The Rise, Reign and Fall of Egypt

The Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs

6th Grade Social Studies

Ancient Egypt

Over 30,000 years before Christ (B.C.), there were people who lived along the Nile River, a region which we now call Ancient Egypt.

Around 5000 B.C., those people formed two kingdoms: Lower Egypt in the northern region and Upper Egypt in the southern region.

Around 3100 B.C., King Narmer, also called Menes, unified the two kingdoms and founded Memphis, a new capital city right in the middle of the two regions.

Historians divide Ancient Egypt's history in time periods. Next, there are some important facts and interesting information about each period.

Ancient Egypt and its Rulers

Ancient Egypt enjoyed three long periods of stability and unity under the rule of pharaohs. Historians call these periods the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom

Egypt Unites

• Upper Egypt wanted to control ALL of Egypt. 

• King Narmer conquered Lower Egypt and united the two kingdoms.

• Ladies and gents, we have the world's first nation-state!

• King Namar's rule also marked Egypt's first dynasty ( series of rulers from the same family)

Egyptian beleived their kings were...

• Living gods, connecting the people to their gods.

• Never wrong.

• Able to control the flooding of the Nile and food supply

• These beliefs unified Egypt and helped the kings maintain power!

Multiple Choice

Who was the pharaoh that united lower and upper Egypt?

• Khufu

• Ahmose

• Menes

• Tut

Old Kingdom

• Lasted from about 2700 to 2200 B.C.E.

• Early pharaohs set up a strong central government

• Great Pyramids were built as tombs for the pharoahs

• Known as the "Age of the Pyramids"

• Drought and conflict amongst the pharoahs led to the decline

The Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period (3100-2040 B.C.) This period is also known as the Age of Pyramids.

• The pyramids were built. They were tombs for the pharaohs.

• The Great Sphinx sculpture was made. It had the body of a lion and the head of a person.

• Egyptians created the 365-day solar calendar that we still use today.

Old Kingdom

Time after Egypt was unified by Menes when the Pharaohs were all powerful. Also known as the pyramid age, this time caused heavy taxes, government debt and human suffering. This time ended with civil wars.

Multiple Choice

According to the passage, why did the pharaohs have absolute power over Egypt?

• Egyptians chose the pharaohs by voting.

• Pharaohs offered free land to the Egyptian people.

• Pharaohs taught the Egyptians about the afterlife.

• Egyptians believed that the pharaohs were gods.

Multiple Choice

Time after Egypt was unified by Menes when the Pharaohs were all powerful. Also known as the pyramid age, this time caused heavy taxes, government debt and human suffering. This time ended with civil wars.

• Old Kingdom

• Empire

Multiple Choice

What is a dynasty?

• A series of rulers from the same family

• A king and his kingdom

• A word to describe something gross

• A powerful city

Pharoah Khufu

• Ruled from 2551 to 2528 B.C.E., during the Old Kingdom period

• Best known for building the Great Pyramid

• Helped establish the pharaoh as a central authority

• Kept control over Egypt's food supply

• Oversaw the harvest and the storage of extra grain

• Controlled many government officials who carried out his laws

• Declared himself a god

Building Pyramids

• Tombs for Egyptian rulers

• No one knows exactly how or why pyramids were built. 

• Kings were considered “godlike rulers” and used huge amounts of resources and the whole society to build their burial sites. 

Great Pyramid

• Khufu was responsible for the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza

• It is one of the wonders of the ancient world

• It sat at the center of a huge complex of temples, statues, monuments, and smaller tombs

• It was made of more than 2 million stone blocks

• The king's chamber had six roofs to hold up the weight of the stone layers above it

• It took about 20 years to complete

• The finished pyramid was a stunning monument to Egyptian engineering

Multiple Select

Which of the following are true about Khufu and his Great Pyramid. Select THREE answers.

