Fill - Free fillable 034-037 Ch2 CO-824133 3/9/04 4:37 PM Page 34 (mrjeffreyphillips) PDF form

Sphinx and pyramid

in Giza, Egypt

Ancient Egypt

c. 3100 B.C.

Narmer

unites

Egypt

c. 2540 B.C.

Great

Pyramid at

Giza built

c. 1500 B.C.

Queen

Hatshepsut

reigns

728 B.C.

Piye of Kush

defeats

Egyptians

3500

B.C. 2500 B.C. 1500 B.C. 500 B.C.

3500

B.C. 2500 B.C. 1500 B.C. 500 B.C.

34–35 Brian Lawrence/Image State

034-037 Ch2 CO-824133 3/9/04 4:37 PM Page 34

Chapter Preview

While the people of Mesopotamia fought wars, people

along Africa’s Nile River formed rich and powerful civiliza-

tions. Read this chapter to learn how the people of Egypt

and Kush built large monuments that still stand today.

View the Chapter 2 video in the World History:

Journey Across Time Video Program.

The Nile Valley

The fertile land along the great Nile River supported the

Egyptian civilization.

Egypt’s Old Kingdom

During the Old Kingdom period, Egyptians built cities, great

pyramids, and a strong kingdom.

The Egyptian Empire

Many changes occurred during Egypt’s Middle and New

Kingdoms. It expanded into a great empire as art, literature,

and architecture blossomed.

The Civilization of Kush

South of Egypt a new civilization arose called Kush. Kushites

adopted Egyptian ways and eventually conquered Egypt itself.

Chapter Overview Visit

jat.glencoe.com for a preview

of Chapter 2.

Organizing Information Make this foldable to help you organize the key events

and ideas from ancient Egypt and Kush.

Reading and Writing

As you read the chapter,

take notes under the

appropriate tabs.Write

main ideas and key terms

under the “what” tab.

Step 1 Stack

two sheets of

paper so that

the front sheet

is one inch

higher than the

back sheet.

Step 2 Fold down the top edges of the paper to

form four tabs. Align the edges so that all of the

layers or tabs are the same distance apart.

Step 3 Crease the paper to hold the tabs in

place, then staple them together. Cut the top

three thicknesses to create a layered book.

Step 4 Label the booklet as

shown and take notes on the

inside.

This makes all

the tabs the

same size.

Kush

where?

when?

what?

Egypt

where?

when?

what?

Staple

together along

the fold.

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 35

034-037 Ch2 CO-824133 7/14/04 6:50 PM Page 35

What Do You Predict?

A prediction is a guess based on what you already know.

Making predictions before you read can help you understand

and remember what you read.

How do you make predictions? Read the Main Ideas below.

They were taken from the opening page of Section 2 on page

47. Use these main ideas to make predictions about what you

will read in this chapter.

Predicting

Predict what

the term

“all-powerful”

means.

• Egypt was ruled by all-powerful

pharaohs.

• The Egyptians believed in many

gods and goddesses and in life

after death for the pharaohs.

• The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom

built huge stone pyramids as tombs

for their pharaohs.

—from page 47

Can you

predict what

tools the

Egyptians

used to build

the pyramids?

What does

“life after

death” mean?

As you read, check your

predictions to see if

they were correct.

034-037 Ch2 CO-824133 7/14/04 6:51 PM Page 36

Read to Write

Making Predictions

Read the Main Ideas below from Section 1 of

this chapter.

Select one blue sub-

head in this chapter.

Without reading the text

under that subhead,

write a paragraph that

you think might appear

there. Check the facts in

your paragraph to see if

they are correct.

Make at least one prediction about

each of the main ideas. Write down

each prediction. Then, as you read this

section, decide if your predictions

were correct.

• The Egyptian civilization began in the

fertile Nile River valley, where natural

barriers discouraged invasions.

• The Egyptians depended on the

Nile’s floods to grow their crops.

• Around 3100

B.C., Egypt’s two major

kingdoms, Upper Egypt and Lower

Egypt, were combined into one.

• Egyptian society was divided into

social groups based on wealth and

power.

—from page 38

Before you read the chapter, skim

the questions on pages 74–75 in the

Chapter Assessment and Activities.

Choose three questions and predict

what the answers will be.

Egyptian National Museum, Cairo/SuperStock

034-037 Ch2 CO-824133 3/9/04 1:25 AM Page 37

What’s the Connection?

In Chapter 1, you learned about

the early civilization in Mesopotamia.

At about the same time, another

civilization was forming near the Nile

River. We call this civilization ancient

Egypt.

