Chapter 2

Section 2

Pyramids on the Nile

Do Now: Take out HW and switch with a partner; discuss your answers in a group

Obj: Discuss environmental challenges surrounding the civilizations along the Nile

Egyptian Life & ReligionCompare/Contrast hieroglyphics and cuneiform

HW: Active Reading pgs. #44- 49Crit. Thinking #3-5

DeltaNarmerPharaohTheocrasyPyramidMumificationHieroglyphicspapyrus

Vocabulary

The Gift of the NileThe Nile River

supported early life in Egypt

Yearly flooding left behind rich silt (farming)

Egyptians viewed the Nile as a god

Greek historian called Egypt, “the gift of the Nile”

Environmental ChallengesIf water level was a

few feet low; people starved

Too high destroy homes and flood crops

Forced people to live on very small area of Egypt

Desert protected the people from constant warfare

Upper and Lower EgyptUpper Egypt:

Southern part of Egypt above the first cataract

Elevation is higher

Boats can flow up river with the rivers current

Lower Egypt:Northern Egypt

where elevation is lower

Leads to the Nile delta region

Strong winds can bring boats down the river against the current

Makes contact and trade very possible

Upper and lower Egypt ruled by two kingdoms (3200 BC)

United by King Narmer (King of Upper Egypt)King of Upper Egypt wore a white crown

Lower Egypt wore a red crownNarmer Palette: both crowns as oneSymbol of unification around 3000 BC

Narmer settled his capital in Memphis, near where Upper and Lower Egypt met.

Egypt Unites

Egyptian kings known as pharaohs ruled as godsGovernment ruled by religious authority is

called theocracyPharaohs had full responsibility for kingdoms

well beingPharaohs reign was expected to last forever;

so their tombs had to be as important as their palaces.Egyptians built massive structures called

pyramids to honor their dead kings

Pharaohs Rule in Theocracy

Religion:PolytheisticOver 2,000 godsBelief in after lifeJudged for their deeds

If passed lived in Other World forever\

Egyptian Culture

People of all classes planned their burials to ensure their passage to the Other World

Royal Egyptians would be mummified, so that the body would not decay over time.Body would be placed in a tomb filled with

material belongings to be used in the after life

Preparing for Death

Social Pyramid

Life in Egyptian SocietyPharaohs

Merchants and artisans

Peasant Farmers and laborers

Hieroglyphics: Greek- sacred carvingEarly writing; picture represented ideas

Then pictures represented sounds

Developed papyrus:Reeds from the Nile dried together to make

paper like material

Egyptian Writing

Developed a calendarUsing astronomy to predict time between

flooding of the Nile.Solar Year:

365 days divided into 12 months of 30 days.Was accurate to a true solar year within 6

hours!Mathematics:

Number system to help asses collecting taxesGeometry helped to reset boundary lines after

floods and make accurate measurements for building pyramids

Science and Technology