

Page 8: Nile River Valley Civilization

Nile Valley Follows the river for 600 miles

Narrow and fertile land

Page 9: Nile River Valley Civilization

Deserts and Cataracts Nile runs between desert cliffs in a

series of 6 cataracts (waterfalls) Sahara Desert

• Arid or dry land• Land near the Nile was fertile enough to

grow crops such as wheat and barley Heavy Rainfall caused floods

• Rivers overflowed their banks • Deposited silt making the soil fertile for

farming

Page 10: Nile River Valley Civilization

Controlling the Nile A. Droughts led to starvation 1. When there was not enough rainfall to

overflow the banks, the land would dry up B. Floods led to drowning 1. people 2. crops C. Irrigation to advance farming 1. Egyptians built ditches to bring water to

their fields 2. built dams and dikes to control flooding 3. stored water in ponds or pools

Page 11: Nile River Valley Civilization

Controlling the Nile D. Government Control and Authority 1. Government officials supervised all

aspects of irrigation and farming 2. Egyptian leaders authority was based on

their ability to provide water for crops 3. Large harvest surpluses were stored a. used in times of droughts b. used to feed laborers on public

works projects

Page 12: Nile River Valley Civilization

A Source of Religion III. A Source of Religion A. To find order in the world around them, Egyptians

created stories to explain natural events 1. Gods or Goddesses controlled a specific part

of nature a. Egyptians developed beliefs in many

Gods b. Like the Sumerians, Egyptians formed a

polytheistic religion

Page 13: Nile River Valley Civilization

A Source of Religion Ra, the sun God 1. Egyptians believed the sun was a god who

was born each day and died each night

a. this led to the Egyptians belief in the after life

Hapi, God of the Flood 1. Egyptians held ceremonies hoping he

would reward them with good harvests Osiris, The God of the Next World

City Gods 1. As a city grew more important, so did its

god

Page 14: Nile River Valley Civilization

Hapi: God of the Flood

Osiris: God of Next World

Ra: Sun God

Page 15: Nile River Valley Civilization

Toward Civilization A. By 3100 BC, Egyptians were developing advanced

civilizations 1. Temples to worship their Gods 2. Stone tombs to hold the bodies of rulers who

had died a. Wrote on the temples and tombs 3. Made pottery and painted scenes of daily life

on it 4. Mined copper for tool making and gold for

decorative art B. Farming made advances elsewhere possible 1. Surpluses were carried by donkeys into towns

to trade

Page 16: Nile River Valley Civilization

Toward Civilization C. Trade 1. Sinai Peninsula was crossroads for traders

from Egypt and southwestern Asia 2. The Nile River served as a highway connecting

Egyptian settlements a. Built ships to navigate the river i. made of wood (from Lebanon) ii. Sails helped to travel against the

rivers current iii. All of the Nile (except the cataracts of

Nubia) could be traveled and traded on D. Trade Leads to Cities 1. Trade centers emerged as separate cultures

and powers a. By 3100 BC, Egypt had two kingdoms: i. Lower Egypt ii. Upper Egypt

Page 17: Nile River Valley Civilization

GeographyADVANTAGE

Advantage over Mesopotamian civilizations:

Nile River very predictable in flooding. Tigris/Euphrates Rivers very

unpredictable.

Page 18: Nile River Valley Civilization

Geography

Flooding• Yearly flooding in July• Rain and melted snow traveled from

central-east AfricaNavigation

• Drift North towards the delta• Sail south with the wind

Page 19: Nile River Valley Civilization

Geography Natural Barriers

• The desert surroundings reduced contact with other civilizations

• The desert also provided a natural barrier that shut out invaders

Page 20: Nile River Valley Civilization

Summary The physical setting of the Nile River

supported permanent settlements and an early civilization in Egypt.

The Egyptians developed agricultural techniques, such as irrigation, along the Nile River

It was these techniques that permitted the Egyptians to grow surplus food.

Over time, Egyptian trade in surpluses allowed the growth of cities

Page 21: Nile River Valley Civilization

Review Questions What are the major features of the

Nile River?

Where were the only two locations that the early Egyptians could grow crops of wheat and barley?

Why is land in Northern Egypt called Lower Egypt?

Page 22: Nile River Valley Civilization

Review Answers What are the major features of the Nile River?

DELTA, VALLEY, and CATARACTS

Where were the only two locations that the early Egyptians could grow crops of wheat and barley?

ON THE FERTILE LANDS OF THE NILE DELTA AND THE NILE VALLEY

Why is land in Northern Egypt called Lower Egypt?IT WAS LOWER IN ELEVATION THAN THE LAND IN

SOUTHERN EGYPT

Page 23: Nile River Valley Civilization

How did ancient Egyptians control the flooding waters of

the Nile? Used irrigation ditches, dams and

dikes. (See image on page 136).

Page 24: Nile River Valley Civilization

Review

How did the unpredictability of the Nile’s floods affect early Egyptians’ religious beliefs?

Lead the Egyptians to believe that gods and goddesses were responsible for events in nature

How did boats make nearly all the Nile usable for trade?With the addition of sails, boats were able to sail upstream against the current and almost all the Nile could be used for trade.

How did trade along the Nile support the growth of Egypt?It led to the formation of cities and kingdoms

Page 25: Nile River Valley Civilization

Social Hierarchy