The Nile Valley

The Nile Valley

Chapter 4

The Nile Valley

• Review Unit Introduction Pyramid• Discuss Paank Research– Sarcophagus painting– Paank Film

A Thought of the Nileby Leigh Hunt

It flows through old hushed Egypt and its sands,

Like some grave mighty thought threading a dream,

And times and things, as in that vision, seemKeeping along it their eternal stands,--Caves, pillars, pyramids, the shepherd bandsThat roamed through the young world, the

glory extremeOf high Sesostris, and that southern beam,The laughing queen that caught the world's

great hands.

Then comes a mightier silence, stern and strong,

As of a world left empty of its throng,And the void weighs on us; and then we wake,And hear the fruitful stream lapsing alongTwixt villages, and think how we shall takeOur own calm journey on for human sake.

What do you think these words mean?

The Nile is a powerful force, but it is only one aspect of the landscape around it

Draw Conclusions

Do you know where Egypt is?

• On which continent is Egypt?

The Gifts of the Nile

Lesson 1

The Gift of the NileUsing the skills of “Observation and Description” what do you notice about this ancient Egyptian painted scene?

“Think-Pair-Share” about what you observed and describe it to a partner.

What questions are brought about by this scene?

Is there anything you’d like to investigate?

Share with the class.


Focus Skill:

As your read draw conclusions about the importance of the Nile River to life in Egypt

Big Idea• The Nile River affected

the development of Egyptian Civilization


Vocabulary

PredictInundationDeityAfterlifeMummyCataractNation-stateDynasty

Up Close with a Mummy

The Importance of the Nile

• About 6000BC people started to farm the delta and the Nile River Valley

• 5000BC farming settlements were built• Every year about the same time the Nile

River Floods– This leaves dark fertile soil along its banks

(sediment)

• Boy is it HOT! and Egypt gets very little rain – causing farmers to build canals, dams, and

reservoirs (ponds) like the Sumerians

The Importance of the Nile

• The Nile was Egypt’s main transportation route. – Built boat out of reeds and tall river

plants but later out of planks of wood

• At first Egyptians moved boats with pole but later used oars to row, and even later developed sails – This caused many groups to interact

throughout Egypt

The Importance of the Nile - Conclusion

• In what way was the Nile River Important to the ancient Egyptians?– As a source of water, for transportation

and because it deposited fertile soil

Egyptian ArtifactAfter a 5-minute observation period describe what the people in this piece are doing with body movement

Guided QuestionsWho do you think the 4 female figures in red are?Who do you think the 8 kneeling figures are?What do you think this piece was used for in Ancient Egypt?

A Source for New Ideas

• Without the Nile River the people of Egypt would not have survived

• The Nile also took life when the it flooded wildly – washed away crops and drowned people and

livestock – crops dried up and people went hungry – farmers depended on regular Nile floods

• Over time Egyptians learned to predict floods– Yearly flooding was called an inundation

A Source for New Ideas

• Because the flooding was so important they considered it to be the start of their year.

• The growing season followed inundation – Farmers plow and seed rich soil– Only one crop of grain but many crops of

fruits and vegetables• Such as lettuce, beans, onions, figs, dates, grapes,

and cucumbers and even flax used in linen

• The final season was harvest.

A Source for New Ideas – Conclusion

• Why did the Egyptians develop a calendar?– To track when floods would occur and

when it was time to plant and time to harvest

A Source of Religion

• Ancient Egyptians believed in many different deities, or gods, each with a different responsibility tied to nature.

• The sun god Re was the most important.– Born each day– Died each night

• Each Egyptian settlement along the Nile also had its special god in addition to Re.– People in Memphis worshipped Ptah (god of the arts)– People in Hermopolis, Thoth (wisdom and writing)– People in Thebes, Amon (sun god Amon-Re)


• Most Egyptians prayed to their gods and believed in an afterlife. – The Book of the Dead

• They also believed that they would need their bodies in the afterlife therefore developed mummification.– Moved all internal organs except heart where they

thought all thinking took place.– covered body in powered salt to prevent decay. – Special oils then wrapped the body from head to toe

in linen.– Then placed in a tomb.


• How did the Egyptians explain events in nature?– Through stories about their gods.

A Source of Unity

• Farming settlements of ancient Egypt developed on the Nile Delta and along the Nile River between the delta and the first of six cataracts.– North = Lower Egypt– South = Upper Egypt

• Stories about King Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt into the world’s first nation-state.

A Source of Unity

• Menes set up his centralized government in Memphis (Lower Egypt)

• Who really united Egypt isn’t known.– King Narmer may have been the one

responsible• Wears white crown of Upper and red crown of

Lower Egypt• Double crown symbolizes the Unity of Upper and

Lower Egypt

• Many experts believe Narmer began the first dynasty of Egypt

A Source of Unity

• Why do some historians believe King Narmer may have united Egypt?– In pictures he wears crowns of Upper

and Lower Egypt.

Summary of Key Concepts

• Early Farmers settlements arose along the Nile River about __________B.C.

• Ancient Egyptians based their __________ on the flooding season.

• Ancient Egyptians believed in many __________, tied to nature.

• __________ & __________ __________ formed the first nation-state in about 3100B.C.


• Early Farmers settlements arose along the Nile River about 5000B.C.

• Ancient Egyptians based their calendar on the flooding season.

