Unit 1 The Mediterranean world Optional Topic Ancient Egypt About 30 000 years ago, the Sahara Desert of north Africa was a grassy plain. It began to dry out around 8000 BCE. This change in climate forced people in the region to move on. Many drifted towards the area next to the Nile River, where the land was more fertile and there was a good water supply. From this simple start developed one of the world’s first civilisations – ancient Egypt. It lasted for nearly 3000 years. As the population grew, the society became more structured. Powerful rulers, called pharaohs, expanded Egypt’s territory. Huge monuments, temples and pyramids were built that would last for thousands of years. chapter Source 1 A statue of the pharaoh Rameses II in one of the two temples built at Abu Simbel, in southern Egypt, in the 13th century BCE. The temples were a monument to Rameses II and his queen,10 Nefertari, as well as many Egyptian gods. 10A 10B DRAFT10C How did geographical features What shaped the roles of key How did beliefs, values and influence the development of groups in ancient Egypt? practices influence ancient ancient Egypt? 1 The temples at Abu Simbel contain many statues Egyptian lifestyles? of the pharaoh Rameses II. Why do you think 1 The Nile provided the ancient Egyptians with 1 Many Egyptian temples were dedicated to various it was common practice in ancient Egypt for many benefits which allowed their society to gods. What does this tell us about the importance pharaohs to immortalise themselves in such develop and prosper. What do you think some of of religious beliefs to the ancient Egyptians? ways? these benefits were? 280 oxford big ideas humanities 7 victorian curriculum chapter 10 ancient egypt 281 10A How did geographical features infl uence the development of ancient Egypt? This bust of 10.1 Ancient Egypt: a timeline Cleopatra was created during the time of her Egyptian hieroglyphs rule as the such as these have last pharaoh been essential in of Egypt. unlocking the history of Temple of the pharaoh Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Kings, ancient Egypt. near Luxor. 1479 51 Hatshepsut, a woman, The Great Cleopatra c. 8000 BCE becomes pharaoh People start forming Sphinx of becomes Giza pharaoh of settlements in the 332 Egypt and Nile valley 1274 Egypt is invaded c. 3200 c. 2500 rules for Pharaoh Rameses II claims by Alexander the Earliest known evidence of Building of Great Sphinx and Great Pyramid 21 years hieroglyphic writing at Giza. Egyptians start experimenting with victory against his enemies, the Great and made mummifying dead bodies Hittites, at the Battle of Kadesh part of his empire 8000 1 BCE 3000 2000 1000 CE New Kingdom Predynastic period Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom 1550−1069 BCE 8000−2700 BCE 2686−2180 BCE 2055−1730 BCE c. 3000 c. 1550 30 Egyptians start c. 2100 Construction Cleopatra commits building walled towns Book of the Dead of many of suicide, and Egypt and villages; the fi rst starts being the royal becomes part of the buildings are made of used in funeral tombs in the 1332 Roman Empire Source 1 A timeline of some mud-brick ceremonies Valley of the Tutankhamun ascends the throne at key events and developments Kings the age of nine; he dies just 10 years in the history of ancient Egypt. c. 3100 later Kingdoms of upper and c. 2650 The inner coffi n of Tutankhamun lower Egypt unite as one First stone pyramid has become one of the most country under the fi rst built in Saqqara for recognisable artefacts from pharaoh, Menes the pharaoh Djoser ancient Egypt. DRAFTCheck your learning 10.1 Remember and understand Evaluate and create The Djoser pyramid is the oldest 1 When did people fi rst begin to settle in the Nile valley? 5 The timeline shows that ancient Egyptian society began building in the world made from 2 When were the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid at in approximately 8000 BCE and ended about 332 BCE. cut blocks. Giza built? During this period, many historians identify four distinct 3 Who was Cleopatra? In what year did she die? eras, commonly known as: a the Predynastic period b the Old Kingdom Apply and analyse c the Middle Kingdom d the New Kingdom. 4 Using the timeline, calculate the year in which Conduct some Internet research to fi nd out why these Tutankhamun was born. periods were named in this way. 282 oxford big ideas humanities 7 victorian curriculum chapter 10 ancient egypt 283 10A How did geographical features influence the development of ancient Egypt? 