Examine the role of geography in the development of Egyptian society. OUTCOME.

• Examine the role of geography in the development of Egyptian society.

OUTCOME

North

The Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea (south to north.

South

THE NILE

The Nile River, longest river in the world (6741 kilometers)

Shaped like a lotus flower, Egyptian symbol for the regeneration of life.

Upper Nile divides into three tributaries (White, Blue, Atbara)

EGYPT “THE NILE”

Unlike the Euphrates and Tigris River flooding was relatively predictable

From July to September Created a rich and fertile layer of alluvial soil

EGYPT “THE NILE”

Inundation- to flood; cover or overspread with water; deluge.

Alluvial deposit- clay or silt or gravel carried by rushing streams and deposited where the stream slows down.

Tributaries- a stream that flows to a larger stream or other body of water.

Papyrus- a material on which to write, prepared from thin strips of the pith of this plant laid together, soaked, pressed, and dried, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.

VOCABULARY

ORIGIN OF THE NILE

The flooding of the Nile created extremely fertile land.

Facilitated intensive agriculture (critical element of civilized life)

Flooding was the only sustainable water source for crops.

Irrigation canals (control) / rainfall non-existent

FLOODING

Marshes and wetlands also provided fish, birds, animals, and insects

Variety of animals ( cattle, oxen, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and geese).

EGYPTIAN MARSHES AND THE DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS

Hunted hippopotamus, but left crocodiles alone (feared the gods)

Provided a rich variety of plants (papyrus, reeds and water lilies( perfume)

Papyrus, and reeds used to make rope, mats, baskets, huts and light skiffs (boats)

EGYPTIAN MARSHES AND THE DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS

EGYPTIAN CALENDAR

Ancient Egyptians followed a calendar system of 360 days:

three seasons

each season made up of 4 months

thirty days in each month.

The Nile enriched the land for Egyptian farmers.

Civilization thrived because of the Nile’s consistency.

The inundation of the Nile was deified as the god Hapi (Hapy)

EGYPT WAS THE GIFT OF THE NILE

Egypt was the “gift of the Nile”

Benefits

Unifying Transportatio

n artery

Shipbuilding

Trade

Soil fertility

Abundance of food

Need for storage

Need for records

Occupational Specializatio

n

Problems

Aridity

Need to predict flood cycle

Boundaries marked (annually)

Irrigation

measurement

Astronomy

calendar

surveying

records

Writing and geometry

floods

Need to ensure material well- being by calling upon the supernatural

Priest Class Need for rainmaker/God/King= Pharaoh

Need to ensure reincarnation of the Pharaoh and to provide for the afterlife

Ritual

Magic spells

Book of the Dead

Embalming

Anatomy

Medicine

Tombs

Temples

Architects

Masons

Painting

Sculpture

Artists

Craftsmen

Hieroglyphics

Scribes