Transcript Chapter 3

Chapter 3
Ancient Egypt and Nubia
Maps
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In which direction does the Nile River flow?
Support this statement. Use the map.
Look at the elevation as you go North, the
elevation drops and water always flows
downhill. Why?
Section 1: The Geography of the Nile
• The Nile river is the world’s longest river.
• Flows north from its sources in East Africa to the
Mediterranean sea or more than 4000 miles.
• It has two main sources: Blue Nile- rises in
highland of present day Ethiopia, races down into
desert in thundering torrents. White Nile- much
calmer in East Africa and flows northward
through the swamp.
• Two rivers meet in Sudan. There the Nile goes
through the desert and into the Mediterranean
Sea.
Nile through Ancient Nubia
• Just north of where the Blue and White Nile meet,
there are two huge bends and forms an S shape 1000
miles in length.
• Northern tip of the S is the city of Aswan in Egypt.
Nubia was also along this stretch.
• Nubian section contained six cataracts or rock filled
rapids.
• Between the first and second cataracts was Lower
Nubia.
• Desert and granite mountains lined the riverbanks so
there was very little land for farming.
Continued…
• Rarely rained in Lower Nubia so the people
had to live very close to the Nile for water
supply.
• South, between the second and sixth cataract
is the area of Upper Nubia. Rain did fall so
they could plant in the fall and harvest in the
spring.
• Farmland was in very narrow strips (2 miles)
wide on each side of the river.
The Nile Through Ancient Egypt
• Nile ran for about 700 miles.
• Passed through Upper Egypt.
• Upper Egypt was a fertile area of around 6 miles on each
side of the river.
• In the North, Lower Egypt was a fertile marshy area.
Beyond that were deserts on either side of the river bank.
• At the end of the Nile, the river split into several streams
that flowed into the Mediterranean sea. This area formed
a Delta or a plain at the mouth of the river.
• The river would deposit rich sediments and the delta was
very fertile.
Gifts of the Nile
• Every spring the water would rush
downstream from the highlands of Africa and
brought with it rich sediments called silt.
• Silt is fine soil found at the river bottom.
• When the Nile flooded the silt would wash
onto the shores.
• In gratitude, the Egyptians praised Hapi the
god of the Nile.
Black Land and Red Land
• Ancient Egyptians called their land Kemet or
“the black land” because of the silt.
• Unlike Mesopotamians, the Egyptians usually
didn’t have to worry about flash floods.
• Dry years, wile rare, caused famine.
• “Red land” was the vast desert on either side
of the river- Sahara to the west and Easternto the east. Useless for farming, not friendly.
Desert Protection
• Desert shielded Egypt and Nubia from foreign
attacks.
• Mesopotamia did not have this protection.
• Over a period of 2000 years there were only a
few invasions of Egypt and Nubia.
• They were not isolated though and the Nile Valley
provided a path for trade with Central africa.
• Mediterranean sea and Red sea allowed trade to
Southwest Asia.
Growth of Communities and Trade
along the Nile
• Hunting and Fishing communities appeared in Nubia
around 6000 B.C.
• Nubians formed settlement before farming unlike the
fertile crescent communities that farmed then settled.
• Egypt's farming communities settled in the delta and valley
of the Nile.
• Homes were built of straw or bricks of mud and straw.
• In the south, Upper Egypt, scattered farming villages were
along the banks of the Nile.
• Nubia had less farmland along the Nile than Egypt.
• Nubians supplemented farming by fishing and hunting
ducks and other birds.
Highway for Trade
• In Egypt, the Nile was used to transport goods.
• Ships traveled downriver or north and upriver
with the help of wind that blew from the south.
• Trade ran east across the desert to the Red Sea
ports or to Mesopotamia.
• Caravans loaded gold, silver, copper, and pottery
to sell.
• Cedar from Phoenicia and gold from Nubia were
sold in bazaars of Egypt’s towns.
Routes through Nubia
• Because of the cataracts, large swells of water,
people could not travel to Nubia by river.
• Trade routes over land.
• Famous traders- carried good from Central Africa
and Nubia into Egypt and Southwestern Asia.
• Example- One caravan had 300 donkeys and they
carried ebony wood, ostrich feathers and eggs,
and panther skins, as well as throw sticks.
Questions?
• How did the Nile river affect the lives of early
Egyptians and Nubians?
• Nile brought Ancient Egypt and Nubians a
constant source of water to fish, farm, trade,
and build communities.
• How did the Nubians become famous as
traders?
• Carried goods in huge caravans through and to
many distant lands.
