Grade 6 - The Gift of the Nile, The Kingdoms of Egypt

Effect of a Surplus

1) An excess of food allowed for specialization. 2) Specialization led to trading 3) Trading led to the growth of towns and cities 4) Towns and cities led to civilization.

Egypt's Religion

Ancient Egyptians had many gods with a variety of responsibilities.

Memphis

Capital of Egypt. The pharaoh ruled from this city.

Pharaoh and Religion

Egypt's pharaohs had religious duties, as well as political power. The pharaoh, during the Old Kingdom, was believed to be the child of Ra (the Sun God).

Purpose of Mummification

Egyptians believed they would need their bodies in the afterlife.

Most Important Goddess and God

Isis - she protected people from sickness and harm. Ra - the sun god. He gave life to Earth. The pharaoh was the child of Ra.

Flow of the Nile River

It flows south to north and empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

Shadoof

Lever used by the Egyptians to lift water into irrigation canals. Irrigation canals would bring this water to the fields.

The Nile River

Located in North Africa. It is the world's longest river. Provides life to Egypt. It is an oasis in a desert.

Crown of United Egypt

Menes showed his victory by creating a new crown. This crown was a combination of the two crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt. It stood for the unification, or joining of two separate parts, of Egypt.

Lower Egypt

Northern Egypt is called this because it lies downstream on the river.

Menes

Pharaoh which overthrew the King of Lower Egypt and united Egypt.

Pharaoh Khufu

Pharaoh who is buried in the Great Pyramid at Giza.

Upper Egypt

Southern Egypt is called Upper Egypt because it is upstream on the river.

Nile Flooding

The Nile River flows through a desert. Fortunately, each year it flowed over its banks. These floods deposit silt and helped ancient farmers turn the Nile Valley into a fertile agricultural area.

Summary

The Nile River flows through a desert. Each year the Nile overflowed its banks helping ancient farmers turn the Nile Valley into a fertile agricultural area. The Nile is the world's longest river. It flows north over 4,000 miles. North Egypt is called Lower Egypt because it is downstream, on the river. Upper Egypt in the south is upstream. Although communities along the Nile had learned to cooperate, wars between the villages. were frequent. Menes, the King of Upper Egypt, overthrew the king of Lower Egypt and had a new crown made that stood for the unification of Egypt. Menes became the first pharaoh of Egypt. Egypt became the largest empire of its time. Egypt's pharaohs had religious duties as well as political powers. The pharaoh was believed to be the son of Ra. The most important Egyptian god was Ra, the sun god. Ra gave life to Earth. Egyptians believed they would need their bodies in the afterlife. They preserved the dead with mummification. Huge stone structures called pyramids were built as tombs, or burial places, for the pharaohs.

River Transportation

The Nile was the main route for people and goods to move from place to place.

What made the soil fertile?

The annual (yearly) flooding of the Nile River deposited silt. Silt makes the ground very fertile, or good for growing.

Old Kingdom

The first kingdom of Egypt. It was a time when Egypt's early pharaohs worked to build unity in the country. The pyramids were built during this kingdom.

What is learned from the Pyramids?

The pyramids are important sources of information about ancient Egypt. They show the engineering skills of ancient Egyptians. Many of the pyramids have records painted or carved on tombs and walls. They explain the achievements of the rulers.

Problem of the Pyramids

The pyramids used large amounts of Egypt's resources. A large portion of the years taxes went to feed and clothe the workers. This put a strain on Egypt's people and economy. The unity of Egypt weakened as local rulers began to resist the orders of the pharaohs.

Giza

The three largest and best-preserved pyramids are located here. It includes the Great Pyramid of Khufu.

Pyramids

huge stone structures, built as burial places (tombs) for the pharaohs.

Mummification

process the ancient Egyptians used to preserve a body.

Pharaoh

the name given to the rulers of Egypt.

Delta

very fertile, flat land made of silt dropped by a river as it drains into a larger body of water.