ANCIENT EGYPT
and NUBIA
Ch. 4 Sect. I
CHAPTER
4
First Age of Empires,
1570 B.C.–200 B.C.
Chapter Overview
A series of empires, each one bigger
than the last, forges regional unity
among the old heartlands of civilization
from the Nile to the Iranian Plateau.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Empire
emerges as a cultural and political unit.
HOME
CHAPTER
4
HOME
First Age of Empires,
1570 B.C.–200 B.C.
Time Line
1544 B.C. Egypt’s New
Kingdom established.
751 B.C. Nubian kingdom of
Kush conquers Egypt.
206 B.C. The Qin Dynasty
of China collapses. Civil
War follows.
1570 B.C.
200 B.C.
850 B.C. Assyrian
Empire begins its rise to
power.
550 B.C. Persian
Empire flourishes
under Cyrus.
1
The Empires of Egypt
and Nubia Collide
Key Idea
The New Kingdom forges a
brilliant Egyptian Empire, which
is eventually conquered and ruled
by the Nubians of Kush. The
Kushites later establish an
Egyptian-style kingdom of their
own farther south.
HOME
Ancient Nubia
•
Kush, the Egyptian
name for ancient
Nubia, was the site
of a highly
advanced, ancient
black African
civilization that
rivaled ancient
Egypt in wealth,
power and cultural
development.
SECTIO
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The Egyptian and Nubian Empires
Nomadic Invaders Rule Egypt
Invaders
• About 1640 B.C., Asian warriors, the Hyksos, use
chariots to conquer Egypt
Hebrews Migrate to Egypt
• Hebrews move to Egypt from Canaan around 1650 B.C.
• Egyptians resent the presence of Hebrews and Hyksos
in Egypt
Expulsion and Slavery
• Egyptians drive out the hated Hyksos
• Hebrews lose protection of Hyksos; are enslaved
NEXT
SECTIO
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1
The New Kingdom of Egypt
Technological Changes
• About 1570 to 1075 B.C. pharaohs create
New Kingdom, a powerful empire
• Army uses bronze weapons and chariots
to conquer other lands
Image
Image
Continued . . .
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Event 1 1472 B.C.
Hatshepsut’s Prosperous Rule
• Hatshepsut—pharaoh whose
reign most noted for her
trade expeditions, not war
Opened trade in Punt (modern
day Somalia)
SECTIO
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continued The
New Kingdom of Egypt
Thutmose the Empire Builder
• Thutmose III, Hatshepsut’s stepson, expands
Egypt’s empire
• Invades Palestine, Syria, and Nubia—region
around the upper Nile River
• Egypt most powerful and wealthy during reign Image
of New Kingdom pharoahs
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTIO
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1
Event 2
1285 B.C.
The Egyptians and the Hittites
• Around 1285 B.C. Egyptians battle
the Hittites in Palestine
• Egypt’s pharaoh, Ramses II, and
the Hittite king sign a peace treaty
Image
NEXT
Event 3 1290-1224 B.C.
An Age of Builders
• New Kingdom pharaohs built great palaces,
magnificent temples
• Valley of the Kings near Thebes is home to
royal tombs
• Ramses II builds impressive temples with
enormous statues of himself
Ramses II

Event 4 1200 B.C.
Invasion by Land and Sea
• “Sea Peoples” (possibly Philistines) cause
great
destruction in Egypt
• Libyan raids on villages and Palestine
rebellions weaken empire
SECTIO
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1
Event 6 950-730 B.C.
Egypt’s Empire Fades
• Weakened empire breaks into smaller
kingdoms
• From around 950 to 730 B.C. Libyan pharaohs
rule Egypt, erect cities
NEXT
Kush Conquers Egypt, 730 BC


Around 730 B.C.,
Kush's warrior
hordes turned
the tables on a
weakened Egypt
and conquered
it.
This event
established the
black Pharaohs
from Kush.
SECTIO
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The Kushites Conquer the Nile Region
Egypt and Kush
• From 2000 to 1000 B.C., Egypt dominates
kingdom of Kush in Nubia, but as Egypt fell
into decline Kush began to emerge as a regional
power
The People of Nubia
• Live south of Egypt near division of Blue Nile
and White Nile
• Nile River is a great trade route for goods and
ideas
• Nubians link Egypt and Mediterranean to
African interior through trade
Map
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTIO
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1
continued The
Kushites Conquer the Nile Region
Image
Event 5 1200 B.C.
The Interaction of Egypt and
Nubia
• Egyptian culture influences Nubia
and beyond to southern Africa
• About 1200 B.C., Nubia gains
independence but keeps Egyptian
culture
NEXT
Event 7 751 B.C.
Piankhi Captures the Egyptian Throne
• In 751 B.C., Kushite king Piankhi conquers
Egypt, ousts Libyans
• Assyrians overcome Kushites and take Egypt
Gold from Nubia

Model coffin of
Tutankhamun, probably
made from Nubian gold.
Found in his tomb at
Thebes. Egypt, Dynasty
18, ca. 1348-1338 BCE.


For the next four
centuries, the
Egyptians exploited
Kush as a colony.
Egypt's wealth in
gold came from the
desert mines of
Kush. The Egyptian
word for gold is
nub, which is
thought by some to
be the origin of the
name Nubia.
Piankhi
Piankhi, (d. 721
BC) was a
Kushite king
and founder of
the Twenty-fifth
dynasty of
Egypt.
• He ruled Egypt
from the city of
Napata, located
deep in Nubia.
•
Piankhi’s dynasty proved to be short lived. In
671B.C. the Assyrians, warlike people from
Southwest Asia, conquered Egypt.
Event 8
671 B.C.
SECTIO
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The Golden Age of Meroë
• Kushites settle Meroë; join in trade with
Africa, Arabia, India
The Wealth of Kush
• Meroë becomes important center for iron
weapons and tools
• Iron products transported to Red Sea,
exchanged for luxury goods
The Decline of Meroë
• Meroë thrives from about 250 B.C. to A.D. 150,
then declines
• Aksum, 400 miles southeast, dominates North
African trade
• Has port on Red Sea, defeats Meroë in A.D. 350
NEXT
25th Dynasty of Egypt
Twenty-Fifth Dynasty
Name
Dates
Alara
780-760
Kashta
–
Piankhi
c. 752 BC –
721 BC
Shabaka
721 BC – 707
BC
Shebitku
707 BC – 690
BC
Taharqa
690 – 664 BC
Tantamani
664 – 656 BC
(died 653
BC)


Black Pharoahs
ruled an EgyptianNubian empire that
extended from the
Medi-terranean to
the confluence of
the Blue and White
Niles for sixty
years.
Historians would
count their reign as
Egypt's 25th
Dynasty.
Ancient Egypt
•
Ancient Egypt
was a civilization
in eastern North
Africa
concentrated
along the middle
to lower reaches
of the Nile River
that reached its
greatest extent in
the second
millennium BC
during the New
Kingdom.
Old Kingdom (2700 B.C.–2184
B.C.)

The Old
Kingdom
(Dynasties 3 to
6) was a period
of great
prosperity and
innovation
whose most
memorable
feature was
surely the
pyramid.

Pyramids of Giza
New Kingdom (1570 B.C.–1070
B.C.)

Temple of Ramses II
Dynasty 18 through
Dynasty 20, known
as the New
Kingdom, witnessed
a time of
international
prestige and
prosperity for Egypt.
 The kings of this
period conducted
extensive military,
diplomatic and trade
relations with
Nubians as far south
as the Fourth
Cataract in Nubia.