Focusing on the

• The Egyptian civilization began in

the fertile Nile River valley, where

natural barriers discouraged

invasions.

(page 39)

• The Egyptians depended on the Nile’s

floods to grow their crops.

(page 41)

• Around 3100 B.C., Egypt’s two major

kingdoms, Upper Egypt and Lower

Egypt, were combined into one.

(page 43)

• Egyptian society was divided into

social groups based on wealth and

power.

(page 45)

Locating Places

Egypt (EE•jihpt)

Nile River (NYL)

Sahara (suh•HAR•uh)

Meeting People

Narmer (NAR•muhr)

Building Your Vocabulary

cataract (KA•tuh•RAKT)

delta (DEHL•tuh)

papyrus (puh•PY•ruhs)

hieroglyphics (HY •ruh•GLIH•fihks)

dynasty (DY•nuh•stee)

Reading Strategy

Organizing Information Create

a diagram to describe Egyptians’

irrigation systems.

c. 5000 B.C.

Agriculture

begins along

Nile River

c. 4000 B.C.

Egypt is made

up of two

kingdoms

c. 3100 B.C.

Narmer

unites

Egypt

Memphis

5000 B.C. 4000 B.C. 3000 B.C.

38 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

Irrigation

The

ile

alley

038-046 Ch2 S1-824133 3/9/04 1:42 AM Page 38

Settling the Nile

The Egyptian civilization began in the

fertile Nile River valley, where natural barriers dis-

couraged invasions.

Reading Focus Did you know that the Nile River is

longer than the Amazon, the Mississippi, and every

other river in the world? Read on to find out when

ancient peoples first moved to its fertile banks.

Between 6000 B.C. and 5000 B.C., hunters

and food gatherers moved into the green

Nile River valley from less fertile areas of

Africa and southwest Asia. They settled

down, farmed the land, and created several

dozen villages along the riverbanks. These

people became the earliest Egyptians.

A Mighty River Although Egypt (EE•jihpt)

was warm and sunny, the land received little

rainfall. For water, the Egyptians had to rely

on the Nile River (NYL). They drank from it,

bathed in it, and used it for farming, cook-

ing, and cleaning. The river provided fish

and supported plants and animals. To the

Egyptians, then, the Nile was a precious gift.

They praised it in a song: “Hail O Nile, who

comes from the earth, who comes to give life

to the people of Egypt.”

Even today, the Nile inspires awe. It is

the world’s longest river, flowing north from

the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea.

This is a distance of some 4,000 miles (6,437

km). Traveling the length of the Nile would

be like going from Atlanta, Georgia, to San

Francisco, California, and then back again.

The Nile begins as two separate

rivers. One river, the Blue Nile, has its

source in the mountains of eastern

Africa. The other, the White Nile,

starts in marshes in central Africa.

The two rivers meet and form the

Nile just south of Egypt. There, nar-

row cliffs and boulders in the Nile

form wild rapids called cataracts

(KA•tuh •

RAKTS). Because of the cataracts, large ships

can use the Nile only for its last 650 miles

(1,046 km), where it flows through Egypt.

A Sheltered Land In Egypt, the Nile runs

through a narrow, green valley. Look at the

map below. You can see that the Nile looks

like the long stem of a flower. Shortly before

the Nile reaches the Mediterranean Sea, it

divides into different branches that look

like the flower’s blossom. These branches

fan out over an area of fertile soil called a

delta (DEHL•tuh).

100 km

Azimuthal Equidistant projection

100 mi.

W E

30°E

30°N

20°N

Mediterranean Sea

Red Sea

Dead

Sea

Great Pyramid

and Sphinx

First Cataract

Second Cataract

ARABIAN

DESERT

WESTERN

DESERT

EASTERN

DESERT

NILE DELTA

LOWER EGYPT

UPPER EGYPT

NUBIA

Giza

Memphis

Thebes

Ancient Egypt c. 3100 B.C.

Egyptian civilization developed in the narrow

strip of fertile land along the Nile River.

1. What physical features border the Nile River

to the east and west?

2. About how far is it from the first cataract

to the second cataract?

Find NGS online map resources @

www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

Nile Valley

KEY

Motion

038-046 Ch2 S1-875047 9/12/06 3:40 PM Page 39

On both sides of the Nile Valley and its

delta, deserts unfold as far as the eye can

see. To the west is a vast desert that forms

part of the Sahara (suh•HAR•uh), the largest

desert in the world. To the east, stretching to

the Red Sea, is the Eastern Desert. In some

places, the change from green land to bar-

ren sand is so abrupt that a person can

stand with one foot in each.