• Ancient Egyptians believed in many deities, tied to nature.

• Upper & Lower Egypt formed the first nation-state in about 3100B.C.

The Dynasties of Ancient Egypt

Lesson 2


Focus Skill• Draw Conclusion

– As you read, draw conclusions about the dynasties of ancient Egypt.

Big Idea• The ancient Egyptians

maintained their civilization through many changes


Vocabulary • Hieroglyphic

s• Papyrus• Pyramid• Prosperity• Vizier• Heir• Annex• Nome• Pharaoh

The Seated Scribe

The Early Period

• 3100 BC – 2686BC– Irrigations systems including plows– Hieroglyphics• 700 pictures, temples and monuments,

highly trained scribes, and were used for more then 3000 years

• As writing became more common the Egyptians invented papyrus, (paper)– Black ink made of soot– Important words were written in red

The Early Period

• “The improvement of communication that resulted in the invention of papyrus helped make united government possible.”– Egyptians History would have been lost

without writings• Imagine only learning about three main

periods

Summary

• What were the major achievements of Egypt's early period?– Irrigations– Plows– Hieroglyphics– Papyrus– Ink

The Old Kingdom

• “Age of the Pyramids”– 2686BC – 2181BC

• They learned to build the large stone structures

• Square base with fours faces that are triangles

The Old Kingdom

• Imhotep built the first pyramid for King Zoser– Resembled the Sumerian step pyramid

• They may have built the pyramid to help their kings reach the afterlife. – “staircase to heaven”

• During the 4th Dynasty the Egyptians built the Great Pyramid of Giza

The Old Kingdom

• Workers cut and moved over 2 million blocks of limestone – about 2 tons each – may have built ramps – 480 feet high – 13 acres – gold cap

• The Old Kingdom lasted until the 6th Dynasty– Kings compete with local rulers for power– Lead to Egypt’s Prosperity period

Summary

• Why was the Old Kingdom called the Age of the Pyramids?– The Egyptians built pyramids during this

period

The Middle Kingdom

Summary

• Why was a strong central government important in Egypt during the Middle Kingdom?

The New Kingdom

Summary

• Who was Akheaton?


• New __________ and __________ methods marked ancient Egypt’s early period.

• Ancient Egyptian rulers built pyramids during the __________ Kingdom.

• Ancient Egypt acquired more territory during the __________ Kingdom.

• Ancient Egypt became the world’s strongest power during the __________ Kingdom.

Solve a Problem

Citizenship Skills

Solve a Problem

1. Identify the problem. Get a clear idea of what is needed

2. Think of possible solutions. Come up with at least two that you think might work.

3. Look at the facts of the situation and think about how watch of your ideas might work. After comparing the possible solutions, you can rule out those that are not the best choice.

4. Choose the best solution, and plan a way to carry it out.

5. Try your solution, and think about how well it solves the problems

Treasures of Tutankhamen

Primary Sources

Treasures of TutankhamenWhat do these artifacts tell you about the wealth during the height of this civilization?

Treasures of TutankhamenWhat might have been kept is a chest like this?Why would this chest been created at this height?How would you improve upon this style for your own use?

Treasures of TutankhamenKnowing what we know now about the burial rituals of the ancient Egyptians why to you think the crook and flail were buried with Tutankhamen

Treasures of TutankhamenAfter closely observing these sandals describe what you see

Do the figures resemble what Egyptians were normally depicted as?

Who do you think these figures are?

What would “walking on figures” symbolize?

Treasures of TutankhamenThis fan once held Ostrich feathers.

Treasures of Tutankhamen

• What do the objects tell you about the economy of Egypt during Tutankhamen’s rule?

• Why do you think it was important to hide the location of Tutankhamen’s tomb?

• Why might Egyptians have placed a picture of enemies on the soles of the pharaoh's sandals

Nubia and Kush

Lesson 3

Nubia and Kush

• Early People of Nubia• Freedom and Reconquest• Conquest of Egypt• The Kushites

•Why was Nubia an ideal trading center?

•How did Kings’ burial in Kerma demonstrate wealth?

•How were the Kushites able to capture Egypt?

•How did Meroé become wealthy?

Nubia and Kush

Nubia and Kush

• Early People of Nubia

• Freedom and Reconquest– How did

independence affect the Kushites in the 1600BC?

– Why did the Kushites later adopt Egyptian ways of life?

• Summary• Why did Egypt

want to control Nubia?

• Why do you think the Nubians were able to regain their independence by 1600BC?

Nubia and Kush

• Conquest of Egypt– What were the

cultural changes during Kushite rule of Egypt?

• The Kushites– How did iron

change Kushites’ way of life?

• Summary• How was Dynasty

25 different from other Egyptians dynasties?

• What happen to the Kushites are they were forced out of Egypt?


• Nubian culture began as early as the 7000B.C. along the _____________ Nile Valley.

• Northern Nubia was conquered by the Egyptians are __________ B.C., and other Nubians established the Kush Kingdom in the south

• In the 1600B.C., the __________ kingdom flourished, but in the 1500B.C. Egyptians ruled parts of Kush

• Kushites ruled Egypt in the 700B.C., and brought __________ __________.

• The Kushite __________ moved to the trading center of Meroé after 671B.C.

Upper

2000

Kush

cultural changecapital

Documents

The Nile Valley