Nile River- longest in the world
Nile Delta- triangular area of land, south of Mediterranean Lower Egypt (Nile Delta) Upper Egypt (Land to the South)
3 Major Periods
Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms Stability, strong leadership, freedom, building of structures, intellectual, and cultural activity
Menes- king of Egypt, united Upper and Lower Egypt 1st royal dynasty
Dynasty- family of rulers whose right to rule is passed on within the family
Old Kingdom
Prosperity = rich, doing well Powerful rulers
Pharaoh- title used instead of king, meaning “great house” or “palace”
Pyramids
Built during Old Kingdom Dedicated to the dead- “city”
Mummification- preservation of the dead
Process: slowly dry body to prevent from rotting, remove internal organs (place in jars & bury in tomb), remove brain through nose, cover with salt to remove water, wrap in linen soaked in resin, lifelike mask placed over mummy, placed in case inside tomb, about 70 days from start to finish
Giza- Great Pyramid (King Khufu)
Great Sphinx- head of man, body of lion, protect Khufu
Middle Kingdom
Golden Age - stability Pharaohs did more helpful projects for Egyptians: drain swampland = new farmland, digging canals or transportation and trade
New Kingdom
Hyksos- invaders from Western Asia, ruled 100 yrs., taught Egyptians about bronze (tools and weapons), taught military skills (horse-drawn chariots)
Reunification of Egypt, became most powerful state in SW Asia
Hatshepsut- 1 st woman pharaoh
Society in Ancient Egypt
Organized like a pyramid:
god-king
Pharaoh & Upper Class = Nobles, Priests (ran government)
Merchants, Artisans, Scribes, Tax Collectors
Peasants = Lower Class
Writing, Art, & Science
Hieroglyphics- “priest-carvings” or “sacred writings”, used pictures, very complex, write on temple walls and in tombs
Easier version: hieratic script = used from business, record keeping, general needs
First carved in stone, then used papyrus = paper made from papyrus reed
Math & Science- helped to build pyramids, calculate area & volume, used geometry to survey land, 365-day calendar, treat wounds & diseases