Ancient Egypt:
Geography
Timeline
• Old Kingdom
2650 BC – 2134 BC
• Middle Kingdom
2125 BC – 1550 BC
• New Kingdom
1550 BC – 1295 BC
•http://www.thebanmappingproject.com/resources/timeline.html
1
Three Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt
OLD
KINGDOM
Pharaohs
organized a strong
central state, were
absolute rulers,
and were
considered gods.
Egyptians built
pyramids at Giza.
Power struggles,
crop failures, and
cost of pyramids
contributed to the
collapse of the Old
Kingdom.
MIDDLE
KINGDOM
Large drainage
project created
arable farmland.
Traders had
contacts with
Middle East and
Crete.
NEW
KINGDOM
Powerful pharaohs
created a large
empire
that reached the
Euphrates River.
Hatshepsut
encouraged trade.
Corruption and
rebellions were
common.
Ramses II expanded
Egyptian rule to
Syria.
Hyksos invaded and
occupied the delta
region.
Egyptian power
declined.
Geography
• Egypt is located in
northeastern Africa
• The Nile River runs the
length of the country
flowing south to north
• The river begins in the
mountains of Africa and
empties into the
Mediterranean Sea
• The climate is hot and
dry, part of the Sahara
Desert
http://www.worldcountries.info/Maps/GoogleMap-Egypt.php
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/explore/ter.html
Geography
• Ancient Egypt was divided into
two regions: Upper and Lower
Egypt
• Lower (northern) Egypt
consisted of the Nile River's
delta made by the river as it
empties into the
Mediterranean.
• Upper Egypt was the long,
narrow strip of ancient Egypt
located south of the Delta.
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/home.html
The Nile River
• The Nile was the
lifeblood of ancient
Egypt
• It made life possible in
the otherwise barren
desert of Egypt.
• It is the longest river in
the world (over 4,000
miles).
• It served as a source of
food for the people of
ancient Egypt
• It was the major source
of water for bathing and
drinking
• The Nile was crucial for
farming
Blue Nile
White Nile
White & Blue Nile Meet in Sudan
Floodplain
Floodplain
• The low strip of fertile land
located on either side of the
Nile River
• The river flooded during the
annual inundation
• When the inundation
subsided, it left the earth
soaked and overlaid with a
fresh layer of black silt.
• Most of the farming occurred
here
Nile Delta
• Located in northern
Egypt where the Nile
River spreads out
and empties into the
Mediterranean Sea
• 240 km of coastline,
106 km in length
• Rich agricultural
region
• Most fertile soil in
Africa
Facts About the Nile River
Length
4,184 miles
2 Sources
Lake Victoria, Uganda (White Nile);
Lake Tana, Ethiopia (Blue Nile)
Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt
Mouth
Countries
Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia,
Flows Through Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda,
Burundi
Name Origin
Greek word Nelios, which means
"River Valley"
Bordered on the south, east and west by the
Sahara Desert, and on the north by the sea, ancient
Egypt was protected from outside influences.
Great Sahara Desert
Pyramids
The Great Sphinx