1
HOME
The Empires of Egypt
and Nubia Collide
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Hyksos
• New Kingdom
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Two empires along the
Nile, Egypt and
Nubia, forged
commercial, cultural,
and political
connections.
Neighboring
civilizations participate
in cultural exchange as
well as conflict.
• Hatshepsut
• Thutmose III
• Nubia
• Ramses II
• Kush
• Piankhi
Assessment
• Meroë
1
HOME
The Empires of Egypt
and Nubia Collide
Section
1
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List important events in the history of
Egypt and Kush.
1570 B.C.
Egyptian
New
Kingdom
1285 B.C.
Battle of
Kadesh
1472 B.C.
Hatshepsut
makes herself
pharaoh.
1200 B.C.
People of the
Sea attack
Egypt.
1290-1224 B.C.
Ramses II
rules.
950-730 B.C.
Libyans rule
Egypt.
1100 B.C.
Kush regains
independence.
A.D.
671 B.C.
Kushites lose
Egypt to
Assyrians.
350
Aksum
defeats
Meroë.
continued . . .
1
HOME
The Empires of Egypt
and Nubia Collide
Section
1
Assessment
2. Read the temple inscription written by Piankhi. Explain
how an Egyptian might have written the inscription
differently. THINK ABOUT
ANSWER • what bias Piankhi had
• how Egyptians benefited from Piankhi’s invasion
• why Egyptians might have disagreed with Piankhi
Possible
Response:
An Egyptian might have praised the
Kushites for restoring the Egyptian way of
life or criticized them for ruling in place of
Egyptians.
continued . . .
1
HOME
The Empires of Egypt
and Nubia Collide
Section
1
Assessment
3. How did Egypt and Nubia strengthen each other
at various times in their histories? THINK ABOUT
• the role of trade and the movement of goods
• the impact of military movements
• the influence of cultural developments
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
• Under Thutmose III, Egyptians brought gold, cattle,
ivory, and slaves from Nubia.
• Under Egyptian control, Nubian princes adopted much
of Egyptian culture.
• When Nubians seized power over Egypt, they tried to
restore the Egyptian way of life.
End of Section 1
Very small
group. Made
up of Priests,
members of
the Pharaohs
Court and
Nobles
Merchants
and skilled
workers
Very small
group. Made
up of Priests,
members of
the Pharaohs
Court and
Nobles
Merchants
and skilled
workers
Very small
group. Made
up of Priests,
members of
the Pharaohs
Court and
Nobles
Not a very
large class.
They farmed
and built
roads &
temples.
New Empire
Semitic-speaking people who exploited the use of iron weapons
to build an empire by 700 B.C.
Semitic-Speaking
Spoke Semitic language
Included Territory From
including Mesopotamia, some of the Iranian Plateau, Asia
Minor, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt.
Semitic Language
Military Strength
The Assyrian military was one of the
strongest in the ancient world.
They used fierce iron weapons and
psychological warfare.
The Assyrians would often attempt to get
an area to surrender before attack.
If people refused and were defeated they were
treated harshly.
King Ashurnasirpal once stated
“3,000 of their combat troops I felled with
weapons . . . Many I took alive; from some of these I
cut off their hands to the writs, from others I cut
off their noses, ears and fingers; I put out the eyes
of many of the soldiers. . . . I burned their young
men and women to death.”






