7.3.1 Egypt Under the Pharaohs

​Egypt Under the Pharaohs

Topic 3 - Lesson 1

Introduction

• Egypt developed along the Nile River and became one of the world’s earliest civilizations.

  • Like Mesopotamia, it formed in a fertile river valley.

• Egypt’s geography and culture were very different from regions in the Fertile Crescent.

  • The Nile shaped farming, trade, religion, and government.

• Understanding Egypt’s environment explains how the civilization grew strong and lasted thousands of years.

Multiple Choice

Why was the Nile River so important to Egyptian civilization?

• It separated Egypt from other civilizations

• It provided fertile soil, water, and a place for farming

• It created mountains for protection

• It produced metals needed for tools

The Nile River Valley

• The Egyptians depended entirely on the Nile for survival.

  • Without it, Egypt would be dry desert.

• The Nile is about 3,500 miles long, the longest river in the world.

• The river has two main sources:

  • White Nile from Lake Victoria

  • Blue Nile from the Ethiopian highlands

• The two rivers meet in Sudan, known in ancient times as Nubia/Kush.

Multiple Choice

What are the two main sources of the Nile River?

• The Amazon River and the Congo River

• The Red Sea and the Persian Gulf

• The White Nile and the Blue Nile

• The Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea

Upper & Lower Egypt

• The Nile flows through six cataracts (rocky rapids) in Nubia.

  • These cataracts blocked travel and protected Egypt from invasions.

• Below the cataracts, the river flows through a narrow valley.

  • This region is Upper Egypt (upstream).

• Farther north, the river slows and forms a wide delta.

  • This region is Lower Egypt (downstream).

  • The delta’s rich silt created excellent farmland.

Multiple Choice

Why were the Nile’s cataracts important in ancient Egypt?

• They made travel faster and easier

• They blocked invasions and prevented upstream travel

• They provided drinking water for cities

• They created extra farmland for crops

Floods & the Black Land

• The Nile flooded every summer due to heavy rains in East Africa.

  • Floodwaters left behind dark, fertile soil called Kemet (“the Black Land”).

• The Black Land made farming possible in Egypt.

• Floods could be unpredictable:

  • Too much water could destroy crops.

  • Too little water led to drought and hunger.

• Outside the fertile area was the Red Land—hot, deadly desert.

Multiple Choice

What created the “Black Land” that Egyptians depended on for farming?

• Earthquakes along the Nile

• Heavy snow from nearby mountains

• Floodwaters that left behind dark, fertile soil

• Winds blowing sand from the desert

How Did Egyptian Civilization Develop

• People began farming along the Nile over 7,000 years ago.

  • Farming created stability and food supply.

• Surplus crops allowed the population to grow.

• Extra food supported new jobs, communities, and religious practices.

  • These developments led to organized civilization.

Multiple Choice

How did farming help early Egyptian civilization grow?

• It forced people to move away from the Nile

• It encouraged people to become nomads

• It created a surplus of food that supported a larger population

• It made trade with other regions impossible

Agricultural Techniques Create a Surplus

• Farmers built earthen walls to trap floodwater.

  • Water soaked slowly into the soil, helping grains grow.

• Irrigation became important as rainfall decreased over time.

• Local rulers collected surplus crops as taxes.

  • Surplus increased the power of leaders and supported workers.

Multiple Choice

What method did Egyptian farmers use to trap floodwater for their crops?

• Building stone pyramids

• Constructing earthen walls around fields

• Digging underground tunnels

• Draining all water from the soil

How Did Cities Develop?

• Rulers used tax surplus to trade for luxury goods.

  • Merchants and artisans provided these goods.

• Artisans began working full-time in special crafts.

• People settled near rulers’ homes, forming early cities.

  • Cities became centers of wealth, religion, and government.

Multiple Choice

Why did early Egyptian cities begin to form?

• Farmers settled in the desert to avoid flooding

• Merchants and artisans moved near rulers who bought their goods

• Pharaohs forced everyone to live in one place

• Soldiers needed camps along the northern border

The Kingdoms of Egypt

• By the 3000s BCE, Egypt had two kingdoms:

  • Upper Egypt (white crown)

  • Lower Egypt (red crown)

• Around 3000 BCE, Narmer united both kingdoms.

  • Became the first pharaoh.

  • Wore the double crown to show unity.

  • Started Egypt’s first dynasty.

Multiple Choice

What was Narmer’s major accomplishment around 3000 BCE?

• He built the first pyramid in Egypt

• He defeated the Hittites in battle

• He united Upper and Lower Egypt

• He invented the first writing system

The Old & Middle Kingdoms

• Old Kingdom (2686–2125 BCE)

  • Strong central government and cultural achievements.

• Civil wars ended the Old Kingdom and led to the next period.

