Name: _________________________
Date: __________ Period: __________
Unit 1: Ancient Civilizations
Lesson 2: Egypt
SSWH1 The student will analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of complex societies in
the ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BCE to 500 BCE..
b. Describe the relationship of religion and political authority in Ancient Egypt.
Verbs
Identification
Who? and/or What?
Geography
Nile River-
Nouns
Context
When? and/or Where?
Connections
Why and/or How? Explain its connection to the GPS,
its impact on GA, and/or the “big picture”.
What did the ancient Greek historian
Herodotus call Egypt?
How did the Nile develop Egypt?
Forbidding deserts on either side of the
Nile =
_________________________________
Environmental Challenges
Environmental
Challenges
Nile flooded too low
Ancient Egyptians’ solution
Nile flooded too
high
Vast deserts on
either side of the
Nile
Transportation on the Nile
Why was the Nile important for
transportation?
Upper and Lower Egypt
What are some advantages and
disadvantages between the Upper and
Lower Egypt?
Egypt Unites
What are some benefits of the Lower and
Upper Egypt Uniting?
Established a capital, ______________
Established first Egyptian Dynasty
Pharaohs
What type of Government did the
Egyptians create?
Theocracy-
Trade
Why was trade important to the
Egyptians?
Egyptian Religion
How was religion important to
Egyptians?
Social Organization
Intellectual
 Early writing pictographs, then
_____________________________
 developed papyrus, a paper-like
substance made from reeds.

How did the development of writing help
develop Egypt?
developed __________________
developed written numbers, built
pyramids, palaces, stone columns,
advanced medicine
History
Three major periods known as _______,
__________, and __________________
Kingdoms.
Intermediate periods were known for
political chaos and invasion
Why were the period known as the Old,
Middle and New Kingdoms important?
The Old Kingdom
The Middle Kingdom
The New Kingdom
Egyptian and Nubian Empires (Chapter 4, Section 1)
page
Weak ___________ and _______________________ between rival ________ caused
• decline in the _______________ and
• Egypt descended into ______ and _____________.
• __________________________ regions of Egypt fell to _______________ invaders.
– Hyksos were from the eastern end of the ________________________ and were
probably of mixed heritage.
– Hyksos used _______________ in warfare
– Sometime during this period ______________ settled in Egypt.
• Around 1600 B.C.E. a series of warlike Pharaohs began to _______________________.
– Forced the ____________ out of Egypt and pursued them across the __________
peninsula into modern day _________________.
– The ___________ remained in Egypt and were ___________________________.
– The ____________ didn’t leave Egypt until sometime between 1500 & 1200 BCE.
The New Kingdom of Egypt
• After the ___________, New Kingdom Pharaohs became ____________________
– Army of ______________, charioteers using two-wheeled chariots, and _______.
• Unlike other pharaohs of the period, ______________ encouraged trade instead of war.
– She sent a trading expedition to ______ (Somalia) that brought back _________,
_________________, fragrant oil, ______, ivory, and unusual plants and animals.
• Hatshepsut’s stepson, ________________, led a number of victorious invasions into
_____________ and _____________, and his armies pushed south into _____________
(south of Egypt along the Nile River).
Egypt became incredibly ________________ and ______ during the New Kingdom.
• The Egyptian incursion into ___________ brought them into conflict with the _______
• __________ had moved into __________________ around 1900 BCE
– expanded south into _________________.
• After several battles the _________________________________ and the Hittite king
signed a ____________________.
• Pharaohs of the New Kingdom
– built __________________________.
– dug their splendid __________ beneath cliffs in the _______________________.
• Shortly after the death of Ramses II, strong civilizations arose and the entire ________
______________________ suffered ________________________________.
Both the _____________________ and the ____________ were attacked by invaders referred
to as the “___________________” that caused ____________________________.
• The ____________ no longer protected Egypt and it was repeated raided by ________.
– The Libyan invaders established _____________________________.
– Libyan Pharaohs ruled Egypt
• erected _____________,
• adopted the ________________________________.
• For centuries, Egypt had dominated ___________ and the Nubian kingdom of ______.
– Egyptian armies had ___________ and even occupied Kush for ______________.
– Egyptian governors, ____________, soldiers, and _________ greatly influenced
the Nubians.
The Nubian kingdom of Kush became the center for the spread of ---------------------------– Kushite princes were sent to _____________
• learned Egyptian _______________, adopted Egyptian ____________, and
worshiped Egyptian ___________.
• When they returned home they brought back ______________________.
As Egypt fell into a decline, Kush began to emerge as a _______________________.
• The Kush saw themselves as better guardians of _________________ than the Libyans.
• Kushite king Piankhi, overthrew the ________________________
– United the entire _______________________
– Founded Egypt’s _______________________
The Golden Age of Meroe
• Assyrians from __________________ conquered Egypt
– Forced the Kushites to ___________________________________
• Kushite royal family moved south to ________________.
– Meroe had abundant _____________________ especially _______________
• used caravans to take _________________ and ________ to the Red Sea
• traded extensively with _____________________ and _________.
• After about ____________________________________ Meroe began to decline.
• Aksum, with a seaport on the _____________, began to dominate North African trade.
– By 250 CE Aksum had defeated ________________.
1.
Guided Readings (Pgs 35-41)
Why was Egypt called “The Gift of the Nile?”
2.
Describe Egypt’s Theocracy.
3.
What is the significance of Egyptian writing?
4.
Why are the Pyramids important to Egyptian society?
Essential Question #2:
Essential Question #3: