Ancient Kingdoms of the NileGeography – •Annual flooding that leaves behind silt•Floods needed to be controlled via dikes, reservoirs, and irrigation ditches•Two distinct regions – oUpper Egypt in the southoLower Egypt in the north

•Cataracts •Nile empties into the Mediterranean Sea•Nile Delta

Ancient Kingdoms of the NileThe Old Kingdom – 2700 B.C. – 2200 B.C. –Power passed from 1 ruling family to another—DYNASTY• Pharaohs organized strong central states and ruled with divine power (Absolute Power).

Sought to preserve justice and order Depended on a Vizier – Chief Minister Ptah-hotep – most famous; trained young viziers.

• Pyramid Age – majestic tombs; Symbols of strength.Pyramids were assembled by hand with use of sleds (2 ½ tons each); costly and time consuming.

•Collapsed due to power struggles, crop failures, and cost of pyramids.

Ancient Kingdoms of the NileThe Middle Kingdom – 2050 B.C. – 1800 B.C. –Turbulent period with corruption and rebellion. •Organized large drainage projects and create farmable land. •Armies occupied bordering Nubia (gold rich) and cultural diffusion took place with a variety of groups. •Collapse took place around 1700 when the Hyksos dominated the region. •Cultural Diffusion – Chariots, technology, customs, beliefs, and names.

Ancient Kingdoms of the NileThe New Kingdom – 1550 B.C. – 1100 B.C.--Powerful and ambitious pharaohs created large empires that reached the Middle East and Africa.Queen Hatshepsut – Ruled in the name of a male; took on male characteristics. Encouraged trade with new lands; explored new territories; Cultural Diffusion (ebony, ivory, spices, animals, etc.)

Ramses II – Famous due to military victoriesExpanded kingdom to the North in Palestine and SyriaFought with the Hittites and eventually signed the 1st peace treaty*.• Declined due to foreign invaders such as the Assyrians and Persians, and later Greeks and Romans.

Egyptian CivilizationReligion – •Belief in eternal life

oMonuments & tomb painting oMummification – tombs loaded with riches (King Tut).

•Chief god Amon-Re but more common gods were Osiris (Nile god) & Isis (women & children). These gods had stories that dealt with real life.•Eternal life was judged by passing a test.•Akhenaton “one who serves Aton” had radical beliefs with wife Queen Nefertiti – belief in 1 god.

Egyptian CivilizationSocial Classes – 1. Pharaohs2. High Priest/Priestesses3. Nobles4. Merchants, scribes, artisans5. Farmers – Slaves who worked the land and provided

the Pharaoh with labor, goods, resources.•New Kingdom – great deal of trade & warfare.•Women – had high status – property, business, goods, courts, divorce, and work outside home.

Egyptian CivilizationLasting Records – •Hieroglyphics – symbols carved in stone – Rosetta Stone.•Demotic – everyday simple form of writing.•Papyrus – plant fibers used for writing on (Paper not until 100AD)•Scribes – read & write but skilled in math, medicine, etc. Kept all of the needed records.

Egyptian CivilizationLearning – •Medicine – observation, prognosis, anatomy, surgery, prescriptions.•Astronomy – map stars/planets, Calendar (accurate)•Math – geometry to survey land•Literature – Hymns, poems, prayers – used to view themselves & society – Tale of Sinuhe•Paintings – show daily scenes with gods being larger than people.