Ancient

Egypt
Beginning in 3200 B.C. Ancient
Egypt was a time of pharaohs,
conquest, and great architectural
growth.

By: Elizabeth Davis, Lilly Day,

Mae Stark, Raymond Tieu
Introduction to Ancient Egypt
• The geography of Egypt had a strong impact on the
way the Egyptian Civilization rose.
• In Egypt it was believed, at the end of one’s life, they
had the possibility to go on to live another life. Many
customs were formed because of this idea of the
afterlife, and as a result, the Egyptian culture was
born.
• The New Kingdom of Egypt truly became strong when
the chariot riding Hyksos were driven out. In the
following years, religion, art, and governing ideas
grew and developed. But poor leadership and
relentless invaders left the Egyptians struggling to
hold on to the remains of their once great empire.
• As the decline of Egypt approaches, the Nubians step
in as the guardians of Egyptian culture. They form a
Kush Empire based on the Egyptian customs.
 The Geography of Egypt
• The Nile
– The longest river in the world, stretching for over
4,100 miles.
– Annually floods in July, and in October, the water
would go back down, leaving behind fertile black mud
which was very important for the food supply of the
Egyptians.
– Created a cycle: flood, plant, harvest (repeat)
– The Egyptians worshiped the Nile like a god.
– The Nile was reliable system of transportation,
because it naturally flows north, but the wind blows
south, making it possible to travel in both directions
– The Nile flooded regularly, but how much it flooded
changed.
– Too little flooding, people could starve because of
the lack of silt, too much flooding could result in
property being destroyed.
 Egypt’s Location and Trade
• Egypt is located in Northern Africa, between the First
Cataract and the Mediterranean Sea.
– Upper Egypt: To the south
– Lower Egypt: To the north, on the Nile Delta
Region
• The Desert isolated Egypt, however, this was a good
thing because it kept Egypt out of many wars in the
early history, though it also prevented trade, for a
time.
• By 3200 B.C., Egyptians were coming into contact
with the people of Mesopotamia. By 2000 B.C.,
Egyptians were traveling on the Nile to the southern
lands of Nubia and Kush
The Kingdom of Egypt
• Before Egypt united into a kingdom,
farming villages were the first to
exist.
• By 3200 B.C. - Individual villages
were united, and
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• 3100 B.C. - Menes united all of
Egypt. He wore a crown that was a
combination of the white crown of
upper Egypt, and the red crown of
Lower Egypt.
• Menes established his capital,
Memphis, which was located where
Upper and Lower Egypt met.
 Crowns of Egypt

Crown of Crown of Joint crown of Blue War

Upper Egypt Upper and Crown
Lower Egypt
Lower Egypt

The Sphinx is 240 feet long, and 66

feet tall with the legs. It was built to
remind Egyptians that the
pharaohs had extraordinary
powers, and these powers were
from nature, as well as from the
gods.
 Pharaohs In Egypt
• The Egyptians thought that their kings were
gods. Because of this way of thinking, the
Egyptian pharaohs were the center of the army,
religion, and government, making the Egyptians
live under a Theocracy.
• The Pharaohs were thought to live forever, and
their “ka” (spirit) wouldkeep governing Egypt,
even if the body had died. The Egyptians of the
Old Kingdom built magnificent pyramids as tombs
for their pharaohs
• The pyramids also represented Egypt’s stable
economy. By having the pyramids built, it meant
that the Egyptians had the leadership, and
government organization needed to build such
magnificent structures.
 Egyptian Culture
Religion and Life There is an
• In Egypt it was believed, at the end of Egyptian myth
one’s life, they had the possibility to go on to where Horus
live another life. Many customs were formed gives up his
right eye in
because of this idea of the afterlife, and as a battle, because
result, the Egyptian culture was born. of this the Eye
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The Nile helped Egyptians greatly and allowed represent
them to view life in an optimistic way. When the strength, vigor,
and self-
Nile receded it left the earth wet and clay-like. sacrifice.
Egyptians took this substance and created
numerous useful and fanciful objects.
• Egyptians were polytheistic; in total they
worshiped over 2,000 gods and goddesses. Two
of their most important gods were Ra, the god of
the sun, and Horus, the god of light. To pay
tribute to their major deities, the Egyptians built
enormous temples of worship.
 The After Life
• Egyptians believed in the after life,
they thought that throughout one’s life
they were to do only good deeds because
once it came time for their death- they
would be judged. It was deemed that if
their heart was heavier than a feather it
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would gain eternal life.
• Because the time of death was so
vital to the Egyptian culture, people of
all classes planned for their burials.
Because of their wealth, Egypt’s kings
and queens built vast tombs (such as
pyramids) to hold their bodies in, those
of lower class built smaller tombs for the
same purpose.
 Mummification
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The Egyptians believed in mummification-
preserving the body in death in order to keep the
soul alive.The innards were taken out of the body
and stored in canopic jars, these were placed in the
tomb as well as the body, which was wrapped in cloth
and placed in a coffin. Inside the coffin jewelry,
cosmetics, clothing and food were placed- these
were items people could use in their after life.
Artwork was also placed in the tombs to make them
more attractive.

