The document provides an overview of ancient Egyptian history, including details about important periods like the Old Kingdom when the pyramids were built and pharaohs had absolute power. Key aspects of Egyptian civilization are explained such as the importance of the Nile River, polytheistic religious beliefs, and the practice of mummification to preserve bodies for the afterlife. A timeline outlines the major periods of ancient Egypt from unification under King Narmer to later domination by the Romans.

1. World History
Ms. Mack

2. * Egypt is located in
Northern Africa

3. The Nile River is the heart of Egypt. • Nile River is 4,000 miles long
(the longest river in the world!)
• Nile River flows North from
central Africa to the
Mediterranean sea.
• The Nile Delta is where the
river splits into several channels
before reaching the
Mediterranean.
• The Nile flooded every year,
leaving behind dark, rich soil
that was good for farming. This
area (in green on the map) was
called the “Black land” for the
color of the soil.
• The area beyond the Black lands
were harsh deserts called the
“Red lands.”

4. Upper Egypt is all the land
south of the Nile Delta (at
approximately Memphis)
Lower Egypt is the Nile Delta.
Confused? Why is Lower Egypt
at the TOP of the map?
Upper Egypt is further away
from the sea, while Lower
Egypt is at sea level – so the
land in Lower Egypt is at a
lower elevation than the land in
Upper Egypt.

5. • Egypt has natural boundaries that
helped prevent invasion.
• Harsh deserts in the west and
east.
• Red Sea in the east.
• Mediterranean Sea to the
North
• Cataracts (rapids) on the Nile
to the South.
• Invaders would have to overcome
these natural boundaries before
they could conquer Egypt.
• Egypt’s natural barriers
contributed to a feeling of safety
and security for Egyptians, who
prospered for over 3000 years.

6. Ancient Egyptians were
polytheistic – they worshipped
many god.
•Most gods were associated with
natural forces (wind, rain, etc.) or
heavenly bodies (moon, planets,
stars).
•Two groups of gods had special
importance:
• Sun gods
• Land gods
•The sun and land gods were
important because of Egypt’s
dependence on the sun and river
lands.
Re, Sun God

7. Egyptians believed Osiris brought
civilization to Egypt. The story of
Osiris was important to Egyptians
because it was symbolic for
resurrection.
Osiris’ brother Seth murdered him
and cut his body into 14 pieces and
threw the parts in the Nile.
Osiris’ wife, Isis found the pieces
of Osiris and with the help of other
gods, brought him back to life.
The ancient Egyptians identified
with Osiris and believed they could
be resurrected and gain new life
and be reborn.
Osiris, Isis and Horus

8. Mummification Process:
•Bodies are washed with water from the
Nile.
•Workers remove liver, lungs, stomach and
intestines and placed them in four special
jars that were put in the tombs with the
dead.
• The brain is
removed through
the nose.
• The body is covered
in salt to absorb the
Egyptians wanted to water in the body.
preserve the dead for their • The body was filled
future rebirth and with spices and
resurrection, so they used a wrapped in linen
process called soaked in resin.
mummification. • The whole process
took about 70 days!

9. Egyptian pyramids were built
primarily during the time of
the Old Kingdom (2700 to 2200
BCE)
Pyramids were part of large
building complexes dedicated
to the dead, in effect a city of
the dead. The city of the dead
would contain:
• A large pyramid for the
pharaoh.
• Smaller pyramids for his
family.
Pyramid Complex • Mastabas (rectangular
buildings with flat
roofs) used as tombs for
the Pharaoh’s officials.

10. Pyramids were stocked with supplies for the Pharaohs resurrection.
Archaeologists have found food, furniture, boats, weapons, games, dishes, and
jewels inside pyramids. The pyramids had many chambers for storing the
objects that would be needed by the Pharaoh in his next life.

11. Timeline of Major Periods in Ancient Egypt
Years BCE Period Characteristics
c. 3150 Unification of Egypt under King
Narmer (Menes)
3100 to 2575 Archaic period Consolidation of the state
2575 to 2180 Old Kingdom Despotic pharaohs build the pyramids and favor conspicuous
funerary monuments (pyramids); institutions, economic
strategies and artistic traditions of ancient Egypt established.
2180 to 2040 First Intermediate period Political chaos and disunity
2040 to 1640 Middle Kingdom City of Thebes achieves prominence, also the priesthood of
Amun
1640 to 1530 Second Intermediate period Hyskos rulers in the delta (invaders)
1530 to 1070 New Kingdom Great imperial period of Egyptian history, with pharaohs buried
in the Valley of Kings; pharaohs include Ramses II, Seti I, and
Tutankhamen, as well as Akhenaten, the heretic ruler
1070 to 332 Late period Gradual decline of pharaonic authority, culminating in Persian
rule (525 to 404 and 343 to 332)
332 to 30 Ptolemaic period The Ptolemies bring Greek influence to Egypt, beginning with
the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332
30 BCE Roman Occupation Egypt becomes an imperial province of Rome
http://public.csusm.edu/aitken_html/m330/egypt/

12. * There is contradictory information
regarding the first king of Egypt. Some
authorities believe he might have been
Aha, while others contend that Menes
held this title. Very little information on
the Egyptian pharaohs of the first and
second dynasties is known. The few facts
that are known about the sixteen or so
ancient Egyptian pharaohs who ruled
Egypt during this time has been gleaned
from the Palermo stone, an ancient
stone tablet that contains information
such as lists of pharaohs and other facts
of daily life from the ancient pharonic
periods.
http://www.ancient-egypt-online.com/ancient-egyptian-pharaohs.html
Palermo Stone
Menes

13. * Around 3100 BCE, the
first king united the
villages of Upper and
Lower Egypt into a single
kingdom and created the
first Egyptian royal
dynasty.
* To symbolize the unity of
Egypt, rulers wore a
“double crown”
representing both Upper
and Lower Egypt.