• Khufu's Great Pyramid is one of the wonders of the ancient world

• Khufu's Great Pyramid was built during the time of the New Kingdom

• It was made of more than 2 million stone blocks

• The pyramid took about 20 years to complete

The Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period (2040-1500 B.C.)

• At first, Thebes was the capital city of Upper and Lower Egypt. Then, Pharaoh Amenhemhet I built a new capital city just south of Memphis.

• The Hycsos, people from Asia, invaded Egypt and stayed there for about a hundred years.

Middle Kingdom

• Lasted from about 2000 to 1800 B.C.E.

• Known as the "Period of Reunification" because it followed years of chaos and disunity

• Egyptians enjoyed many great achievements in literature, art, and architecture

• Large drainage projects created arable farmland

• Power struggles led to the collapse

New Kingdom

• Lasted from about 1600 to 1100 B.C.E.

• Often called Egypt's "Golden Age"

• A time of peace and stability which ancient Egypt's power reached its height

• Pharaohs increased trade and expanded the empire beyond Eygpt

• Religion played a central role in Egypt's social and political order

• Prominent pharoahs: Hatshepsut, Tutankhamen, and Ramesses the Great

Pharaoh Hatshepsut

• Hatshepsut ruled during Egypt's New Kingdom from about 1473 to 1458 B.C.E.

• Egypt’s first female pharaoh

• Promoted trade with other countries

• Her biggest trade expedition was to the African kingdom of Punt, at the southern end of the Red Sea

• Hatshepsut left behind a stunning monument to her reign - a great temple at Dayr al-Bahri - scenes from her reign decorate the temple walls

Multiple Choice

One of only a few female pharaohs.

• Tut

• Shanakhdakheto

• Khafre

• Hatshepsut

​A Powerful Ruler’s Legacy

​

Queen Hatshepsut was the only woman to rule ancient Egypt while the kingdom was at the height of its wealth and power, from about 1502 to 1482 B.C. Of all the female pharaohs–including Cleopatra and Nefertiti–Hatshepsut’s reign was the longest and most successful. While in power, she established trade routes and built hundreds of monuments and temples throughout Egypt. Despite her prosperous reign, both her mummy and her legacy were virtually erased from Egyptian history. Many historians believe that Tuthmose III, Hatshepsut’s stepson, destroyed records and monuments bearing her name. It may have been his revenge. It is believed that she stole the throne from him. Finding the mummy of this powerful queen may provide details about an important part of Egyptian history.

Multiple Select

Which of the following is true of Hatshepsut? Select TWO answers.

• Promoter of Egyptian trade

• Egypt’s second female pharaoh

• Ruled during Egypt's Middle Kingdom

• A great temple at Dayr al-Bahri was built depicting her reign

Ancient Egypt and its Rulers

Pharaohs believed the afterlife would never end. Their tombs were built to last. Many objects were buried with the pharaoh for use in the next world. The pharaohs built other monuments to glorify their power and success. The map shows the locations of some of the greatest monuments.

Multiple Choice

All of the following are true regarding ancient Egypt EXCEPT:

• The New Kingdom is often called Egypt's Golden Age

• Expansion beyond Egypt occurred during the New Kingdom

• The Great Pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs during the Old Kingdom

• King Tut began construction of the Great Pyramids

Pharaoh Ramses II

• Pharaoh Ramses II ruled for over 60 years during Egypt's New Kingdom from about 1290 to 1224 B.C.E.

• One of Egypt's most famous pharaohs

• Best known for his military leadership and for building numerous monuments

• His most famous military campaigns were against the Hittite Empire in Anatolia (present-day Turkey)

• He was also a peacemaker - he and the Hittites signed the world's first peace treaty

Pharaoh Ramses II

• One of Ramses' greatest projects was the temple complex at Abu Simbel

• The main temple was carved into the side of a cliff

• Four giant statues of a seated Ramses framed the entrance to the main temple

• The temple was built so that, twice a year, the sun lined up with the entrance

• He ordered more temples and monuments built than any other pharaoh in history

Multiple Choice

This pharaoh signed the world's first peace treaty.

