Transcript ancient_egypt_1pp

ANCIENT EGYPT
Geography
The ancient Egyptians
thought of Egypt as
being divided into
two types of land,
the 'black land'
and the 'red land'.
The 'black land' was the fertile land on the banks of the Nile.
The ancient Egyptians used this land for growing their crops.
This was the only land in ancient Egypt that could be farmed
because a layer of rich, black silt was deposited there every
year after the Nile flooded.
The 'red land' was the barren desert that protected Egypt
on two sides. These deserts separated ancient Egypt from
neighbouring countries and invading armies. They also
provided the ancient Egyptians with a source for precious metals
and semi-precious stones.
Ancient Egypt was divided into two kingdoms, known as Upper and Lower Egypt.
The pharaohs were known as the rulers of the Two Kingdoms.
Lower Egypt is to the north and is that part where the Nile Delta
drains into the Mediterranean Sea.
Upper Egypt is to the south from the Libyan desert down to just
past Abu Simbel.
Around 3100 BC, two kingdoms that had grown up along the
Nile river were united when the ruler of Upper Egypt conquered
the kingdom in Lower Egypt.
Thus began what is now generally accepted as the first of at
least 30 Egyptian dynasties. Ancient Egyptian dynasties are
grouped into periods of stability referred to as 'kingdoms' and
periods of fragmentation and chaos referred to as 'intermediate
periods'.
The Old Kingdom
"The Age of the Pyramids"
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids
as tombs for the pharaohs and their
queens. The pharaohs were buried in
pyramids of many different shapes
and sizes from before the beginning
of the Old Kingdom to the end of the
Middle Kingdom.
There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt. The three
largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the
Old Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh
Khufu. It is known as the 'Great Pyramid'.
The Old Kingdom (c. 2600 - c. 2150 BC)
The Old Kingdom lasted approximately
500 years and is sometimes called the "Age of Pyramids". (The Old
Kingdom includes the 4th through the 8th dynasties.) Great
achievements in art and architecture were realized including the
completion of 20 major pyramids. During this time, the kings of
Egypt were totalitarian dictators owning all land, minerals and
water. The kings shared these resources with the people in
return for taxes and obedience.
The Middle Kingdom (1938 – c. 1600 BC)
After a century and a half of conflict, Thebian nobles
reunited Egypt. During this time period the king had less
absolute power and more emphasis was placed on concepts
of justice. Unlike the Old Kingdom the Egyptian religion began
to accept the idea that the afterlife was for the common people
as well as the king. The Middle Kingdom includes the 12th and
13th dynasties.
Reflect and Analyze
PAGE 83
QUESTIONS:
# 1, 2, 3 a & b