Pyramids of the Nile

1
Pyramids of the Nile

• Chapter 2 Section 2

2
The Nile

• A major river in Egypt
• Flows North to South
• Provided food, nutrients, and transportation

3
The Nile cont.

• The Niles regular yearly flood brought fertile
  silt to Egypt
• Tigris and Euphrates were irregular
• A difference in a few feet of flooding could
  cause thousands to starve

4
Kingdom of Egypt

• The Nile flows North to South so the Kingdom of
  Upper Egypt is in the South
• The Kingdom of Lower Egypt is in the North
• Narmer unified the two kingdoms
• See the crown on page 37

5
Pharaohs

• Mesopotamian kings were representatives of god
• Pharaohs were gods (theocracy)
• Pharaohs cause the sun to rise, Nile to flood,
  and crops to grow

6
Pyramids

• Pharaohs ruled after their death through their
  life-force, or ka.
• Since they were thought to rule forever they
  needed a grand tomb
• Each stone weighs at least 2 ½ tons
• Only a strong government could build such an
  expensive project

7
Culture

• Believed in many gods (polytheistic)
• Re God of the Sun
• Osiris God of the Dead
• Believed in an afterlife unlike Mesopotamians

8
Mummification

• Royals and noblemen were preserved
• Take the brains out through the nostrils
• Cut out the guts
• Put the body in salt for 70 days
• Wrapped in cloth

9
Hieroglyphics

• Pictures stood for ideas
• Later pictures would stand for sounds as well
• Papyrus- The first paper made of dried reeds