Embedded Files
Essential Questions:
Essential Questions:
How do we study the past?
How does geography impact the development of civilizations?
How does what you believe influence how you act?
Overview for parents:
Overview for parents:
Ancient Egypt was one of the most successful, longest lived civilizations in the ancient world. This river valley civilization rose to prominence when Greece and Rome were cultural backwaters, and the ancient Egyptians dominated the Mediterranean for centuries.
Studying ancient Egypt allows learners to see how geography impacts the development of civilizations, and how a peoples belief's can influence their actions. Through this unit students will deepen their understanding of how civilizations are formed and change over time, how societies are ordered and controlled, and how beliefs influence behavior.
Ancient Egypt’s contributions to later civilizations, and its lasting legacy serve as perfect reminders of how and why we study the past to gain a greater understanding of the world around us.
Overview for Students:
Overview for Students:
The Nile River Valley
Egypt is a country in northern Africa that is surrounded on by the Sahara, the largest sand desert in the world. In fact, Egypt is 98% covered in desert and usually
receives less than one inch of rainfall a year. This dry climate made the Egyptians rely on the Nile River for almost everything. The Nile River is the world's longest, flowing more than 4,000 miles north from central Africa to it's end point in the Nile Delta. In ancient Egypt, people used the Nile for drinking water, irrigation (watering crops), transportation, fishing, and collected the papyrus plant from it's banks for baskets, rafts, sandals, and paper.
Early Egypt (~3100-2700 BCE)
Early Egypt (~3100-2700 BCE)
The earliest Egyptians lived in small villages on the banks of the Nile. As these town's got bigger and bigger, some of the more powerful towns took over less powerful ones. Eventually Egypt was divided into two kingdoms. Upper Egypt (which is actually to the south), and Lower Egypt (to the north). Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt were united by a man named Narmer (he's also called Menes sometimes). Narmer showed that he was in charge of all of Egypt by combining the crowns of each kingdom together. Before he died, Narmer passed his crown down to his son and started the first Egyptian dynasty. A dynasty is when you pass power down within a family. Egyptian kings began being called pharaoh's.
Old Kingdom & Religion (~2700-2200 BCE)
Old Kingdom & Religion (~2700-2200 BCE)
Once Egypt was united, it began to grow and prosper. The Egyptians used the fertile soil provided by the Nile to grow crops. They used extra crops to prepare themselves for hard times, and trade with their neighbors. During the Old Kingdom, Egypt was mostly a peaceful place. The Egyptians had a strong government which collected taxes, built monuments like pyramids, and resolved conflicts between people. The pharaoh
(which comes from a word meaning 'great house') was an all-powerful ruler. His word was law, and the Egyptians considered him a living god.
The ancient Egyptians were very religious. They were polytheistic, which means they believed in many different gods. Like many ancient people, the Egyptians believed that their gods represented forces of nature, and were in control of those forces. These beliefs led them to do many things. In our class we will take an in-depth look at the beliefs held by the ancient Egyptians, and connect those beliefs to the sometimes strange (to us) things the Egyptians did.
Middle & New Kingdoms (~2050-1650 BCE & ~1550–1079 BCE)
Middle & New Kingdoms (~2050-1650 BCE & ~1550–1079 BCE)
Historians separate ancient Egypt into three main time periods, called the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms respectively. Between these time periods were two 'Intermediate' periods, times when there was either conflict within Egypt, or when they were conquered by outsiders. During the Middle and New Kingdoms, Egypt expanded its borders and grew wealthy through trade. Famous pharaohs like Hatshepsut, Tutankhamen, and Ramses II conquered new lands, made trade agreements, and built large monuments. Over time, the Egyptian civilization declined, or became less powerful and wealthy than it once was. Eventually, Egypt would be conquered and controlled by outsiders.
Links for research project:
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/#!
http://www.ngkids.co.uk/search?search=egypt&btnG=
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