Soldiers were well equipped for conquering.
They wore copper or iron helmets, padded
loinclothes and leather skirts with metal
scales
Iron swords and spears
Advanced planning used pontoons to support
a bridge to cross over
They dug beneath the enemies city walls to
weaken them.
Some soldiers would shoot arrows while the
rest would hammer the city’s gates.
Military Organization
Assyrian Rulers
Assyrian kings ruled with absolute power.
Kingdoms were well organized and efficient.
Kept direct contact with the people who
helped administer their empire
Transportation/Courier system
They est. a system where they could relay
messages by horseback back and forth in a
week’s time.
Ashurbanipal
Considered the greatest Assyrian King.
He collected the writings of Mesopotamia
and est. the great library of Nineveh
Nineveh
Nineveh an "exceeding great city", as it is called in the
Book of Jonah, lay on the eastern bank of the Tigris in
ancient Assyria, near the modern-day major city of Mosul,
Iraq which lies across the river.
The Assyrian empire eventually fell and the
Chaldeans (Neo Babylonians) under king
Nebuchadnezzar made Babylon the most
powerful state in the region.
Nebuchadnezzar is most famous for the
construction of the Hanging Gardens of
Babylon, considered one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world.
Nebuchadnezzar is also responsible for the
destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem
and beginning the Babylonian Captivity of
the Jews and the first Diaspora.
Babylon is defeated and replaced by the
Persian Empire in 539 B.C.
Assyria Dominates
the Fertile Crescent
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Assyria
• Sennacherib
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Assyria developed a
military machine,
conquered an empire,
and established
imperial
administration.
Some leaders still use
military force to extend their
rule, stamp out opposition,
and gain wealth and power.
• Nineveh
• Ashurbanipal
• Medes
• Chaldeans
•Nebuchadnezzar
Assessment
Assyria Dominates
the Fertile Crescent
Section
2
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
Identify the causes of the rise and of the decline of
Assyrian power.
Assyrian Military Power
Causes of Increasing Power
Causes of Declining Power
1. Need to defend against
attacks
2. Use of iron-working
technology
3. Success at advanced
planning
1. Hatred by conquered
people
2. Overextension
3. Unity among Assyria’s foes
continued . . .
Assyria Dominates
the Fertile Crescent
Section
2
Assessment
2. The Assyrians relied almost exclusively on military
power in building, maintaining, and ruling their empire.
Explain whether you think this was a good strategy.
THINK ABOUT
• the causes of Assyrian military power
• the stability of the empire
• the methods that empires use to become stronger
ANSWER
Possible
Response:
Empires often rely on military power. Assyrians relied
on a technological advantage that other countries could
soon copy and that their brutal methods made them
unpopular rulers.
End of Section 2
Cyrus the Great
Persian King who defeated Babylon and ended
the Jews’ captivity.
Cyrus ruled from 559 to 530 B.C. and was a
great leader, hence the name Cyrus the
Great.
Ruling Style
He was very respectful of other cultures. Not
only did he free the Jews, but he also treated
conquered peoples fairly. He allowed them to
keep their own religions and customs.
This respect made the people who lived under
him respectful of his rule and less likely to
revolt.
Cyrus' tomb lies in the ruins of
Pasargadae, now a UNESCO World
Heritage Site (2006).
Expansion of Empire under Darius I
Ruled from 521-486 B.C. added western India to
the Persian Empire.
Then added Thrace in Europe and expanded the
Empire to its greatest size. He also brought the
Persian Empire into conflict with the Greeks.
Satrapies
Darius divided him empire into provinces called
Satrapies to make it more manageable.
Each province was ruled by a governor called a
Satrap.
This man was the protector of the kingdom.
They collected taxes, provided justice
and security, and got soldiers for the army.
The Royal Road
The Royal road stretched from Lydia to Susa,
the chief capital of the empire. It used a
system of couriers similar to the Assyrians. This
allowed for efficient communication in the
empire
Persian Military
The Persians had an elite military. It contained
people from all over the Persian Empire.
The Immortals
The Elite fighters of the Persian Empire.
They were so called because in battle their
numbers were never allowed to fall below 10,000
men. They were constantly replaced from
behind so they appeared to never die.
Persian kings became greedy and
so the empire became weak.
Family spats and assassinations became
the rule of the day.
The Empire was defeated by Alexander
the Great during the 330’s B.C.
Zoroastrianism
Original Religion of the Persian Empire
Zoroaster
Founder and Prophet of the Religion. Also
known as Zarathustra.
Book: Zend Avesta, the recorded
teachings of Zoroaster.
Monotheistic
Taught belief in one universal, all-powerful
god.
Ahura Mazda
The god of Zoroastrianism
It is believed by many that Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism,
and later, Christianity.
The religion teaches about an all-powerful God.
