The Nile ValleyThe Nile Valley

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Section 1Section 1

Did You Know?Did You Know?

After developing their method of papermaking After developing their method of papermaking using papyrus, the Egyptians kept the process using papyrus, the Egyptians kept the process secret, so others could not make paper. In this secret, so others could not make paper. In this way, papyrus became even more valuable. way, papyrus became even more valuable.

Settling the NileSettling the Nile The earliest Egyptians moved into the Nile River valley from The earliest Egyptians moved into the Nile River valley from

less fertile areas. less fertile areas. They farmed and built villages along riverbanks.They farmed and built villages along riverbanks.

Nile River is the longest river in the world.Nile River is the longest river in the world. 4,000 miles long4,000 miles long Begins as two separate rivers that converge to make the NileBegins as two separate rivers that converge to make the Nile Cliffs & boulders create rapids called Cliffs & boulders create rapids called cataractscataracts

Used Nile to drink, clean, farm, fish, and cook.Used Nile to drink, clean, farm, fish, and cook. Nile Valley is a narrow, green valleyNile Valley is a narrow, green valley

Northern end is a fertile area of land called: Northern end is a fertile area of land called: delta.delta.

Settling the Nile Settling the Nile cont.cont.

The The Sahara Sahara is the largest desert in the world.is the largest desert in the world. Lies west of the Nile Valley.Lies west of the Nile Valley. Eastern Desert Eastern Desert lies east of the valley. lies east of the valley.

Egypt has Egypt has natural boundaries natural boundaries to protect it:to protect it: Deserts, rapids, and marshes in the delta kept enemies from Deserts, rapids, and marshes in the delta kept enemies from

entering.entering. Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea to the north and the to the north and the Red Sea Red Sea to to

the east allowed trade with other peoples.the east allowed trade with other peoples. Within Egypt, people traveledWithin Egypt, people traveled on the Nile to trade with

each other.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

How did natural protection help Egypt?How did natural protection help Egypt? Enemies had difficulty attacking the country.Enemies had difficulty attacking the country. Keeping people safe helped the population grow.Keeping people safe helped the population grow.

The River PeopleThe River People Floods along the Nile were predictable and were not devastating.Floods along the Nile were predictable and were not devastating.

Each spring Nile would flood and leave a dark, fertile mud along its banks.Each spring Nile would flood and leave a dark, fertile mud along its banks. Farmers learned about the waters of the Nile.Farmers learned about the waters of the Nile.

They used the soil left behind by the floods to grow wheat, barley, and flax.They used the soil left behind by the floods to grow wheat, barley, and flax. Farmers learned about irrigation.Farmers learned about irrigation.

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

Papyrus: Papyrus: a reed plant that grew along the Nilea reed plant that grew along the Nile Used to make baskets, sandals, and river rafts.Used to make baskets, sandals, and river rafts. Later, used to make paper.Later, used to make paper.

Hieroglyphics: Hieroglyphics: Egyptian system of writing.Egyptian system of writing. System consisted of thousands of picture symbols.System consisted of thousands of picture symbols.

Scribes: Scribes: Some Egyptian men learned to read and write. They attended Some Egyptian men learned to read and write. They attended school to learn to be scribes. school to learn to be scribes.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

Why might scribes be important to Egyptian Why might scribes be important to Egyptian civilization?civilization? Rulers and other people in power, such as priests Rulers and other people in power, such as priests

and priestesses, needed scribes for record keeping.and priestesses, needed scribes for record keeping. Few people could go to school to be scribes, so Few people could go to school to be scribes, so

there were not many people the rulers could hire to there were not many people the rulers could hire to work as scribes. work as scribes.

A United EgyptA United Egypt Because the people in Egypt had surplus food, some people became artisans Because the people in Egypt had surplus food, some people became artisans

instead of farmers.instead of farmers. Artisans wove cloth, made pottery, carved statues, and crafted weapons & tools. Artisans wove cloth, made pottery, carved statues, and crafted weapons & tools.

Egyptians traded with each other and with others in Egyptians traded with each other and with others in MesopotamiaMesopotamia.. A few strong chiefs united groups of villages into kingdoms.A few strong chiefs united groups of villages into kingdoms.

Eventually, the strongest kingdoms overpowered the weaker ones.Eventually, the strongest kingdoms overpowered the weaker ones. In this way, two large kingdoms emerged:In this way, two large kingdoms emerged:

Lower Egypt & Upper Egypt.Lower Egypt & Upper Egypt.

Narmer Narmer united the two kingdoms.united the two kingdoms. He ruled from the city of He ruled from the city of Memphis, Memphis, andand his kingdom lasted long after his death.his kingdom lasted long after his death. Narmer’s descendants passed the fueling power on from father to son to grandson, Narmer’s descendants passed the fueling power on from father to son to grandson,

forming a forming a dynasty.dynasty. Ancient Egypt was ruled by Ancient Egypt was ruled by 31 31 dynasties that historians have grouped into dynasties that historians have grouped into 3 3

time periods:time periods: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New KingdomOld Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

In what ways was ancient Egypt like In what ways was ancient Egypt like Mesopotamia?Mesopotamia? Both had access to powerful rivers, economies Both had access to powerful rivers, economies

based on farming and trade, government to help based on farming and trade, government to help the people, artisans to create products, and the people, artisans to create products, and technological advances. technological advances.

Early Egyptian LifeEarly Egyptian Life Ancient Egypt had social classes.Ancient Egypt had social classes.

Pharaoh was highest.Pharaoh was highest. Upper Class: nobles, priests, government officialsUpper Class: nobles, priests, government officials Middle Class: Merchants, artisans, scribesMiddle Class: Merchants, artisans, scribes Lower Class: Unskilled workers and farmers.Lower Class: Unskilled workers and farmers.

Although men were the heads of the households, women had Although men were the heads of the households, women had more rights in Egypt than in other ancient civilizations.more rights in Egypt than in other ancient civilizations. They could own and pass property, buy and sell goods, make wills, and They could own and pass property, buy and sell goods, make wills, and

obtain divorce.obtain divorce. Children: Few went to school; had time to play games and had Children: Few went to school; had time to play games and had

toys.toys. Girls: Learned to sew, cook, and run a household.Girls: Learned to sew, cook, and run a household. Boys: Learned farming or a skilled trade. Boys: Learned farming or a skilled trade.

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

How are children today like children of How are children today like children of ancient Egypt? ancient Egypt? Both can play with toys and games.Both can play with toys and games. All children required by law to go to school in All children required by law to go to school in

U.S.U.S. Egypt had few children going to school.Egypt had few children going to school. U.S. girls today can learn to farm or a trade skill & U.S. girls today can learn to farm or a trade skill &

boys can learn to sew and cook.boys can learn to sew and cook.