Ancient Egypt Get Ready to Read (cont.) Focusing on the Main Ideas The Nile Valley The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile River valley,

Ancient Egypt

Get Ready to Read (cont.)

Focusing on the Main Ideas

The Nile Valley

• The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile River valley, where natural barriers discouraged invasions.

• The Egyptians depended on the Nile’s floods to grow their crops.

• Around 3100 B.C., Egypt’s two major kingdoms, Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, were combined into one.


Locating Places

• Egpyt (EE·jihpt)

• Nile River (NYL)

• Sahara (suh·HAR·uh)

The Nile Valley

Focusing on the Main Ideas (cont.)

• The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile River valley, where natural barriers discouraged invasions.

Settling the Nile

• The earliest Egyptians moved into the Nile River valley from less fertile areas.

• The Nile River is the longest river in the world, about 4,000 miles long.

(pages 39–40)

• They farmed and built villages along the riverbanks.

• Egyptians used the Nile River for many things.

The Nile Valley

Settling the Nile (cont.)

• They used river water to drink, clean, farm, and cook.

• The Nile valley is a narrow, green valley in Egypt.

• They ate fish from the river.

• The northern end of the valley is a fertile area of land called a delta.

The Nile Valley

(pages 39–40)


• The Sahara, the largest desert in the world, lies west of the Nile Valley.

• Egypt has several natural borders to protect it.

• The Eastern Desert lies to the east of the valley.

• The deserts, the dangerous rapids of the Nile, and marshes in the delta kept enemies from entering Egypt.

The Nile Valley

(pages 39–40)


• The Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east allowed trade with other peoples.

• Within Egypt, people traveled on the Nile to trade with each other.

The Nile Valley

(pages 39–40)

The River People

• Floods along the Nile were predictable and were not devastating.

(pages 41–42)

• Each spring the Nile would flood and leave a dark, fertile mud along its banks.

• Farmers learned about the waters of the Nile.

• They used the soil left behind by the floods to grow wheat, barley, and flax seeds.

The Nile Valley

The River People (cont.)

• Farmers learned about irrigation.

• They dug basins to trap floodwaters, dug canals to channel water to the fields, and built dikes to strengthen the basin walls.

• Papyrus, a reed plant that grew along the Nile, was used to make baskets, sandals, and river rafts.

• Later, it was used to make paper.

The Nile Valley

(pages 41–42)

The River People (cont.)

• The Egyptian system of writing was called hieroglyphics.

• This system consisted of thousands of picture symbols.

• Some Egyptian men learned to read and write.

• They attended schools to learn to be scribes.

The Nile Valley

(pages 41–42)

A United Egypt

• Because the people in Egypt had surplus food, some people became artisans instead of farmers.

(pages 43–44)

• Artisans wove cloth, made pottery, carved statues, and crafted weapons and tools.

• Egyptians traded with each other and with others in Mesopotamia.

• A few strong chiefs united groups of villages into kingdoms.

The Nile Valley

A United Egypt (cont.)

• Eventually, the strongest kingdoms overpowered the weaker ones.

• In this way, two large kingdoms emerged—Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt.

• Narmer united the two kingdoms.

• He ruled from the city of Memphis, and his kingdom lasted long after his death.

The Nile Valley

(pages 43–44)

Early Egyptian Life

• Ancient Egypt had social classes.

(pages 45–46)

• The pharaoh was the highest power.

• The upper class consisted of nobles, priests, and government officials.

• The middle class included merchants, artisans, shopkeepers, and scribes.

• Farmers were the largest group of people and were in a lower class than the middle class.

The Nile Valley

Early Egyptian Life (cont.)

• Unskilled workers were the lowest class of people in ancient Egypt.

The Nile Valley

(pages 45–46)


• Although men were the heads of households, women had more rights in Egypt than in other ancient civilizations.

• They could own and pass on property, buy and sell goods, make wills, and obtain divorces.

The Nile Valley

(pages 45–46)


• Few children went to school in ancient Egypt.

• Children had time to play games and had toys.

• Egyptian girls learned to sew, cook, and run a household.

• Boys learned farming or a skilled trade.

The Nile Valley

(pages 45–46)

Geography Skills How did the geography of the Nile River valley lead to the growth of a civilization there?

The Nile River valley had natural barriers for protection, enriched soil for farming, and the river and seas for trade.

The Nile Valley



Egypt’s Old Kingdom

• Egypt was ruled by all-powerful pharaohs.

• The Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses and in life after death for the pharaohs.

• The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom built huge stone pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs.

Old Kingdom Rulers

• Pharaohs were all-powerful Egyptian kings who guided every activity in Egypt.

• Pharaohs appointed officials to carry out their commands.

• The Old Kingdom lasted from about 2600 B.C. until about 2300 B.C.

(page 48)

• Egyptian people served pharaohs because they believed the kingdom depended on one strong leader.