14. Kings in the Old Kingdom were called
Pharaohs. They were seen as divine
(as a god or descended from a god).
Pharaohs possessed absolute power –
meaning that they had unlimited
power in ruling their people.
The Old Kingdom was an
age of prosperity and Pharaohs had a government
splendor. bureaucracy that helped them run the
country. The bureaucracy helped the
The Great Pyramid was Pharaohs collect taxes, enforce laws,
built during the Old and take care of the country.
Kingdom (around 2540
BCE).
The Old Kingdom collapsed
around 2180 BCE, and the
Egyptians experienced 150
years of chaos.

15. A new royal dynasty united
Egypt around 2050 BCE. This
began the period of Egyptian
history known as the Middle
Kingdom.
Egyptians portrayed this
period as a “golden age”
because of the stability of the
royal dynasty and the
country.
Trade also expanded during
During the Middle Kingdom, the Pharaohs this period, as did the
used their military to expand Egypt’s Pharaoh’s concern for the
borders. They moved into Nubia, sent common people and the
armies to Palestine and Syria. public welfare.

16. A new dynasty of Pharaohs used these new
bronze weapons to drive out the Hyskos. The
New Kingdom was established and lasted
nearly 500 years.
During the New Kingdom Egypt became the
most powerful state in Southwest Asia.
Pharaohs had increased wealth and began
building massive new temples.
The Pharaoh Amenhotep IV tried to change
the Egyptian religion to focus on worship of
Aton, the god of the sun disk, as the sole
god. Tutankhamen restored the old religion
after Amenhotep died, but considerable
In 1652 BCE, the Middle Kingdom ended when the
damage was done. The change in religion
Hyskos from Western Asia invaded Egypt. cause upheavals throughout the empire and
it collapsed in 1085 BCE.
The Hyskos used war chariots to overwhelm the
Egyptians. The Hyskos ruled for over 100 years. After the collapse, the Egyptians were ruled
by outsiders including Libyans, Persians,
The Egyptians learned from their conquerors – they Greeks, and finally the Romans, who started
learned how to use bronze, chariots, and new ruling Egypt in 30 BCE.
bronze weapons.
The Hyskos were driven out in 1567 BCE.

17. The Egyptians also grew
flax, which was used to
create the linen clothes
they wore. Linen was traded
throughout the
Mediterranean and was a
valuable commodity.
Because the Nile flooded
regularly, Egyptians had a
positive outlook and stable
daily life.
Egypt was dependent on the Nile River. Their
economic structure was based on the Nile
River cycle of inundation (flooding) and
relinquishment (withdrawal).
When the Nile flooded, it left behind rich soil
that was good for farming. The river was also
used for travel and trade.

18. Throughout all three kingdoms, Egyptian society maintained a simple structure.
The structure of Egyptian society was organized like a pyramid, with the
Pharaoh nearly alone at the top, and slaves and servants making up the largest
group at the bottom. The Pharaoh, Nobles, and Priests made up a ruling class
who ran the government and managed wealthy estates.
The middle class was made up of soldiers, scribes, merchants, and artists. At
the bottom were farmers who paid taxes in the form of crops. The lowest class
was made up of slaves and servants.

19. Ancient Egyptians married young (girls
around 12 and boys around 14). Parents
arranged marriages for their children
that would benefit the family in
property or wealth.
The husband was master of the house,
but wives were well respected. Wives
were in charge of the household and the
education of their children.
Women could own property and inherit,
but most careers in the bureaucracy
were closed to women.

20. The Egyptians invented a style
of writing called hieroglyphics,
which was a system of writing
that used pictures and more
abstract forms. It was a
complex style of writing and
took much skill to practice and
learn.
A simplified version of
hieroglyphics called hieratic
script. It used dashes, strokes,
and curves to represent
hieroglyphics. Hieratic script
was used for business
Can you spell your name with transactions and record
hieroglyphics? keeping.

21. Ancient Egyptians left behind a vast
amount of art. Artists included sculptors,
jewelry makers, and ceramicists.
Egyptians used a particular style for over
1000 years that was distinctive – and easily
recognized as Egyptian.

22. Travel Boat
Writing
Instruments
* The Egyptians made advances in
mathematics, including an accurate 365-
day calendar. In addition to their
architecture, Egyptians also invented,
developed, or advanced many
technologies, in areas like agriculture,
mathematics, literature, and more. Water
Clock