Section+2-2+Pyramids+on+the+Nile

Notes on 2-2

Delta: It’s a broad, marshy, triangular, area of land formed by deposits of silt at the mouth of the river. Theocracy: Type of government in which rule is based on religious authority. Mummification: To embalm and dry the corpse in hope of preventing it from decaying. Papyrus: Egyptians invented this better writing surface which was from the marshy delta. Herodotus: He was an ancient Greek Historian who was known as the “gift of the Nile,” because of the abundance brought by the river. Narmer: Could have been the one to combine Upper and Lower Egypt. Created the double crown to represent being united. Pharaohs: Egyptian god-kings Re: The god of sun Osiris: The god of the dead Isis: The god of the ideal mother and wife Anubis: god and guide of the underworld Hyksos: Moved from Palestine to Egypt where they ruled most of Egypt from 1630 to 1523 B.C.) “the rulers of foreign lands” __Setting the Stage__ The Egyptian civilization was united into a single kingdom which allowed it to enjoy a high degree of unity, stability, and cultural continuity.
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//The Geography of Egypt//


 * The Nile River is the biggest river in the world. Egypt needs this river because it brings water from distant mountains, plateaus, and lakes.

The Gift of the Nile
 * Egypt’s settlement had a little piece of land that was based around the river.


 * Every July the melted snow and rains made the Nile River flood which left rich deposit of fertile black silt after the water would lower in October.


 * In the fall and Winter irrigation ditches helped the peasants with their crops like wheat and barley.

//Environmental Challenges//


 * Egyptian farmers had it better than the Mesopotamia because the Nile river had a regular flow and was predictable unlike the Euphrates rivers or the Tigris.

1. When the Nile’s water dropped there wouldn’t be as much fresh silt or water for crops and people starved.

2. When the water level was higher than it would flood houses, granaries, and seeds.

3. Surrounded by desert there was little amount of good land and a hard way to communication with other people. YET the desert protected them from invaders.

//Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt//


 * At the point of Nile their were cataracts that made it impossible for river boats to go through.


 * Upper Egypt: Since elevation is higher the land south of the river is called upper Egypt. It goes to the first cataract until the river starts to “branch out.”


 * Lower Egypt: It’s near the Sea, and includes the Nile delta region.


 * The Nile river helped to get to upper and lower Egypt. It unified Egypt’s villages and promoted trade.


 * Egypt Unites into a Kingdom**


 * Either Scorpion or Narmer united upper and lower Egypt. Each village had its own gods, rituals and chieftain.


 * The Lower Egypt king wore a red crown and the Upper Egypt king wore a tall white crown. Narmer combined both of the crowns to become one as a symbol of being united.


 * Around 3000 B.C. The Narmer Palette celebrated the unification of u&l Egypt.


 * The capital was Memphis where they established the first Egyptian dynasty. There were 31 dynasties around 3200 B.C. to 2700 B.C. It became widespread around 2660 to 2180 B.C.

//Pharaohs Rule as Gods//


 * In Egypt they had pharaohs ad believed in theocracy.


 * The pharaoh duty was to promote truth and justice. They believed it provided their crops, the Nile and the sun to set/fall. They were the government/army/religion.

//Builders of the Pyramids//


 * The kings ruled after death and had an eternal life force (ka). Their tombs would be placed in pyramids- that’s how pyramids became so popular.


 * The Egyptians had more stone, granite, and limestone than the Sumerians which allowed them to build huge, sturdy pyramids. (Great Pyramid of Giza)


 * Pyramids showed how strong the Egyptians were when it came to massive public work projects.


 * Egyptian Culture**


 * Religion had a huge role in the lives of Egyptians.

//Religion and Life//


 * The early Egyptians were polytheistic (like the Mesopotamians) they believed in gods like Re, Osiris, and Isis.


 * Egyptians believed in after life (like the meso) and would be judged by their deeds. Anubis would weigh each persons dead heart and if it was lighter than a feather they would go to the beautiful other world. If it weighed more than a feather the Devourer of Souls would pounce on the heart and eat it.


 * Kings and Queens built great tombs like pyramids, others built smaller tombs. Royal and Elite Egyptians were preserved by mummification.


 * they’d place items that they may need in their after life inside the tomb

//Life in Egyptian Society//


 * King, Queen, Royal family- wealthy landowners, government officials, priest, army commanders- merchants, artisans- peasant farmers, laborers


 * Slaves served in homes or toiled endlessly in the gold mines in Upper Egypt.


 * If you could read or write then there were many other job opportunities like the army or priesthood. Slaves could earn their freedoms.


 * Women had same rights as men like could own and trade property, propose marriage or get a divorce, and had 1/3 of the couple’s property.

//Egyptian Writing//


 * Pictographs were an early form of writing but came up with hieroglyphics. (sacred carving)


 * Pictures stood for ideas or sounds. Owl= m sound/bird itself


 * Egyptians used papyrus reed which grew in the Delta. It was like a paper like sheet.

//Egyptian Science and Technology//


 * Invented Calendars to keep track of floods and to plan their planting season. Sirius appeared above the eastern horizon just before the floods came.


 * Came up with 365 days(a solar yr.) divided it into 12 months- 30 days - 5 days for holidays and feasting. Calendar was so accurate it was only off by 6 hours.


 * Egyptians came up with calculations in order to do assess and collect taxes, survey and reset property boundaries after floods, helped engineers with building pyramids and palaces.


 * Egyptians were the first to use columns in homes, palaces and temples.


 * Knew how to check heart rate with pressure points on the body, to set broken bones with splits and could heal fevers or wounds. Surgery for some conditions.


 * Invaders Control Egypt**


 * Old Kingdom ended in 2180 B.C.. Middle Kingdom (2040- 1640 B.C.) The middle kingdom improved transportation, farming, and irrigation.


 * 1640 B.C. The Hyksos ruled Egypt from 1630-1523.B.C.)