Pyramids on the Nile
What was the most important geographic feature of Egypt?
• Nile River– Many settlements– Yearly Flood
What were some of the environmental challenges of
Egypt? • Environmental
Challenges– More regular than
Mesopotamia– Waters low - silt and
crops down -starvation
– Waters high - Destroyed homes, seeding
More Geography
• South (Upper Egypt)• North (Lower Egypt)• Nile - Transportation
– Unified villages, promoted trade
King Narmer
• 3000 BC
• United Upper and Lower
• Capital at Memphis
How was the Kingdom run?
• Pharaohs rule as gods
• Egyptians - Kings were gods
• Theocracy - Rule based on religious authority
• Pharaohs cause sun to rise, Nile to flood, crops to grow
What was the purpose of the Pyramids?
• Ka – eternal life force
• Tombs important
• Pyramid - resting place after death
• Supply of stone - granite and limestone
• Reflect strength of Egyptian civilization
What else did they do for their religion?
• Polytheistic – Re (Sun), Osiris (Death), Isis (Women)
• Mummification– Canopic jars – brains,
liver, etc.
• Embalming – Salt and baking soda
What was their social structure?
• Royal Family
• Upper Class (Gov’t officials, priests, military)
• Middle Class (Merchants, artisans)
• Lower Class (Farmers, laborers) - Slaves
• Women had many rights
How did the Egyptians write?
• Hieroglyphics
• Papyrus
Did they have any scientific or mathematic advances?
• Calendar
• Numbers - Taxes
• Heart rate, splints
Why were there breaks in their rule?
• INVADERS
• Old Kingdom Ends 2180
• Middle Kingdom 2040-1640
• Hyksos rule 1630-1523– From Palestine
Standards and Targets• Standard #1 – Apply the skills of historical
analysis and interpretationa. Evaluate the causes and effects of historical events
• Standard #4 – Understand world social historyf. Assess social hierarchies and the conflicts created by class
division
• Standard #5 – Understand world environmental historyd. Analyze how technological and scientific developments have
human productivity, human comfort and the environment
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