10.2 The Nile ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE NILE Mediterranean Sea Nile Delta Alexandria Ancient Egypt was a long, narrow country in north-eastern LEGEND Africa. The world’s longest river, the Nile, ran the length of Cairo Giza Black land the country. Ancient Egyptian lands were also surrounded by Red land a huge desert. Both of these geographical features played very important roles in the development of ancient Egyptian society. Nile The Nile begins in central Africa and flows north into the Mediterranean Sea. Ancient Egypt’s desert environment made the Luxor Nile a very important geographical feature. It was so essential for the society’s survival that the people worshipped it as a god. They Sahara Desert Red Sea called this god ‘Hapi’. The Nile has three main sources – the White Nile, the Blue Abu Simbel Nile and the Atbara River. The Blue Nile and the Atbara River begin in the highlands of central Africa. Every summer, they are flooded by melting snow and heavy rains. These waters gush into River the Nile, carrying a load of dark mountain silt – soil that is rich in nutrients. Every year, this increase in water caused the Nile to burst its banks and flood parts of Egypt. Atbara Today, dams have been built along the Nile to prevent it from Source 1 The boats and houses flooding, but in the days of ancient Egypt, these dams did not are modern, but this Nile scene is exist. Every year in June, the Nile would flood its banks and otherwise much as it would have been in the times of ancient Egypt. River leave a pile of dark, fertile soil all over the land nearby. This flooding season was known as the ‘inundation’. As soon as the floodwaters went back down, the farmers would plant crops such Blue as barley and other grains. These crops would grow very quickly in this fertile soil. Nile Nile The ancient Egyptians called the fertile land around the river White with rich dark soil the ‘Black Land’. This was where most people lived. On each side of the Nile, beyond the Black Land, were large areas of desert. The ancient Egyptians named these areas the ‘Red Land’. Hardly anyone lived in the Red Land. The Nile was important for other reasons too. It provided fresh water for drinking and bathing. The ancient Egyptians used spears and nets to catch fish in the Nile. They also caught DRAFT the birds, such as ducks and geese, that lived near it and used them for food. They picked wild reeds, called papyrus, which grew alongside the river. The ancient Egyptians used these reeds to make a type of paper and boats. The Nile also allowed the 0 150 300 km ancient Egyptians to travel quickly from place to place, so that they could trade with each other. Lake Victoria Source 2 An aerial photograph of the Nile showing the fertile valley (Black Land) and the bordering desert (Red Land) Source 3 Source: Oxford University Press 284 oxford big ideas humanities 7 victorian curriculum chapter 10 ancient egypt 285 10A How did geographical features infl uence the development of ancient Egypt? The importance of the Nile Crops included wheat, barley, lentils, Farmers provided labour (during the AKH beans, onions, cucumbers, grapes, ET inundation) to build structures such on – The Nile was the lifeblood of ancient fi gs and dates. Trained baboons were as ’In se un as the pyramids. t d Egyptian society. It provided water for sometimes used to pick fruit growing s a Flax plants were e y J t rv a u io too high for people to reach. a M n n turned into a cloth ’ drinking and bathing; fertile soil for growing H o e ( t t f – o l called linen to h o o crops; fi sh and water birds for eating; and a U c O When the Nile fl ooded (known r d c make clothing. M a i t n o means of transporting goods. The Nile also as the inundation) the river level O M g b H s Bricks were made e rose around 8 metres. The silt S e played a central role in the spiritual and r a from river bank mud. It s it left behind on the fl oodplains o religious beliefs of the Egyptians. n was sometimes mixed fertilised the soil. ) with straw for strength. The mudbricks were packed into moulds and left to dry hard in Villages were built on Pleasure boats moved travellers up the sun. raised mounds above and down the river. Some boats were the usual fl ood line. ary N bru adapted as funeral boats to carry the ovem to Fe ber on bodies of pharaohs to their tombs. as P g se ROYET – Growin Source 5 The ancient Egyptian ‘seasons’ The riverside papyrus plant was used to Check your learning 10.2 make a type of paper (also called papyrus), A network of canals (and Remember and understand as well as boats, later reservoirs) directed baskets and furniture.