• The Embalmers were priests who had been

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The entire preservation of one’s

body took 70 days to complete!
 Life in Egyptian Society
• Egyptian society formed a pyramid:
Top- king, queen, and royal family
Middle- other members of upper class; landowners;
government officials; priests; army commanders
Next Tier- middle class; merchants; artisans
Bottom- lower class (largest); peasant farmers; unskilled
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• Ones class was not set in stone, if one gained the

Priests or
skills of reading and writing they could seek higher
Priestesses
positions in society. This meant that middle and
functioned
lower classes could become higher class, and even
as stand-
in’s for the
slaves could earn their freedom. Women were also
current
given some of the same rights as men; they could own
pharaoh,
and trade property, propose marriage or file for
and at any divorce- and if this happened they were given land.
time they
could take
control over
the order of
 Egyptian Writing
• Egyptians developed a very
important writing system; this was called
hieroglyphics- it allowed them to
communicate with one another on
another level. QuickTimeª and a
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The pictures they created stood for

sounds and ideas- similar to the
alphabet we use today.
• Egyptians also found papyrus reeds
by the Nile, they would split the reeds
open, dampen them, and once dried
they
A type of would
modern use them
Hieroglyphics is calledas sheets
“rebus”. of paper.
A rebus is a picture
puzzle that gives a message when sounded out. For Example:
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Science and Technology
Inventions in Math and Science
• The Egyptians created a numerical system that
allowed them to add, subtract, and count. The
architects of the time also used this system to help
them make calculations for pyramids and palaces.
• The calculations assisted the architects in
being the first to create stone columns in houses,
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A calendar was created to help them chart when
are
the Nile needed to see
would flood next. They this picture.
realized that a bright
star called the Sirius appeared before each flood-
based on this star they divided the year into 365
days; 12 months- 30 days each and then they added
five holidays for rest.
• Medicine was broken down into two parts:
medical writing and hands on work. The writings
contained magical charms and chants, while the
doctors also knew how to take a pulse, create a
splint for someone injured, make treatments for
wounds and fevers and sometimes they would
perform surgery.
Chariot Riders Invade
Egypt
• The Old Kingdom ended in 2180
B.C. when the power the pharaohs held
declined; this marked the beginning of a
weak time for QuickTimeª
the Egyptians
and a called the
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First Intermediate Period.
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• The Middle Kingdom (2080-1640

B.C.) followed, and the strong
pharaohs over took Egypt once more
restoring societies law, order, trade,
transportation and public projects.
 Middle Kingdom Declines;
Hyksos Invade Egypt
• When the strength of the pharaohs
dwindled and the Middle Kingdom declined, a
new form of rulers came to power.
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wanderers, called the Hyksos, moved across the
Isthmus of Suez and entered Egypt, riding on
horse-pulled chariots.
• The Hyksos were the “rulers of the
uplands,” and shortly after entering Egypt they
gained control and ruled from 1640-1570 B.C.
(the Second Intermediate Period.)
The Hyksos introduced the horse and
chariot way of transportation into Egypt
as well as the compound bow. They also
improved battle axes, and advanced
The New Kingdom of
Egypt
The New Kingdom of Egypt truly became strong when
the chariot riding Hyksos were driven out. In the
following years, religion, art, and governing ideas grew
and developed. But poor leadership and relentless
invaders left the Egyptians struggling to hold on to the
remains of their once great empire.
Change In Government Tactics
• Ahmose à Ahmose was the first pharaoh of the
New Kingdom, and he was the first to
completely banish the chariot-riding Hyksos
that threatened Egypt.
• Thutmose I à Thutmose I expanded the
FUN FACT! Egyptian empire through conquest and
Thutmose III was also warfare.
known for his love of • Queen Hatshepsut à Queen Hapshetsut
building obelisks, which
are tall monuments with believed in the power of trade and economics
pointed tops, not above warfare, so throughout her reign, there
unlike the Washington was almost no military action. She allowed the
Memorial. Did you
know one of kingdom to grow economically by trading with
Thutmose’s obelisks the surrounding countries and empires.
sits in NYC’s Central • Thutmose III à Thutmose III was an exceptional
Park?
military planner. After the years of peace
during Hapshetsut’s reign, many captured
groups rebelled. Thutmose reclaimed these
groups by governing his military effectively,
with strategy as opposed to brute force. As a
Change In Art and Spirituality
• Amenhotep III à Amenhotep encouraged a new
form of art to the Egyptians; realism. Instead of
being painted to look perfect, the pharaohs
were painted as they looked. Special attention
was paid to detail and colors.
Amenhotep III

1800 BC - Before Carving of Hapshepsut

Amenhotep III after her death.
Change In Art and Spirituality
• Akhenaton à Akhenaton was a very intellectual
and very spiritual man. He believed in one god,
Aten, the sun god, which wasn’t very popular
because most still believed in many gods. Along
with attempting to spread this idea of
monotheism, which was obviously bootless,
Akhenaton wasn’t a very effective ruler either.
He didn’t get much accomplished besides his
religious ideas that he spread to the rest of the
area.
• Nefertitià Akhenaton’s wife.