Section 2: Rulers of Egypt
• A pharaoh is a King of Egypt.
• Hatshepsut was not the only woman to rule
but this title was traditionally held by men.
• Sometimes she even wore the false beard
traditionally worn by pharaohs.
Egyptian Kingship
• Hatshepsut was one of many famous Egyptian
Pharaohs.
• Some were wise and others were cruel,
regardless that Egypt’s fortunes rested on
them.
• The History of Egypt is the history of its
Dynasties or a series of rulers from the same
family or ethnic group.
• Egypt had 31 dynasties.
Continued…
• The dynasties are in three time periods called
Kingdoms: Old Kingdom (2686-2181 B.C.),
Middle Kingdom (1991-1786 B.C.), New
Kingdom (1567-1085 B.C.)
• Remember the kingdoms are NOT places but
time periods.
• The gaps between Kingdoms were times of
trouble or war, invasions, or weak rulers.
These periods were rare.
Egypt Unified
• Egypt’s first dynasty began when a King
named Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt.
• Built Memphis near present day Cairo.
• He ruled over the “two lands” which was what
he called the upper and lower Egypt.
• This unification was said to have made most
stable civilization in history.
All Powerful Pharaohs
• Pharaohs had absolute power.
• They would turn to their advisors or Ma’at the goddess
of truth for help with decisions.
• Whatever the pharaoh decided became law.
• Example: When a field would be planted.
• Ancient Egyptians believed that the Pharaohs were the
earthly form of Horus the Falcon god.
• Over time they became connected with other gods
such as the Sun god Re.
• They were considered God-kings, it was the Pharaoh
that provided the Niles yearly floods and harvest.
The Three Kingdoms
• Old Kingdom: Pharaohs kept peace and traded
with Nubia, only occasional conflicts.
• Well run system of Government.
• Got timber from Mediterranean coast to build
houses, boats, and furniture.
• Toward end governors in provinces began to
challenge the power of the Pharaohs’
government.
• Unity crumbled and dynasties grew weak.
Continued..
• Middle Kingdom: Early rulers restored order
and reunited country.
• Pharaohs spent nations wealth on public
works instead of on war. Example: Irrigation
• Egypt grew richer.
• Unfortunately, weaker and less able rulers
followed.
• Lost control of the country to invaders.
Continued..
• New Kingdom: Egyptian princes were strong
enough to drive out invaders when they did it.
Was the start of the New Kingdom.
• First pharaohs wanted to build an empire,
created huge armies of foot soldiers, mounted
warriors, and charioteers.
• Bronze swords and body armor made them
almost unbeatable.
• King Tutankhamen- a famous pharaoh and still a
child.
Rule during the New Kingdom
• 1504 B.C. Thutmose III became ruler but
because he was a child his stepmother was
appointed Regent or someone who rules for
the child until the child is old enough to rule.
• Stepmother was Hatshepsut and she didn’t
want to be regent so she made herself the
Pharaoh.
• She was supreme ruler for 15 years.
Pharaoh Queen
• Hapshepsut’s reign was good for Egypt.
• Bold leader who created a time of great peace
and economic success.
• Encouraged trade with far away lands including
the land of Punt where they got ivory, leopard
skins, and special trees to make incense.
• When Thutmose grew up, Hatshepsut refused to
yield her thrown, when she died Thut destroyed
all of her statues and he may have played a role
in her death.
Thutmose III
• One of the greatest pharaohs of the New
Kingdom.
• Led armies to war against Syria and Phoenicia.
• His troops went as far as the Euphrates river
and south into Nubia.
• He treated those defeated with mercy unlike
most rulers of his time.
Ancient Egypt after the New Kingdom
• Toward the end, Egypt declined.
• Civil war left Egypt weak and poorly defended.
• 332 B.C., long after the New Kingdom fell,
Egypt fell to Alexander the Great of
Macedonia.
• The Macedonians ruled Egypt for 300 years.
• 51 B.C. Queen Cleopatra VII became the last
Macedonian to rule Egypt.
Continued..
• She shared the throne with other members of her
family until Egypt was conquered by the Romans.
• Egypt became part of the Roman Empire in 31
B.C.
• Cleopatra thought that the Romans would parade
her through the city to show their victory so she
committed suicide.
• Egypt would not govern itself, in other words
other countries would control, for almost 2000
years.
Questions?
• What unusual powers did the Egyptians
believe that their kings had?
• Power to provide floods and harvest.
• What were some accomplishments of each
kingdom?
• Old- Pharaohs kept peace, trade with Nubia.
• Middle- Irrigation, public works
• New- Huge, powerful armies.