Old Kingdom Rulers (cont.)

• The thought pharaohs were gods on earth.

• They also believed the pharaohs were the sons of Re, the sun god.

(page 48)


Egypt’s Religion

• These deities controlled every human activity and all natural forces.

• Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses, or deities.

(pages 49–50)

• The major god was Re, the sun god.

• Another major god was Hapi, who ruled the Nile River.


• Isis was the most important goddess.

Egypt’s Religion (cont.)

• The Book of the Dead contained a collections of spells that Egyptians believed they needed to enter the afterlife.

• Egyptians believed in life after death.

• Egyptians believed only pharaohs and a few elite people could have life after death.


(pages 49–50)


• To protect the pharaoh’s body after death, Egyptians developed an embalming process.

• During the process, the body’s organs were removed.


(pages 49–50)

• The body was treated with spices and oils and then wrapped with strips of linen.



• The wrapped body was called a mummy.

(pages 49–50)

• They also set broken bones and stitched cuts.

• Egyptian doctors were the first doctors to specialize in different areas of medicine, and they wrote the world’s first medical book.

• Egyptian doctors used herbs and drugs to treat illnesses.

The Pyramids

• Egyptians built pyramids to protect the bodies of dead pharaohs.

(pages 50–52)

• The pyramids also contained items the pharaohs might need in the afterlife.

• A pyramid took thousands of people and years of labor to build.


The Pyramids (cont.)

• Egyptians used astronomy and mathematics to create the pyramids.


• To build a pyramid, Egyptians first selected a site.

• Then, they searched for stone.

• The artisans cut the stone into blocks, and other workers tied the stone to sleds and pulled them to the Nile.

(pages 50–52)



(pages 50–52)


• The Great Pyramid is the largest pyramid in Egypt.

• It was built for King Khufu and is located near the city of Cairo.


(pages 50–52)

They learned the use of herbs and drugs to treat illnesses, and how to sew up cuts and set broken bones.

What did Egyptians learn from embalming bodies?




The Egyptian Empire

• The Middle Kingdom was a golden age of peace, prosperity, and advances in the arts and architecture.

• During the New Kingdom, Egypt acquired new territory and reached the height of its power.


Focusing on the Main Ideas (cont.)

The Egyptian Empire

• Akhenaton tried to change Egypt’s religion, while Tutankhamen is famous for the treasures found in his tomb.

• Under Ramses II, Egypt regained territory and built great temples, but the empire fell by 1150 B.C.

The Middle Kingdom

• Pharaohs lost control of Egypt in about 2300 B.C.

• At that time, a new dynasty of pharaohs created a capital at Thebes.

• This began the Middle Kingdom, a time of stability, prosperity, and achievement.

(pages 60–61)

• Egypt took control of other lands and forced conquered people to send tribute, or forced payments.

The Egyptian Empire

• In this way, Egypt increased its riches.

The Middle Kingdom (cont.)

• During the Middle Kingdom, the arts, literature, and architecture blossomed.

• The Middle Kingdom ended when the Hyksos attacked and conquered Egypt.

• The Hyksos ruled until around 1500 B.C., when the Egyptian prince Ahmose led a revolt to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

The Egyptian Empire

(pages 60–61)

The Middle Kingdom (cont.)

• This artwork with gold inlay from the Middle Kingdom period shows a funeral boat.

The Egyptian Empire

(pages 60–61)

The New Kingdom

• Hatshepsut was one of the few women to rule Egypt.

(pages 61–62)

• Trade grew during Hatsheput’s reign.

• Traders exchanged beads, tools, and weapons for ivory, wood, leopard skins, and incense.

• Trade made Egypt wealthier.

• During the New Kingdom period, Egypt grew richer and more powerful.

The Egyptian Empire

The New Kingdom (cont.)

• Thutmose conquered more lands, and Egypt grew richer from tributes.

• Thutmose III became pharaoh after Hatshepsut’s death.

• Slavery became common in Thutmose’s reign.

• Slaves had some rights.

• They could own land, marry, and eventually obtain freedom.

The Egyptian Empire

(pages 61–62)

How was Hatshepsut unlike other pharaohs?

She focused on trade instead of military conquests.

The Egyptian Empire

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs

• Amenhotep felt priests were gaining too much power.

• Amenhotep IV came to power in 1370 B.C.

(pages 64–65)

• He introduced a new religion with only one god.

• Priests who did not follow the new religion were removed from power.

The Egyptian Empire

• He did not act when the Hittites attacked Egypt.

• Amenhotep became so devoted to his new religion that he neglected his other duties.

• As a result, Egypt’s empire greatly diminished.

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs (cont.)

• Most Egyptians refused to accept the new religion.

The Egyptian Empire

(pages 64–65)

• In A.D. 1922, a British archaeologist found King Tut’s grave.