Akhenaton and Nefertiti

 19th Dynasty and Ramses II
• The Nineteenth Dynasty lasted from 1295-1186 BC, and one pharaoh
in particular held prominence, and was remembered.
• Ramses II represented many things to the Egyptians; an efficient
warrior, an architectural revolutionary, and a loved pharaoh.
• Ramses II formed a well organized army, with specialized jobs and
strategetic placement of troops. He headed these troops, showing
no mercy on his foes, particularily the Hittites. His tenacity in this
matter led to a peace treaty between the two sworn enemies.
• In celebration of his great victory, Ramses II loved to put his name on
all architecture he possibly could. He wrote his name over the names
of past pharaohs in old temples, and he constructed numerous
temples and monuments in his own honor. It is safe to say he was a
very egotistical man.
 Rameses III and The End Of
Egypt
• Rameses III ruled from 1187-56 BC.
• Military stability crumbled due to Trojan Wars and fall of Mycenae. The Middle
East was coming apart because of warfare and rebellion, which messed up the
Egyptian economy, since people couldn’t trade with them.
• The Sea People obliterated Hittites, and led many attacks on the Egyptians,
never doing much harm.
• The Libyans attacked Egypt, hoping to conquer,but they were easily defeated
with the military expertise of Rameses III.
• Three years later, the Sea People returned with a vengeance and swept into
Lower Egypt. The Egyptians fought back and eventually pushed them back out.
• After Rameses III’s death, however, the empire crumbled due to weakness after
the wars and internal squabbling. Princes rose to power in separate divisions, all
wanting power. Egypt became a land of independent kingdoms, and she was
unable to protect herself when the Libyans returned.
 The Kush Empire
Egyptian armies have occupied Kush for a time but the Kushnite would conquer the Nile after the decline of
Egypt around 1000 B.C. Nubia will now establish its own Kushnite dynasty. It became a mix of Nubian and the
Egyptian practices as the cultures blended.
The People Of Nubia- The Nile served as a
trade corridor as well as a route for goods and
ideas to flow back and forth. >Kerma was the first
Nubian kingdom that arose shortly around 200 b.c.
>The Kushnites built pyramids that were smaller
than those of egypt and they were shaped
differently.
>The Kushnites spoke their own language and
created a alphabet based on the Egyptians.
>They worshiped their Nubian gods as well as
Egyptian gods. The kings were buried in chambers
larger than pyramids of Egypt.
> Kerma created pottery unlike any other and were
sold at high costs
 Egypt and Nubia interact
For centuries, Egypt ruled Kush and Nubia, the Egyptians greatly influenced the
people. The Kushnite princes learned a great deal from the Egyptians, adopting to
their customs, their styles and even their language. The Kushnie nobles adopted the
Egyptian way of building pyramids, they made them with steeper sides.The didn’t
conquer The Egyptians for their resources, but to protect and restore the Egyptian
values.

Piankhi Takes The Throne Fun Facts!

A Kushite King, Piankhi conquered the Libyan dynasty in 751 B.C During the A.D. 500's,
He united the North an South f The Nile Valley and restored Egypt. most Nubians were
He Created a monument to represent his victory and triumph.
converted to
In 761 B.C The Assyrians took over Egypt and forced the Kushnites
to flee their land.
Christianity.
 The Golden Age Of Meroe
As the Kushnites suffered defeat from the
Assyrians, they face no other choice but to
fall into security of a city called Meroe.

Wealth of Meroe
The Kush had a rich natural resource in iron
ore and many other goods. They played a
great role in the trading between Africa,
Arabia, and India
Merchants would load up and transport
their goods to the Red Sea where they
traded their spearheads and iron tools for
luxurious goods from India and Arabia. The
Pharaohs would live rich and die with a
copious amount of goods for their afterlife
Egypt, In All of its Glory
[the conclusion]

Ancient Egypt has proved to be one of the

most unique and advanced early civilizations.
They have created massive structures, a
unique type of government and developed a
way to use their geography to their
advantage. Their interesting culture has
spread to be one of the most fascinating and
indescribable. The Egyptians created
hieroglyphics, a writing system that is carved
into a stone. The developed a good sense of
science and technology as well. Their idea of
death is a gateway to another life.
Ancient Egypt is one of the most amazing
early civilizations in history.
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