• Middle Kingdom (2055–1650 BCE)

  • Pharaohs managed the Nile’s challenges.

  • Built canals to control floods and irrigate farmland.

Multiple Choice

What major improvement did Middle Kingdom pharaohs make?

• They created a navy to sail the Mediterranean

• They built canals to control flooding and irrigate farmland

• They made a new language for writing

• They conquered all of Mesopotamia

High Point & Decline

• New Kingdom (1550–1070 BCE)

  • Height of Egypt’s wealth, military power, and empire.

  • Expanded into Africa and the Middle East.

• After the New Kingdom, Egypt weakened due to invasions and civil wars.

  • Conquered by Assyrians, Persians, and then Alexander the Great (332 BCE).

Multiple Choice

Why did Egypt weaken after the New Kingdom?

• The Nile River dried up completely

• The Egyptians chose to abandon farming

• Civil wars and invasions reduced Egypt’s power

• All pharaohs refused to collect taxes

How Was Egyptian Society Organized?

• Society was shaped like a pyramid with the Pharaoh at the top

• Most Egyptians were farmers.

  • Worked on large building projects when not farming.

• Slaves were often prisoners of war or people paying off debt.

Multiple Choice

Which group made up the largest part of Egyptian society?

• Priests

• Scribes

• Farmers

• Nobles

• Egyptians were polytheistic and worshiped many gods.

  • Gods controlled nature, weather, life, and death.

• Many gods had animal features.

• Major gods included:

  • Amon-Re — sun god

  • Osiris — god of the underworld

  • Isis — mother goddess, protector

  • Horus — sky god; pharaohs were believed to be his human form

• Religion gave the pharaoh great authority.

Egyptian Religion

Multiple Choice

Why did religion give the pharaoh so much authority?

• Egyptians believed the pharaoh was the richest person alive

• Egyptians believed the pharaoh was a god on Earth

• The pharaoh forced everyone to worship him

• The pharaoh controlled the weather and the Nile

Preparing for the Afterlife

• Egyptians believed in a life after death.

  • Osiris judged whether a person deserved eternal life.

• To reach the afterlife, Egyptians believed a person needed a preserved body.

• The poor were buried in the desert.

  • Hot sand naturally preserved bodies.

• Wealthy people were made into mummies through a special process.

Multiple Choice

Why did Egyptians believe a body needed to be preserved after death?

• To prevent animals from eating the body

• To allow the spirit to recognize and return to it in the afterlife

• To keep the body warm in the cold desert nights

• To store food inside the tomb

Hatshepsut

• Hatshepsut was one of the few female pharaohs.

  • Became ruler when Thutmose III was too young.

• Gained support by performing traditional king rituals.

  • Even wore a false beard as a symbol of power.

• Focused on trade instead of war.

  • Sent a major expedition to Punt, returning with valuable goods.

• Built a grand temple and brought wealth and stability to Egypt.

Multiple Choice

How did Hatshepsut gain support as a female pharaoh?

• She removed all priests from government

• She dressed and acted like a traditional male king

• She banned trade with other civilizations

• She ruled without building any temples or monuments

Thutmose III

• Thutmose III became pharaoh after Hatshepsut’s death.

  • Known as a strong military leader.

• Expanded Egypt through successful conquests.

  • Conquered lands in Syria, Nubia, and the Fertile Crescent.

• Egypt grew richer and more powerful under his rule.

Multiple Choice

How did Thutmose III strengthen Egypt?

• By avoiding all conflicts and staying isolated

• By destroying all Egyptian cities

• By leading successful military campaigns and expanding Egypt’s empire

• By refusing to collect taxes from conquered lands

Ramses II

• Ramses II ruled about 150 years after Thutmose III.

  • One of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs.

• Fought many battles, including the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites.

• Later made peace with the Hittites through a treaty.

• Known as Egypt’s greatest builder.

  • Constructed many temples and monuments.

Multiple Choice

What is one reason Ramses II is remembered as a powerful pharaoh?

• He wrote the first Egyptian law code

• He built many impressive temples and monuments

• He ended farming along the Nile

• He forced Egyptians to move to Nubia

Lesson Summary

• The Nile River provided fertile soil, transportation, and life for Egyptian civilization.

• Surplus farming led to the growth of cities and powerful rulers.

• Egypt reached its height during the New Kingdom.

• Religion shaped daily life, government, and beliefs about the afterlife.

• Famous pharaohs like Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, and Ramses II expanded Egypt’s wealth, power, and culture.

Multiple Choice

Which factor most helped Egypt become a long-lasting and powerful civilization?

• Its location in the mountains

• The rich resources of the Nile River

• Its ability to avoid all contact with neighbors

• The cold climate and heavy rainfall