Egypt – The Nile River ValleyCivilization
developed in a river valley with fertile soil
Nile is the world’s longest river
Nile river begins in East Africa and flows 3,500 miles north towards the Mediterranean Sea
Egypt – The Nile River ValleyNile has two main sources
White Nile flows from Lake VictoriaBlue Nile flows from modern-day Ethiopia
The two rivers meet in present day Sudan (before known as Nubia or Kush)
Nile flows through the Sahara Desert Sahara is the largest desert in the world
Nile was difficult to travel by ship Contained cataracts, or rocky rapids
Upper and Lower Egypt
Upper Egypt Lower Egypt
Southern EgyptNarrow Valley lined
with cliffsCataractsUpstream from
Mediterranean Sea
Northern EgyptRiver here is slowerRiver carries silt,
mineral particles that make soil fertile
Contains river delta, an area of sediment deposited at the mouth of the river
Black and Red Land
Black Land (Kemet) Red LandNarrow strip of dark,
fertile soil around banks of the Nile river
Positive: Yearly flooding left behind a layer of rich, fertile soil
Negative: Floods were unpredictable (natural disasters) and droughts (shortage of water) made crops fail.
Vast deserts on the sides of Black Land
Deadly place of hot, burning sands.
A Civilization Develops7,000 years ago: People start growing grains
around Nile riverIrrigation system produced food surplusFarmers’ surplus crops were collected as taxesLocal rulers used surplus to buy cloth, jewelry,
and luxury goodsFarmers’ surplus supported full-time artisans,
who had time to perfect their skillsCities brought together wealthy and skilled
people.Why could some Egyptians take jobs other than
farming?
Egypt is in the continent of Africa.
Can you find Egypt?
The desert surrounded Egypt on the West, East, and South.
Up North, the Mediterranean Sea protected them. Egypt was allowed to evolve in its own way.
What is the name of the hot, dry and sandy land that covers most of Egypt?
SAHARA DESERT
Egyptian ReligionBelieved Gods controlled everything
Ex. Flooding of the Nile river Ex. Death of a child
Egyptians built temples and offered prayers and gifts
Early Egyptians were polytheists (hundreds)
Many Gods associated with animals
Osiris
King of the afterlifeSymbolized the yearly
drought and flooding of the Nile.
Gave Egypt civilization.Married his sister, IsisConspirators killed him by
chopping him up into piecesIsis, his wife, found the
pieces and put him back together
Ra / Re / Amun-RaKing of the GodsSun god, King of the Gods.Hawk head with solar disk on top.Sometimes seen as the creator of
men (Egyptians called themselves "the cattle of Ra”)
Made daily journey across the skyDied in the West each night and
was reborn in the East the next day.
How could the movement of the Sun affect the beliefs of early Egyptians?
HorusFalcon headedThe Pharaoh was his
earthly embodiment. Son of Osiris and IsisSeth, his brother, is
always trying to hurt himHis sons take care of the
organs during the mummification process
IsisIsis was the
sister/wife of OsirisMay be one of the
judges of the deadHas magical powersThe purest example
of the loving wife and mother
AnubisHead of a jackalGuides the dead to the
underworld and weighs their heart (bad deeds make your heart weigh more)
Works with Osiris in the underworld
Mummification god
Ammut“Eater of the Dead”She stands by the scales of the
hearts and eats the hearts of the wicked
Head of a crocodile, body of a leopard, hind legs of a hippo
ThothMoon GodScribe (records the weight
of the hearts in the underworld)
Invented writing
Bast
Cat-headed Goddess of love and childbirth
Cats are sacred (many catswere mummified in her honor)
BesProtector of
households, mothers, children, and childbirth
Later regarded as defender of everything good
Images were kept in homes
Tasks: killing snakes, fighting off evil spirits, aiding women in labor, protect soldiers before battle
SekhmetLion headedBreathes fire against
her enemiesHer breath created
the desertDelivers punishment
to the godsProtector of
pharaohs and leader in war
PowerPoint – Day 12
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