The ancient Egyptians called the deserts

“the Red Land” because of their burning

heat. Although these vast expanses could

not support farming or human life, they

did serve a useful purpose: they kept out-

side armies away from Egypt’s territory.

Other geographic features also pro-

tected the Egyptians. To the far south, the

Nile’s dangerous cataracts blocked enemy

boats from reaching Egypt. In the north, the

delta marshes offered no harbors for

invaders approaching from the sea. In this

regard, the Egyptians were luckier than the

people of Mesopotamia. In that region, few

natural barriers protected the cities. The

Mesopotamians constantly had to fight off

attackers, but Egypt rarely faced threats. As

a result, Egyptian civilization was able to

grow and prosper.

Despite their isolation, the Egyptians

were not completely closed to the outside

world. The Mediterranean Sea bordered

Egypt to the north, and the Red Sea lay

beyond the desert to the east. These bodies

of water gave the Egyptians a way to trade

with people outside Egypt.

Within Egypt, people used the Nile for

trade and transportation. Winds from the

north pushed sailboats south. The flow of

the Nile carried them north. Egyptian vil-

lages thus had frequent, friendly contact

with one another, unlike the hostile relations

between the Mesopotamian city-states.

Summarize

What was

Egypt’s physical setting like?

40 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

Today, the Nile River valley makes up only about 3 percent of Egypt’s

land, yet most Egyptians live and work in the area. How did the deserts

surrounding the Nile Valley help protect Egypt?

John Lawrence/Getty Images

038-046 Ch2 S1-824133 3/9/04 1:53 AM Page 40

The River People

The Egyptians depended on the Nile’s

floods to grow their crops.

Reading Focus When you hear about floods, do you

picture terrible damage and loss of life? Read on to

learn why the Egyptians welcomed, rather than feared,

the flooding of the Nile.

In Chapter 1, you learned that the peo-

ple of Mesopotamia had to tame the floods

of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in order

to farm. They learned to do so, but the

unpredictable rivers loomed as a constant

threat.

Regular Flooding Like the Mesopotamians,

the Egyptians also had to cope with river

floods. However, the Nile floods were

much more dependable and gentle than

those of the Tigris and the Euphrates. As a

result, the Egyptians were able to farm and

live securely. They did not worry that sud-

den, heavy overflows would destroy their

homes and crops, or that too little flooding

would leave their fields parched.

Every spring, heavy rains from central

Africa and melting snows from the high-

lands of east Africa added to the waters of

the Nile as it flowed north. From July to

October, the Nile spilled over its banks.

When the waters went down, they left

behind a layer of dark, fertile mud.

Because of these deposits, the Egyptians

called their land Kemet (KEH • meht), “the

Black Land.”

How Did the Egyptians Use the Nile? The

Egyptians took advantage of the Nile’s

floods to become successful farmers. They

planted wheat, barley, and flax seeds in the

wet, rich soil. Over time, they grew more

than enough food to feed themselves and

the animals they raised.

One reason for their success was the

wise use of irrigation. Egyptian farmers

first dug basins, or bowl-shaped holes, in

the earth to trap the floodwaters. The farm-

ers then dug canals to carry water from the

basins to fields beyond the river’s reach.

The Egyptians also built dikes, or earthen

banks, to strengthen the basin walls.

In time, Egyptian farmers developed

other technology to help them in their work.

For example, they used a shadoof

(shuh •

DOOF), a bucket attached to a long pole, to

lift water from the Nile to the basins. Many

Egyptian farmers still use this device today.

Hymn to

the Nile

This passage is part of a hymn written around

2100

B.C. It shows how important the Nile

River was to the people of ancient Egypt.

“You create the grain, you bring forth the barley,

assuring perpetuity [survival] to the temples. If

you cease your toil and your work, then all that

exists is in anguish.”

—author unknown, “Hymn to the Nile”

How does this hymn show that the ancient

Egyptians thought of the Nile as a god?

A shadoof

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 41

Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY

038-046 Ch2 S1-824133 3/9/04 1:56 AM Page 41

Early Egyptians also developed geome-

try to survey, or measure, land. When

floods washed away boundary markers

dividing one field from the next, the

Egyptians surveyed the fields again to see

where one began and the other ended.

Egyptians used Papyrus (puh•PY•ruhs), a

reed plant that grew along the Nile, to make

baskets, sandals, and river rafts. Later, they

used papyrus for papermaking. They did

this by cutting strips from the stalks of the

plant. Then they soaked them in water,

pounded them flat, dried them, and then

joined them together to make paper.

