1 Ancient Egypt Land of the Pharaohs
2 CHAPTER 4 – EGYPT
3 GEOGRAPHY AND EARLY EGYPT
SECTION 1: GEOGRAPHY AND EARLY EGYPT
4 BIG IDEA The water, fertile soils, and protected setting of the Nile Valley allowed a great
civilization to arise in Egypt around 3200 BC.
5 THE GIFT OF THE NILE
6 TOPICS in this section:
Location and Physical Features of the Nile The Floods of the Nile.
7 MAIN IDEA Egypt was called the gift of the Nile because the Nile River gave life to the
desert.
8 The existence of Egypt was based solely around the Nile, the world’s longest river.
9 Egypt was called the “GIFT OF THE NILE.”
Geography played a key role in the development of the Egyptian civilization. Egypt was
called the “GIFT OF THE NILE.”
10 The river was so important to people that Egypt was called “the gift of the Nile.”
11 Ancient Egypt: Geography
Egypt is known as “The Gift of the Nile” The Nile River is the longest river in the world and
dominated the Egyptian world/thought Surrounded by desert with occasional oasis Permits
some trade Defense from invasion Contributes to feeling of safety Dry environment preserves
artifacts Egypt was a river valley civilization that formed along the Nile River. The Nile
delta, triangle shaped area with soil deposited by a river, provided Egypt with 2/3s of its farm
land. The Nile flooded each year providing Egypt with life.
12 The Nile flooded each year providing a
13 mile wide river valley (around the river) which was filled with rich silt. This rich soil was
great for farming and gave Egypt life Without the flooding they would not have survived
there..
13 Measures the water level in the Nile River.
Nile - O – Meter Measures the water level in the Nile River.
14 Delta A triangle-shaped area of land made
from soil deposited by a river
15 Lower Egypt was centered in the river delta, a triangle-shaped area of land made of soil
deposited by the river. NILE DELTA
16 The Nile delta, triangle shaped area with soil deposited by a river, provided Egypt with
2/3s of its farm land.
17 People Settle in Egypt People started settling along the Nile 12,000 years ago, developing
irrigation and canals for agriculture. Egypt was a perfect place for civilization to develop: a
large food supply and easily defensible against enemies.
18 Irrigation They built basins to collect water during the yearly floods and to store this
precious resource long afterward. They also built a series of canals that could be used in the
dry months to direct water from the basins to the fields where it was needed. Shaduf
19 The Nile carries water from central Africa through a vast stretch of dessert land.
20 Ancient Egypt developed along a 750-mile stretch of the Nile
21 It was originally organized into two kingdoms-Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt.
22 Egypt is divided into two parts.
-Upper Egypt -Lower Egypt
23 Upper Egypt was located upriver in relation to the Nile’s flow
Upper Egypt was located upriver in relation to the Nile’s flow. Lower Egypt was the northern
region and was located downriver. LOWER EGYPT Water flow UPPER EGYPT
24 Cataracts or steep rapids, marked the Southern border of Upper Egypt
25 Cataracts Rapids along a river, such as those along the Nile in Egypt
26 In midsummer, the Nile would flood Upper Egypt and in the fall the river would
flood Lower Egypt
27 This made sure that the farmland would stay moist and fertile.
28 As the land surrounding the Nile Valley was arid desert, this watered area was the lifeline
for everyone who lived in the region.
29 Why was Egypt called the gift of the Nile?
READING CHECK (SUMMARIZING) Why was Egypt called the gift of the Nile?
30 CIVILIZATION DEVELOPS IN EGYPT
31 MAIN IDEA Civilization developed along the Nile after the people began farming in this
region.
32 With dry desert all around, it is no wonder that ancient settlers were attracted to this
abundant and protected area of fertile farmland
33 Hunter-gatherers first moved to the area around 12,000 years ago….
and found plenty of meat and fish to hunt and eat,
34 By 4500 BC farmers were living in villages and growing wheat and barley. They were
also raising cattle and sheep.
35 Around 3200 BC the Egyptian villages became organized into two kingdoms.
36 PE The capital of Lower Egypt was located in the northwest Nile Delta at a town called
Pe.
37 The capital city of Upper Egypt was called Nikhen
The capital city of Upper Egypt was called Nikhen. It was located on the west bank of the
Nile.
38 What attracted early settlers to the Nile Valley?
READING CHECK (SUMMARIZING) What attracted early settlers to the Nile Valley?
39 KINGS UNIFY EGYPT
40 MAIN IDEA Strong kings unified all of Egypt.
41 Around 3100 BC Menes (MEE-neez), the king of Upper Egypt, invaded Lower Egypt
42 Menes was the first pharaoh, which literally means ruler of a “great house
43 He married a princess there in order to unite the two kingdoms under his rule.
44 HE also started EGYPTIAN 1st DYNASTY – BUILT A NEW CAPIAL CALLED
MEMPHIS which became popular cultural centre. His dynasty rulled for nearly 200
years
The Three Kingdoms of Egypt
2 Old Kingdom 2700 BC – 2200 BC Ruled by strong pharaohs who were thought to be both
king and god. One of the most famous pharaohs was Khufu (2500s BC) – known for
monuments that were built to him
3 Old Kingdom Egyptian social pyramid consisted
of pharaohs and nobles on top with farmers and slaves on the bottom.
4 Old Kingdom Egyptians traded with their neighbors. Ex: wood
perfume and medicine gold, ivory, and stone
5 Old Kingdom Polytheistic Religion
Much of the religion focused on the afterlife Built large temples and pyramids for burial and
the afterlife.
6 2200 BC – 2050 BC The building and maintaining of pyramids was expensive. The
pharaoh’s wealth and power declined. Nobles gained enough power to challenge the
pharaoh’s authority. Without a central ruler, trade was disrupted and the Egyptian people
faced economic hardship and famine.
7 Middle Kingdom 2050 BC – 1750 BC Mentuhotep II defeated his rivals and brought unity
back to Egypt.
8 Middle Kingdom Trade resumed, irrigation was repaired, and writing was rediscovered.
Cities kept their political independence.
9 1750 BC – 1550 BC The Hyksos from Southeast Asia conquer Lower Egypt.
Egyptians have to pay high taxes to the foreign rulers.
10 New Kingdom 1550 BC – 1050 BC Ahmose defeats the Hyksos and declares himself king
of all Egypt.
11 New Kingdom Egyptian army invades and conquers neighboring land.
Military conquests made Egypt rich. Recreates old trade routes.
12 New Kingdom Queen Hatshepsut increases the number of new trade cities.
The wealth gathered from trade was used to support the arts and architecture.
13 End of the New Kingdom Ramses the Great was a great military ruler
He fought against the Hittites (from the North East) After Ramses died, the Sea Peoples
invaded Shortly after the invasions of the Sea Peoples and Hittites, the New Kingdom ended
14 Three Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt
MIDDLE KINGDOM NEW KINGDOM OLD KINGDOM STRONG PHARAOHS
SOCIAL PYRAMID TRADE WITH NEIGHBORS POLYTHEISTIC MENTUHOTEP
BRINGS UNITY TO EGYPT CONSISTED OF MANY INDEPENDENT CITIES WITH
LITTLE PHARAOH POWER AHMOSE CREATES A WEALTHY EMPIRE TRADE
EXPANDS ART AND ARCHITECTURE ENDS AFTER INVASIONS
