1. Why was the Nile River so important?2. What role did pharaohs play in Egyptian Kingdoms?3. How was Egyptian society organized?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

“Gift of the Nile”• More than 5,000 years ago, a rich farming

civilization grew in the Valley of the Nile

• It was referred to as “The Gift of the Nile.”

• The Egyptians cooperated with mother nature: they dug dikes, built reservoirs, irrigation ditches, and specialized in trade.

Three Kingdoms

• Old Kingdom: 2575 – 2130 BCE

• Middle Kingdom: 1938 – 1630 BCE

• New Kingdom: 1539 – 1075 BCE

PHARAOHS

• Pharaoh = “Great House”• EGYPTIAN RULERS!!! Seen as Gods.• The harmony of the universe depended on

the pharaoh’s actions; they were believed to control the annual flooding of the NILE.

• Had to keep the bloodlines pure; married their relatives. NO OUTSIDERS!

• Great tombs were built to hold their bodies.

SOCIAL PYRAMID

1. Pharaohs

2. Government Officials

3. Priests

4. Scribes

5. Craftsmen

6. Peasants/Slaves

MUMMIFICATION

• Mummification = The process of preserving a dead body for the afterlife.

• Egyptians believed in eternal life; the body was home for the soul in the after life. Without a body, it was condemned to eternal wandering.

• Only the rich could afford

Process of Mummification• Drying the body – process took 35 days

• All organs besides the heart are removed and placed in canopic jars. The lids of the jars represented the four “Sons of Horus.”

• Gold toe and finger protectors are placed on the body

• The body is prepared and wrapped in linen and canvas.

• Charms and amulets are placed with the body for protection and good luck

• Everyday objects that are needed in the afterlife are placed with the body.

• The mummy is then placed in a large stone tomb known as a SARCOPHAGUS.