Egypt Study Guide to accompany Chapter 4
Egypt
-Egypt was isolated from its enemies by three bodies of water (the Mediterranean Sea, the
Red Sea, and the cataracts (waterfalls) of the Nile River) and the Sahara Desert in
the west.
The Nile
-flows north from central Africa (Upper Egypt) to the Mediterranean Sea (Lower Egypt)
-before it reaches the sea, it branches to form a fan-shaped area of fertile land (delta)
Most Egyptians lived in the Nile Delta area
-every year in the middle of July, the Nile overflows its banks leaving farmers out of
work and available to work for the pharaoh.
-they used a machine to lift water out of the Nile (called a shadoof) and were able
to grow crops like barley, olives, and wheat
- this region was nicknamed “The Gift of the Nile”
The Pharaoh
Pharaoh means “great house”
-Egyptians believed their strength and unity came from having a strong ruler
-The Egyptians viewed the Pharaoh as a ruler, priest and a god
-he was the center of Egyptian life
-owned all the land in Egypt but gave gifts of land to the rich and to priests
The Old Kingdom
-The King of Upper Egypt was Narmer, also known as Menes
- he conquered Lower Egypt and united the two areas of Egypt
-Narmer was known as: Wearer of Both Crowns, Lord of the Two Lands and Lord
of Upper and Lower Egypt
-Kings, priests, government officials and artisans lived in the cities
-most Egyptians lived as farmers in small villages on large estates along the Nile
The Pyramids-the pyramids were tombs for the pharaohs
-“Houses of Eternity” built on the west side of the Nile
-pharaoh’s possessions placed in tomb with them
-built during the Old Kingdom
Religious Beliefs
-Egyptians were polytheistic- belief in many gods
-Re- the sun god
-Osiris-god of the harvest and eternal life;
-married to Isis, together they rule over the dead
-Horus-son of Isis and Osiris
-Anubis- god of the afterlife and mummification
Weighing of the Heart
-spells were learned from the Book of the Dead
-when a person died they went to the underworld and their souls were weighed against their good deeds
-if the scale balanced and they knew certain spells they were granted life after death by Osiris
Mummification Process (Embalming) – review details in your notes from the video
The Middle Kingdom
*The Middle Kingdom came about when a new line of pharaohs unified Egypt after a
period of confusion.
-pharaohs had less power, buried in cliffs in hillsides
*1786 BC the Hyksos from western Asia invaded
-crossed the desert in horse drawn chariots and used weapons made of iron and bronze.
- Hykos ruled Egypt for about 150 year
-around 1550 BC, Ahmose led an uprising and drove them out of power and ended the
Hyksos rule.
The New Kingdom
-Ahmose founded a new line of pharaohs: the founding of the Egyptian Empire
-Hatshepsut-( a female ruler) was interested in trade and the building of temples
-Thutmose III, stepson of Hatshepsut extended control into Syria and Palestine
Religion under Amenhotep IV
-Began to worship a new god
- Amon, the god of the city of Thebes
-When Thebes became the capital of Egypt, he became Akhenaton
Decline of Egypt
*Egypt grew weak because of struggles between priests and pharaohs, costly wars
and lack of iron for weapons.
- by 671 BC the Assyrians overtook Egypt
Contributions
Hieroglyphics –Egyptian picture writing; pictures stood for words or
Papyrus- a reed made into paper
Natron- salt used to dehydrate bodies after death
Number system based on ten
Used fractions and whole numbers
Used geometry to survey land
Created a calendar: 3 seasons of 120 days each and 5 feast days
Specialized medicine
The Rosetta Stone – See notes #9
Islam
Mohammad - prophet of Allah (Islam name for God)
Muslim – a culture, means “follower of Islam
Koran – Holy book of the Islam religion
Jihad - means “the act of giving oneself to God”