Quiz

1. What was Egypt’s physical setting like?

2. How did the Egyptians use the Nile?

3. What is a shadoof?

4. What are hieroglyphics?

5. What crops did the ancient Egyptians grow?

Quiz Answers

1. Surrounded by deserts, Mediterranean and Red Sea nearby, cataracts in Nile River, fertile land around the river, marshes,

2. It was used for drinking, cooking, bathing, food source, water crops, washing, transportation

3. A shadoof is a long pole with a bucket attached to lift water from the Nile.

4. Writing system using picture symbols

5. They grow wheat, barley, flax

Irrigation

Chapter 2, Section 1

The Nile Valley

Trapped floodwater

Dug canals or ditches

Used a shadoof

Built dikes

Settling the Nile

Terms to Know:Cataract: fast-moving water, rapids

Delta: area of fertile soil

Places to Locate

Egypt: civilization that developed in the Nile River valley on the continent of Africa

Nile River: world’s longest river flowing from south to north to the Mediterranean Sea

Sahara: world’s largest desert found in Africa

Academic Vocabularyrely: to depend on for help or support

feature: special part of quality that stands out

Terms to Reviewcivilization: The Egyptian civilizations used the Nile River in many ways.

city-state: Mesopotamian city-states often fought with their enemies.

Sum It Up

What was Egypt’s physical setting like?

The Nile ran through a narrow green valley surrounded by desert. Cataracts to the south and delta marshes to the north. The region was bordered by seas to the north and the east.

The River People

Terms to Know

papyrus: reed plant that grew along the Nile used to make baskets, sandals, rafts, and paper

hieroglyphics: Egyptian system of writing make up of symbols

Academic Vocabulary

secure: safe, free from danger, protected

technology: knowledge used to create tools or methods for completing a task

Terms to Reviewirrigation: Irrigation helped Egyptian farmers grow food for themselves and their animals

technology: Technology gives us better ways of doing jobs that are faster and easier.

Sum It Up

What crops did ancient Egyptians grow?

Ancient Egyptians grew crops such as wheat, barley, and flax seeds.

A United Egypt

Drawing Conclusions

1. Narmer led his army and took control of Lower Egypt, and ruled from Memphis, located on the border of the two kingdoms

2. Narmer wore a crown to symbolize unity.

3. Narmer’s descendants passed on the power forming a dynasty.

Terms to Know

dynasty: a line or series of rulers from the same family

Academic Vocabulary

emerge: to appear

Sum It Up

What is a dynasty?

A line of rulers, or leaders, all coming from the same family

Early Egyptian Life

Summarizing1. The pharaoh was at the top of the early Egyptian social structure.

2. Egypt’s upper class was made up of nobles, priests, and other wealthy people.

3. Egypt’s middle class included people who ran businesses or produced goods.

4. Farmers made up the largest group of early Egyptians.

5. Unskilled workers were at the bottom of the social structure in Egypt.

6. Women had more rights in Egypt than in most other early civilizations

Academic Vocabularyportion: a part or section of

obtain: to acquire, to gain possession of

Sum It Up

Who made up the largest group in Egyptian society?

farmers

Why did the early Egyptians settle in the Nile River valley?

Early Egyptians settled in the valley because the surrounding land was dry, with little rainfall. The river provided water for farming, drinking, bathing, and as a food source of fish.

What role did the Nile River valley play in the development of the Egyptian civilization?

The Nile valley provided excellent land for farming, access to trade routes, and protection from invaders. This allowed the people and culture to grow and prosper.

How was early Egyptian society divided?

Egyptian life was based on a structured social system. The highest classes live with great wealth and were at the top of the pyramid. Lower classes lived very simple lives. Most workers were artisans, traders, farmers, or unskilled . Fathers were the head of the home, but women had rights. Girls were taught household duties and boys were taught a trade. Few children went to school.