Ancient Egypt
Indiana World History Standards
SS.WH.2.1 2007
Early Development of Western and Non-Western Civilizations: Define
civilization and identify the key differences between civilizations and
other forms of social organization.
Today’s Objectives
- To understand the advantages & disadvantages of the geography in Egypt
- To understand the achievements of Ancient Egypt
- To understand the Decline & Fall of Ancient Egypt
3
• “The gift of the Nile”
→ Egyptian civilization begins along the banks of the
Nile River in Northeast Africa around 2700 BC
→ Egyptian history is organized into Kingdoms
…Old, Middle & New
→ Protected from invasion by the desert
…but also limited where people could settle
• Highlights
→ Government headed by a Pharaoh
…believed to be a god
→ Hieroglyphics & papyrus
…Rosetta Stone
→ Women had a higher status than in most ancient civilizations
→ Lunar calendar to predict flooding of the Nile
→ Art & Architecture: Pyramids (tombs) & the Sphinx
→ Religion: Belief in afterlife, mummification
• Decline & Fall of Ancient Egypt
→ After 1100 BC, Egyptian power slowly declined due to
invasions
…eventually changes hands from the Persians to the Greeks
and then the Romans
…controlling the fertile Nile River Valley was critical for
emerging empires in the future
Essential Question
(Your answer needs 3 examples/points/etc)
Explain how the geography of Egypt was both an advantage
and disadvantage
Target Questions
(Underline your answer in your notes)
• How is Egyptian history organized?
• What are some Egyptian achievements?
• Why is Egypt important to future empires?
Required Reading Question(s)
(Complete sentences)
1) How did mummification reflect Egyptian beliefs about the
afterlife?