• Senusret 1

• Khufu

• Hatshepsut

• Ramses II

Multiple Choice

All of the following are true of pharaoh Ramses II EXCEPT:

• He reigned during Egypt's New Kingdom for more than 60 years

• He was a humble and quiet leader

• He is best known for his military leadership and impressive monuments

• He and the Hittites signed the world's first peace treaty

The New Kingdom (1500-1070 B.C.)

• Hatshepsut became the first woman to be a pharaoh.

• Egyptians worshipped many gods. In 1352 B.C. Pharaoh Akhenaten tried to get Egyptians to worship only one god.

• When Akhenaten died, his wife Nefertiti became pharaoh.

• In 1336 B.C., Tutankhamen, who was only 8 years old, became pharaoh. Egyptians went back to their old religion and worshipped many gods and goddesses.

• In 1297 B.C. Ramses II became pharaoh. He was considered the greatest ruler of Egypt. He had hundreds of wives and children.

The Decline of Egypt

• From 1070 B.C. on, Egypt was conquered by different people such as the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Arabs.

• The famous Queen Cleopatra ruled from 51 to 30 B.C. She killed herself by putting her hand into a basket full of poisonous snakes.

Religion

• Egyptians were polytheistic.

• Pharaohs descended from the gods. Priests communicated to the gods.

• Believed in the afterlife. Wanted to keep the Ka happy.

• People wanted to please the gods. Thought their day to day life was controlled by the gods.

• Practiced embalming and mummification so the spirit (Ka) could recognize the body.

Multiple Choice

What were the pharaohs considered?

• gods

• priests

• animals

• teachers

Geography

• Egypt is located on the continent of Africa.

• The Nile river, its cataracts, and the desert provided Egypt with natural protection from invaders.

• Egyptian civilization developed along the Nile River.

• The Nile River is the longest River in the world.

• Due to the Nile's predictable flooding, people could plan when to farm and harvest.

Achievements

• The Ancient Egyptians developed many things we still use today.

• They improved on the plow. Added metal parts and pulled by an animal (vs. a human)

• Invented dental care, wigs, and even a version of the game bowling.

• They invented hieroglyphics, papyrus, and ink.

• Architecture: the pyramid, obelisk, and sphinx.

Politics

• The Pharaoh was the ruler. This position was inherited. A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family

• The priests were thought to communicate with the gods. They worked closely with the pharaoh to help rule the kingdom.

• There was no voting. People would inherit their positions from a family member.

Economy

• Economy is how a civilization manages it resources.

• Ancient Egyptian economy depended mostly on agriculture and trade.

• To get what you need people would trade goods and services. There was not a set of currency.

• Ancient Egyptians collected taxes.

• A merchant is a person that sells/buys goods.

• Exports: papyrus, pottery, vegetables, fish

• Imports: timber, gold, copper, livestock

Social Structure

• The top of the social pyramid was the pharaoh. THe pharaoh had total power, but was blamed for anything that went wrong.

• The pharaoh was thought to be descended from the gods.

• Right below the pharaoh was the priests. They helped the pharaoh rule and make many decisions.

• The next group were the scribes, artisans, and merchants. These people were skilled and considered of value to society.

• The bottom of the social pyramid were the slaves, farmers,and peasants. Although they made up the majority of the population, they were the least respected.

Social Pyramid

Why is a pyramid used to represent the social structure of Ancient Egypt?

Turn and talk for 1 minute.

Politics

Egyptian government is a THEOCRACY- Pharaoh was head of religion and considered a god

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes a system of bureaucracy?

• A ruler passes down laws that all citizens have to follow.

• A ruler passes down laws to advisors who then pass them on to the citizens.

• A ruler makes all the laws and decisions, but the people vote on them.

• Several rulers are elected to discuss and pass laws for the people.