• He ruled for only nine years before his death.

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs (cont.)

• Tutankhamen, now called King Tut, was a boy ruler who took power after Akhenaton died.

The Egyptian Empire

(pages 64–65)

• Temples were used for services.

• During Ramses’s rule, many temples were built throughout Egypt.

(pages 65–67)

The End of the New Kingdom

• Ramses II was one of the most effective pharaohs of the New Kingdom.

• Most Egyptians prayed at home because they believed the temples were houses for the gods and goddesses.

The Egyptian Empire

• Beginning in the 900s B.C., Egypt was ruled by the Libyans, then the people of Kush, and finally the Assyrians.

• Egypt was attacked by neighboring groups and eventually controlled only the Nile delta.

The End of the New Kingdom (cont.)

• After Ramses’s rule, Egyptian rule began to decline.

The Egyptian Empire

(pages 65–67)

Analyze How did Akhenaton upset the traditional order?

He stopped worship of old gods in favor of one god.

The Egyptian Empire



The Civilization of Kush

• To the south of Egypt, the Nubians settled in farming villages and became strong warriors.

• The people of Kush devoted themselves to ironworking and grew wealthy from trade.

Nubia

• The region of Nubia, later known as Kush, was located south of Egypt on the Nile River.

(pages 69–70)

• The first people to arrive in Nubia were cattle herders, who grazed their herds on the savanna.

• A savanna is a grassy plain.

• Later, farmers settled in villages in Nubia.


Nubia (cont.)

• More powerful Nubian villages took control of weaker ones, and the kingdom of Kerma was created.

• People of Kerma traded with the Egyptians, and Kerma became wealthy.

• The kings of Kerma were buried in tombs like the Egyptian pharaohs.


(pages 69–70)

The Rise of Kush

• Nubians broke away from Egypt and formed their own kingdom called Kush.

(pages 70–72)

• The Kushite kings ruled from the city of Napata, which was located along the upper Nile.

• This location helped the Kush people become important traders, and Kush grew wealthy.


Section 1: The Nile ValleyFocusing on the Main Ideas

Ancient Egypt

• By 5000 B.C., Egyptian civilization arose in the fertile Nile River valley, where natural barriers discouraged invasions.

• The Egyptians depended on the Nile’s floods to grow their crops.

• Around 3100 B.C., Egypt’s two major kingdoms, Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, were combined into one.

• Egyptian society was divided into social groups based on wealth and power.

Section 2: Egypt’s Old Kingdom

• Egypt was ruled by all-powerful pharaohs.

• The Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses and in life after death for the pharaohs.

• The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom built huge stone pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs.


Ancient Egypt

• The Middle Kingdom was a golden age of peace, prosperity, and advances in the arts and architecture.

• During the New Kingdom, Egypt acquired new territory and reached the height of its power.

Section 3: The Egyptian EmpireFocusing on the Main Ideas

Ancient Egypt

Section 3: The Egyptian Empire

• Akhenaton tried to change Egypt’s religion, while Tutankhamen is famous for the treasures found in his tomb.

• Under Ramses II, Egypt regained territory and built great temples, but the empire fell by 1150 B.C.


Ancient Egypt

Section 4: The Civilization of Kush

• To the south of Egypt, the Nubians settled in farming villages and became strong warriors.

• The people of Kush devoted themselves to ironworking and grew wealthy from trade.


Ancient Egypt

__ 1. area of fertile soil at the end of a river

__ 2. reed plant used to make baskets, rafts, and paper

__ 3. grassy plain__ 4. rapids__ 5. Egyptian writing system__ 6. forced payments__ 7. title for Egyptian leaders

Review Vocabulary

A. savannaB. tributeC. cataractD. deltaE. hieroglyphicsF. pharaohG. papyrus

G

A

Define Match the vocabulary word that completes each sentence.

D

B

C

E

F

Ancient Egypt

Section 1 The Nile Valley

What natural barriers protected Egypt from invasion?

deserts, cataracts in the Nile, and delta marshes

Review Main Ideas

Ancient Egypt

Section 3 The Egyptian Empire

Why was the Middle Kingdom called a golden age?

It was a time of prosperity, the empire was strong, and advances were made in the arts and architecture.

Review Main Ideas

Ancient Egypt

Why are Akhenaton and Tutankhamen well-known?

Akhenaton tried to change Egypt’s religion. Tutankhamen’s tomb was found with many treasures.

Section 3 The Egyptian Empire

Review Main Ideas

Ancient Egypt

Analyze Do you agree that Egyptian civilization can be called “the Gift of the Nile”? Explain.

Answers will vary, but you should note how much Egyptians relied on the Nile.

Ancient Egypt

Click the map to view an interactive version.

Click the map to view an interactive version.

Documents

Ancient Egypt Get Ready to Read (cont.) Focusing on the Main Ideas The Nile Valley The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile River valley,