Chapter 4Ancient Egypt & Kush

Section 1Gift of the Nile

Geography of Ancient Egypt

•Nile River has fed Egyptian civilization for over 5,000 years

The Longest River

•Nile River▫Longest river▫Has cataracts (waterfalls)▫Branches into a delta (area near a river’s

mouth where the water deposits silt)▫Flows north to Mediterranean Sea▫Use to flood every summer causing silt to

be deposited along Nile’s shores Silt was fertile & good for growing crops

Black Land, Red Land• Egyptians

▫Lived in narrow bands of land on each side of the Nile Called black land because of fertile soil Red land was the desert region beyond the fertile region

• Weather▫Always the same; 8 months sunny & hot, 4 months of

winter were sunny but cooler• Deserts

▫Acted out barrier to keep out enemies• Mediterranean Coast

▫Swampy & lacked good harbors

Land of Plenty

•Ibises birds▫Flew up from the south▫Egyptians knew when these birds arrived

annual flood waters would soon follow When waters drained away crops were

planted in fertile soil

Agricultural Techniques• Developed ways to control yearly flood• Irrigation canals

▫Dug to divert water to dry areas• Catch basins

▫Areas where water would pool to be used at a later date

• Removed earth was used to make embankments to protect areas from the flood

• Shadoof▫ Introduced in 1600 B.C.▫Used to move water between the Nile and a canal, a

canal and a catch basin or a catch basin and a field

Egyptian Crops

•Variety of crops grown▫Wheat & barley were important

1st to grind wheat into flour & add yeast to make bread

▫Vegetables were also grown▫Also grew materials for their clothes

1st to weave fibers from flax plants into linen

Egyptian Houses

•Used bricks made of mud & straw•Had narrow windows•Painted walls white to reflect the sun•Used sticks & palm branches for roofs•Woven reed mated covered the dirt floor•Wealthier people had fancier homes

▫Tree-lined courtyards, pools with lotus blossoms & fish

Geography Shapes Egyptian Life•Economy depended on farming•Also used natural resources for everyday

need & developed economic activities

Minin

•Mined & quarried different metals & minerals▫Copper: used to make tools & weapons▫Iron: stronger metal choice▫Gold: prized by Egyptians▫White limestone: used to build important

religious centers & artistic centers▫Turquoise & emeralds: precious stones

used to make jewelry

Fishing & Hunting

•Rafts were made to go onto the Nile•Used nets & harpoons to catch fish•Hippopotamuses & crocodiles•Captured quail & nets

▫Used boomerangs to knock down flying ducks and deese

Transportation & Trade

•Sails & oars were later added to reed boats▫Nile became a highway

•Nile provided a surplus of food▫Began to trade with each other▫There was not money so people bartered

Section 2Life in Ancient Egypt

Work and Family Life

•Surplus leads to economic expansion•Cities become centers of culture & power

▫People learn different jobs i.e. scribes

Specialized Jobs

•Complex civilizations led to new jobs▫Artisans: created stone or brick houses &

temples; other made pottery, mats, furniture, clothing, sandals, or jewelry

▫Traders: traded with other Africans; traded Egyptian products (scrolls, linen, gold & jewelry) for exotic woods, animal skins, & live beasts

Rulers & Priests

•Growth led to need for organization•Empire divided into 42 provinces•Army created for defense•Jobs:

▫Priests: highest jobs; followed rituals & cared for temples; pleased the gods

▫Slaves: bottom of society; most captured in war; worked on public building projects; some were domestic servants

Women & Children• Best place to be a woman

▫ Had equal rights• Women

▫ Care for children and home▫ Wove clothes▫ Worked in fields or workshops

• Children:▫ Played w/ toys (dolls, animal figures, board games, etc.)▫ Rough games: balls mad of leather or reeds▫ Some went to school▫ Most learned parents jobs▫ Most married in their early teens

Pets

•Dogs▫Used on hunting trips▫Lapdogs

•Cats▫Favored pet▫Even cat goddess, Bastet

Expanding Knowledge

•Came from priests studying the world to find ways to please the gods

•Because of practical discoveries

Writing

•Hieroglyphs developed▫Over time included more than 6,000

symbols•Papyrus developed

▫Easy to carry

Math & Science

•Developed 1st geometry▫Surveyors used it to restore property lines▫Used to design royal temples & monuments

•Study of the sky allowed them to develop the 1st calendar

Medicine

•Prepared bodies for burial•Knowledge of the body helped w/

surgeries•Penicillin

▫Antibiotic that changed modern medicine•Willow bark

▫Similar to aspirin

Life After Death

•Positive view of life•Not just pharaoh or nobles could look

forward to life after death▫Afterlife: life believed to follow death

Views of what made for a happy afterlife varied

Many Gods

•Polytheists•Worshiped gods that were related to the

afterlife & to parts of nature•Many gods were worshipped in certain

areas only

Making Mummies

•Bodies embalmed before they were placed in tombs▫All organs removed except the heart

Organs kept & treated▫Body was washed & purified▫Body packed and covered w/ natron

Body transformed into a mummy▫Linen was wrapped around the mummy▫Whole process took about 70 days

Egyptian Tombs

•Tombs held everyday objects any person might want or need▫Food, drink, clothing, & furniture

Living relatives were suppose to bring fresh food & drink daily, as well as prayers for persons soul