An ultimate battle between good and evil.
The idea of an evil being, or Satan.
Persia Unites
Many Lands
GRAPH
Key Idea
Persian kings forge a multicultural empire stretching
from the Indus River to the Nile. Persia pioneers
enlighten tolerance in government and support the
Zoroastrian religion.
Overview
Assessment
3
HOME
Persia Unites
Many Lands
GRAPH
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Cyrus
• Cambyses
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
• Darius
The Persian Empire ruled
with tolerance and wise
government.
Tolerance and wise
government are
characteristics of the most
successful methods of rule.
• satrap
Assessment
• Royal Road
• Zoroaster
HOME
Persia Unites
Many Lands
Section
3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
Explain the similarities and differences between Cyrus
and Darius.
Cyrus Only
Cyrus founded the
Persian Empire
and allowed the
Jews to return to
Jerusalem.
Both
Both ruled fairly and
expanded the empire.
Darius Only
Darius seized
power and
introduced coins
of standard value.
continued . . .
HOME
Persia Unites
Many Lands
GRAPH
Section
3
Assessment
2. Why do you think Persians and other peoples were
able to turn their thoughts to religion? THINK ABOUT
• past history of peoples in the Fertile Crescent
• living conditions in the Persian Empire
• role of leaders in the Persian Empire
ANSWER
Possible
Response:
The tolerance displayed by Cyrus and other Persian
rulers probably encouraged people to practice their
religious beliefs.
continued . . .
HOME
Persia Unites
Many Lands
GRAPH
Section
3
Assessment
3. How did Darius’s methods of administration give
stability to his empire? THINK ABOUT
• the structure of the empire
• policy of tolerance
• the role of the satrap
ANSWER
Possible
Responses:
•
•
•
•
He divided the empire into 20 provinces.
He appointed a satrap for each province.
He tolerated other religions, languages, and local laws.
Road system and coinage also helped give stability to
the empire.
End of Section 3
Unification of China
Ch. 4 sect. 4
Urumqi
Beijing
Xian
Lhasa
Shanghai
Kunming
Guangzhou
geography
9,573,000 square km
Ancient civilization
221-206BC: Unification of
China
1800s: Western imperialism
1911: Republic founded
1949-1976: Chairman Mao
1966-1976: Cultural Revolution
1997: Deng Xiaoping dies
1997: Hong Kong returned to
China
1999: Macau returned to China
The Unification of China
Confucius and the Social Order
Zhou Dynasty
• Lasted 1027 to 256 B.C.; ancient values decline near end of
dynasty
Confucius Urges Harmony
• End of Zhou Dynasty is time of disorder
• Scholar Confucius wants to restore order,
harmony, good government
• Stresses developing good relationships, including
family
• Promotes filial piety—respect for parents and
ancestors
• Hopes to reform society by promoting good
Continued . . .
government
NEXT
Confucius and the Social Order
Confucian Ideas About Government
• Thinks education can transform people
• Teachings become foundation for bureaucracy, a
trained civil service
• Confucianism is an ethical system of right and
wrong, not a religion
• Chinese government and social order is based on
Confucianism
NEXT
Other Ethical Systems
Daoists Seek Harmony
• Laozi teaches that people should follow the
natural order of life
Image
• Believes that universal force called Dao guides
all things
• Daoism philosophy is to understand nature and
be free of desire
• Daoists influence sciences, alchemy, astronomy, medicine
Legalists Urge Harsh Rule
• Legalism emphasizes the use of law to restore
stifles criticism
• Teaches that obedience should be rewarded,
disobedience punished
order;
Continued . . .
NEXT
Legendary Chinese philosopher Laozi was long considered the
founder of Daoism. The fundamental text of Daoism, the Daodejing
(Tao-te Ching,“Book of the Way and the Virtue”), was attributed to
him. Many scholars today doubt that Laozi existed. Even if he did,
he probably did not write the Daodejing, which was compiled in the
3rd or 4th century BC, two or three centuries after Laozi’s time.
Laozi
Other Ethical Systems (cont.)
I Ching and Yin and Yang
• I Ching (The Book of Changes) offers good advice,
common sense
Image
• Concept of yin and yang—two powers represent
rhythm of universe
• Yin: cold, dark, soft, mysterious; yang: warm,
bright,
hard, clear
• I Ching and yin and yang explain how people fit into
the world
NEXT
Yin and Yang
The Qin Dynasty Unifies China
The Qin Dynasty
• Qin Dynasty replaces Zhou Dynasty in third
century B.C.
A New Emperor Takes Control
• Emperor Shi Huangdi unifies China, ends fighting,
conquers new lands
• Creates 36 administrative districts controlled by Qin Image
officials
• With legalist prime minister, murders Confucian
scholars,
burns books
• Establishes an autocracy, a government with
Continued . . .
unlimited power
NEXT
Ch04.mp3
Shi Huangdi
The Qin Dynasty Unifies China
A Program of Centralization
• Shi Huangdi builds highways, irrigation projects;
increases trade
• Sets standards for writing, law, currency, weights and
measures
• Harsh rule includes high taxes and repressive
government
Great Wall of China
• Emperor forces peasants to build Great Wall to keep
out invaders
Image
The Fall of the Qin
• Shi Huangdi’s son loses the throne to rebel leader;
Han Dynasty begins
NEXT