Chapter 2 Section 2Chapter 2 Section 2

Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt

I. The Impact of the Nile

I. The Impact of the Nile

• A. The Nile is the longest river in the world • 1. Runs over 4000 miles• 2. The North part is in Lower Egypt• 3. The South part is in Upper Egypt

• A. The Nile is the longest river in the world • 1. Runs over 4000 miles• 2. The North part is in Lower Egypt• 3. The South part is in Upper Egypt

• B. The Nile floods every year making the soil around it fertile• 1. Extra food from the rich soil made Egypt

wealthy• 2. The Nile helped transportation and

communications which unified Egypt

• B. The Nile floods every year making the soil around it fertile• 1. Extra food from the rich soil made Egypt

wealthy• 2. The Nile helped transportation and

communications which unified Egypt

• C. Natural barriers protected Egypt from invaders• 1. Deserts to the west and east, the Red Sea

and Mediterranean to the North, Southern Nile Rapid

• C. Natural barriers protected Egypt from invaders• 1. Deserts to the west and east, the Red Sea

and Mediterranean to the North, Southern Nile Rapid

II. The Importance of Religion

II. The Importance of Religion

• A. The Egyptians were Polytheistic• 1. Land Gods and Sun Gods made daily life

possible

• A. The Egyptians were Polytheistic• 1. Land Gods and Sun Gods made daily life

possible

• B. the Sun God was worshipped as the source of Life• 1. Re was the Sun God• 2. Pharoh’s were seen as Son of Re

• B. the Sun God was worshipped as the source of Life• 1. Re was the Sun God• 2. Pharoh’s were seen as Son of Re

• C. The story of the Gods Osiris and Isis explains the yearly flooding and rebirth the Nile brings

• C. The story of the Gods Osiris and Isis explains the yearly flooding and rebirth the Nile brings

III. The Course of Egyptian HistoryIII. The Course of Egyptian History

• A. Egyptian history is divided into 3 periods: Old, Middle, and New Kingdom

• B. Egyptian history begins in 3100 BC when Menes started the first dynasty• 1. Dynasty- a familiy of rulers

• A. Egyptian history is divided into 3 periods: Old, Middle, and New Kingdom

• B. Egyptian history begins in 3100 BC when Menes started the first dynasty• 1. Dynasty- a familiy of rulers

Old KingdomOld Kingdom

• Egyptian rulers became known as Pharaohs• Pharaohs had absolute power, but were

helped by a bureaucracy- an administrative organization of officials and regulations

• Egyptian rulers became known as Pharaohs• Pharaohs had absolute power, but were

helped by a bureaucracy- an administrative organization of officials and regulations

• The vizier was the most powerful person after the pharaoh

• Egypt was divided into 42 provinces, each had their own governor

• The vizier was the most powerful person after the pharaoh

• Egypt was divided into 42 provinces, each had their own governor

• Pyramids were built as tombs for Pharaohs• 1. Pyramids contained food, clothing and

things for the afterlife• 2. Mummification- the proper way to prepare

the body for the afterlife• Organs were removed and put in jars, the brain was

removed through the nose• The body was covered in salt to absorb moisture

then wrapped in linen

• Pyramids were built as tombs for Pharaohs• 1. Pyramids contained food, clothing and

things for the afterlife• 2. Mummification- the proper way to prepare

the body for the afterlife• Organs were removed and put in jars, the brain was

removed through the nose• The body was covered in salt to absorb moisture

then wrapped in linen

• The largest pyramid was built in Giza in 2540 BC for King Khufu

• The Great Sphinx was also built as Giza, it is the body of a lion and head of a man

• The largest pyramid was built in Giza in 2540 BC for King Khufu

• The Great Sphinx was also built as Giza, it is the body of a lion and head of a man

Middle Kingdom 2050-1652 BC

Middle Kingdom 2050-1652 BC

• Portrayed as the Golden Age because Egypt expanded its borders

• Pharaohs were expected to provide for their people’s welfare• Built canals and drained swamps

• Portrayed as the Golden Age because Egypt expanded its borders

• Pharaohs were expected to provide for their people’s welfare• Built canals and drained swamps

• The Hyksos invaded from Asia to end the Middle Kingdom• Egyptians learned about chariots and

bronze from the Hyksos

• The Hyksos invaded from Asia to end the Middle Kingdom• Egyptians learned about chariots and

bronze from the Hyksos

New KingdomNew Kingdom

• Pharaohs were fabulously wealthy and built beautiful temples

• The first female pharaoh ruled: Hatshepsut

• Akhenaton tried to make Eyptians monotheistic and worship only the sun God: which disrupted the empire

• Pharaohs were fabulously wealthy and built beautiful temples

• The first female pharaoh ruled: Hatshepsut

• Akhenaton tried to make Eyptians monotheistic and worship only the sun God: which disrupted the empire

• Tutankhamen brought back the old Gods when Akhenaton died

• Ramses II brought back some of the empire but the new kingdom collapsed in 1085 BC

• Cleopatra VII tried to regain Egyptian independence but instead brought Roman rule over Egypt

• Tutankhamen brought back the old Gods when Akhenaton died

• Ramses II brought back some of the empire but the new kingdom collapsed in 1085 BC

• Cleopatra VII tried to regain Egyptian independence but instead brought Roman rule over Egypt

IV Society in Ancient Egypt

IV Society in Ancient Egypt

• 1. Pharaohs• 2. Nobles and Priests• 3. Merchants and Artisans• 4. Peasants who worked the land and

served in the military

• 1. Pharaohs• 2. Nobles and Priests• 3. Merchants and Artisans• 4. Peasants who worked the land and

served in the military

• A. Marriage• 1. Married young• 2. Wife ran the household and educated

children• 3. Marriages could end in divorce• 4. Parents arranged marriages• Women could be merchants, priestesses and

even pharaoh

• A. Marriage• 1. Married young• 2. Wife ran the household and educated

children• 3. Marriages could end in divorce• 4. Parents arranged marriages• Women could be merchants, priestesses and

even pharaoh

V Other Achievements

V Other Achievements

• Hieroglyphics- pictures and abstract forms used as writing

• Hieratic Script- a simplified version of hieroglyphics

• Pyramids, temples and monuments show achievements in art and architecture

• Because of mummification, Egyptians were experts in human anatomy

• Hieroglyphics- pictures and abstract forms used as writing

• Hieratic Script- a simplified version of hieroglyphics

• Pyramids, temples and monuments show achievements in art and architecture

• Because of mummification, Egyptians were experts in human anatomy