Ancient Egypt Ms. Means' 6 th Grade Social Studies Class October 2013.

Ancient EgyptMs. Means' 6th Grade Social Studies Class

October 2013

Geography

• The Nile River runs 4,000 miles north to the Mediterranean Sea.

• The land was dry and hot until the Nile flooded it.

• The Nile flooded Upper Egypt in midsummer and Lower Egypt in the fall, coating the land around the river with rich soil.

• These branches formed a Delta, a triangle shape area of land made of soil deposited by a river.

Government

• Egyptian kings and queens were called Pharaohs.

• Pharaohs were believed to be both a king and a god.

• To help with his duties, the pharaohs hired government officials.

• Egypt also founded some of the first dynasties (a series of rulers from the same family).

Religion

• Egyptians believed in polytheism.

• The afterlife was a big part of Egyptian religion.

• Egyptians believed someone’s ka (life force) became a spirit when they died.

• Mummification had to be performed to preserve the body for afterlife.

Egyptian Art

• Artisans were sculptors, builders, carpenters, jewelers, metal, workers, and leather workers.

• Artisans made statues, furniture, jewelry, pottery, footwear, and other items.

• Artists were employed by the state temple.

• Artists often worked in the pharaohs tombs painting detailed pictures.

Trade

• Queen Hatshepsut helped the people of Egypt by sending traders faraway places.

• They traded with Asia Minor, Greece, Kingdom of Punt, Sarai, and Nubia.

• They traded turquoise, copper, wheat.

• They received gold, ivory, slaves, stone, and wood.

Social Order

• 2 million people in 2200 BC were in the Egyptian society.

• The social order: Pharaohs, nobles, scribes, craftspeople, farmers, slaves, servants.

• A complex society required people to take on different jobs.

Architecture

• The science of building was called architecture.

• Egyptians were most famous for their pyramids.

• Near Giza lies the biggest pyramid, The pyramid of Kufu.

• The Egyptians also built the famous Sphinx and Obelisk.

Written Language and Major Achievements

• Their written language was called hieroglyphics.

• They wrote on papyrus or carved in stone.

• Rosetta stone: a stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics helped us to understand the language.

• Major achievements: pyramids, temples