I. The EgyptiansA. “The Gift of the Nile”-The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It runs northward for more than 4,000 miles and empties into the Mediterranean.

1. Before the Nile empties into the Mediterranean, it splits. This split forms a triangular territory called a delta.

2. Gift of the Nile-The river rose in the summer from heavy rains in central Africa, reached its highest point in early autumn, and left a deposit of mud that created an area of rich soil.

Picture of the Nile from space

3. Farmers in the Nile Valley grew a surplus of food, which made Egypt prosperous. The river was also the fastest way to travel through land. North winds pushed sailboats south (upstream).

B. Religion1. The Egyptians were polytheistic and believed in sun gods and land gods. This Egyptian belief symbolized their relationship with the source of life (sun) and land. Ra-His preferred method of

transportation was boat. Why???????

2. The Afterlifea) Osiris-God who brought civilization to Egypt

1) Osiris’s brother cut Osiris into pieces and tossed them into the Nile.

2) Osris’s wife, found the pieces, and helped bring Osiris back to life.

3) This story symbolized the new life Egyptians hoped to gain after death and the life the Nile brought.

Osiris judging whether people gain entrance to the underworld

C. Hieroglyphics-Form of writing used by the Egyptians. Was used for writing on temple walls and tombs.

1. Hieratic Script-Was a simpler form of hieroglyphics

2. Papyrus-Hieratic script was written on papyrus. This was paper made from papyrus reed that grew along the Nile.

D. The Old Kingdom (2700 B.C.E.-2200 B.C.E.)-Pharaohs (monarchs) ruled over Egypt. Pharaohs had absolute power, but they did receive help from a government bureaucracy.

1. Bureaucracy-An administrate organized with officials and regular procedures. Egypt’s 42

provinces were ruled by governors responsible to the pharaoh.

2. The Pyramids-Built for a dedication to the dead. The large pyramids were for the pharaoh’s burial.

a) Tombs-Contained rooms stocked with supplies, including chairs, boats, weapons, games, dishes, and foods. Egyptians believed human beings had two bodies-a physical and spiritual one, which they called ka. If the physical body was preserved and the tomb furnished with all objects of life, the ka could return. The spiritual ka could then continue its life.

b) Steps of Mummification-A process of slowly drying a dead body to prevent it from rotting.

1) Workers first removed the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines and placed them in jars that were put in the tomb with the mummy.

2) Next, they covered the corpse with a natural salt that absorbed the body’s water. Later, they filled the body with spices and wrapped it with layers of linen soaked in resin. At the end of 70 days, a lifelike mask was placed over the head and shoulders of the mummy.

D. The Middle Kingdom (2055 B.C.E.-1650 B.C.E.)-

1. Built a canal that connected the Nile River to the Red Sea

2. Drained a swampland in the Nile Delta

F. The New Kingdom (1550 B.C.E.-1070 B.C.E.)-A period of massive wealth in Egypt. Ramses II, who reigned from 1279-1213, built grand temples. For instance, he built the Ramesseum at Thebes.