Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

Objectives

• Summarize how geography affected the development of Egyptian culture

• Explain the importance of pharaohs, pyramids, and trade in the Old Kingdom

• Describe ancient Egyptian religion, social structure, and technology

• Explain the shift from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom

Gift of the Nile

• 4,100 miles long, longest river in the world

• Flows northwards (towards Mediterranean Sea)

• Yearly flooding

• Receding of Nile leaves rich organic mud

• Cycle: flood, plant, harvest, repeat

• Stark contrast between Nile

Delta and the desert of Egypt

• Worshipped by Egyptians as a

God

Upper and Lower Egypt• Upper Egypt wasfrom the 1st cataractto within 100 miles fromthe Mediterranean.

• Lower Egypt coveredthe delta

-broad, marshy area- agriculturally rich- diverse animals

• Nile offered transportation– Water highway

Environmental Challenges• Nile ran like clockwork unlike in Mesopotamia

– Still sometimes had flooding– Sometimes too low, not enough silt

• Natural Barriers– Vast deserts on both sides

of Nile– Forced people to live close

to the Nile– Also protected from invaders

Movement of Goods and Ideas

• 3200 B.C.E.- making contact with Mesopotamia

• 2000 B.C.E.- traveling down Nile to trade with Kush and Nubia

• Cultural Diffusion– Borrowed development of cities– Writing system

• Distinct Culture– Combination of Mesopotamia

and other African influences

Uniting of Egypt• Myth

– King of Lower Egypt wore red crown, King of Upper Egypt wore white crown

– 3100 B.C.E. King Menes united Egypt

• Wore a double crown of red and white, symbolic

• Capital at Memphis, near where Upper and Lower Egypt meet

• 1st Egyptian Dynasty• 31 dynasties over 2,600 years!

Old Kingdom

• Third Dynasty– Little info on first two dynasties

• Third dynasty called Old Kingdom• 2700-2200 B.C.E• Pharaohs

- divine rule, absolute power

- were considered Gods

- controlled government, religion and army

* massive public works projects

- pharaohs controlled well-being of civilization

- Vizier, to supervise government

Pyramids• Belief that King ruled even after death• King’s eternal spirit (ka) needed special resting

place• Old Kingdom height of pyramid building• Tombs for eternity, Preserved body for afterlife• No iron tools or wheels used• Suggest strength of civilization• Required a lot of

planning

Egyptian Culture• Religion

– Polytheistic– Important gods: Ra (sun), Horus (light), Isis (ideal mother

and wife)– Over 2,000 gods and goddesses– Belief in afterlife

• Judged for deeds

• Heart had to be lighter than

a feather

• If not eaten by a beast, if passed

could live in Other World

• Practiced mummification

• Book of the Dead- guided soul to afterlife

Egyptian Culture• Society

– Social hierarchy• Royal Family• Gov’t Officials, Priest,

wealthy landowners• Merhcants/artisans• Peasant farmers/ unskilled

laborers

– Could change status through marriage

– Women• Same rights as men• Own and trade property• Propose marriage or

divorce

• Writing– Hieroglyphics

• Picture represented idea• Invented papyrus to write

on

Science and Technology

• Inventions– Written numbers for

counting, adding, and subtracting

– Geometry – 1st to use stone

columns– Calendar

• 1st to use 365 days and 12 months

• Medicine– Used practical knowledge

• Checked pulse for heartbeat

• Splinted broken bones• Used surgery

Middle Kingdom

• End of Old Kingdom around 2180 B.C.E– Old kingdom fails due to:

• Power struggles, Crop Failures, Cost of Pyramids

• Bad floods

• Middle Kingdom 2080- 1640 B.C.E

– Improved trade and transportation

• Expansion: Nubia, Palestine, Syria

– Cultural Golden Age

• Especially in Literature

– More wealth = more public projects

– Cycle of good floods

• Middle Kingdom plagued with:

• High floods

• corruption, rebellion

• Catastrophe : foreign invaders

– Chariot riders = Hyksos

– Control Egypt from 1640- 1570 B.C.E.

Revisit Objectives

• Summarize how geography affected the development of Egyptian culture

• Explain the importance of pharaohs, pyramids, and trade in the Old Kingdom

• Describe ancient Egyptian religion, social structure, and technology

• Explain the shift from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom

Homework:

• Begin work on Essay #1– Due October 1st/ 4th

• Continue reading Siddhartha and complete packet #1 questions– Due October 5th/ 6th

– Siddhartha Quiz same day!