What Were Hieroglyphics? The Egyptians

used their papyrus rolls as writing paper.

Like the people of Mesopotamia, the

Egyptians developed their own system of

writing. Originally, it was made up of thou-

sands of picture symbols. Some symbols

stood for objects and ideas. To communicate

the idea of a boat, for example, a scribe

would draw a boat. Later, Egyptians created

symbols that stood for sounds, just as the

letters of our alphabet do. Combining both

picture symbols and sound symbols created

a complex writing system that was later

called hieroglyphics

(HY •ruh•GLIH•fihks).

In ancient Egypt, few people could read

and write. Some Egyptian men, however,

went to special schools located at Egyptian

temples to study reading and writing and

learn to become scribes. Scribes kept

records and worked for the rulers, priests,

and traders. Scribes also painstakingly

carved hieroglyphics onto stone walls and

monuments. For everyday purposes,

scribes invented a simpler script and wrote

or painted on papyrus.

Identify

What crops did

the ancient Egyptians grow?

From Farming to Food Harvesting wheat and

turning it into bread was vital to the ancient

Egyptians. Some people were full-time farmers,

but many others were drafted by the government

Tomb painting showing wheat

being harvested

Tomb painting showing Egyptian man

and woman plowing and planting

wooden sickles and women gathered it into bundles.

Animals trampled the wheat to separate the kernels from

the husks. The grain was then thrown into the air so the

wind would carry away the lightweight seed coverings.

Finally, the grain was stored in silos for later use.

to help during busy

seasons.

The process began as

men cut the wheat with

(bl)Giraudon/Art Resource, NY, (r)Gianni Dagli Orti/CORBIS

038-046 Ch2 S1-875047 9/7/06 8:34 PM Page 42

A United Egypt

Around 3100

., Egypt’s two major

kingdoms, Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, were com-

bined into one.

Reading Focus What types of services does your

local government provide? Read on to find out about

the government in ancient Egypt.

In Egypt, as in Mesopotamia, skillful

farming led to surpluses—extra amounts—

of food. This freed some people to work as

artisans instead of farmers. They wove

cloth, made pottery, carved statues, or

shaped copper into weapons and tools.

As more goods became available,

Egyptians traded with each other. Before

long, Egyptian traders were carrying goods

beyond Egypt’s borders to Mesopotamia.

There they may have picked up ideas about

writing and government.

The Rise of Government The advances in

farming, crafts, and trade created a need for

government in Egypt. Irrigation systems

had to be built and maintained, and surplus

grain had to be stored and passed out in

times of need. In addition, disputes over

land ownership had to be settled. Gradually,

government emerged to plan and to direct

such activities.

The earliest rulers were village chiefs.

Over time, a few strong chiefs united

groups of villages into small kingdoms. The

strongest of these kingdoms eventually

overpowered the weaker ones. By 4000 B.C.,

Egypt was made up of two large kingdoms.

In the Nile delta was Lower Egypt. To the

south, upriver, lay Upper Egypt.

Egypt’s Ruling Families About 3100 B.C., the

two kingdoms became one. Credit for this

goes to Narmer (NAR • muhr), also known

Connecting to the Past

1. How did the government ensure that enough people were

available to harvest the wheat?

2. Why do you think seeds, fruit, and other additives were

reserved for the wealthy?

Turning grain into bread was a long process. Women

ground the grain into flour, then men pounded it until

it became very fine. For the wealthy, seeds, honey, fruit,

nuts, and herbs were added to the dough for flavor.

Unfortunately, it was almost impossible to keep small

stones and sand out of the flour. As a result, many

Egyptians developed tooth decay as these particles

wore down their tooth enamel.

A replica of an ancient

Egyptian bakery

Wheat being

harvested today

Baking bread in pots

(l)Caroline Penn/CORBIS, (others)Kenneth Garrett

038-046 Ch2 S1-824133 3/9/04 1:59 AM Page 43

44 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

as Menes (MEE • neez). As king of Upper

Egypt, he led his armies north and took con-

trol of Lower Egypt.

Narmer ruled from Memphis, a city he

built on the border between the two king-

doms. To symbolize the kingdom’s unity,

Narmer wore a double crown: the helmet-

like white crown represented Upper Egypt,

and the open red crown represented Lower

Egypt.

Natural Defenses

Flat mud plains; few

natural defenses

Unpredictable, and a constant

threat to the people

Rivers

Floods

Economy

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Farming and trade

Many defenses: Nile delta,

Sahara, Eastern Desert,

and cataracts

Dependable and regular;

not feared

Nile River

Farming and trade

Government

City-state led by kings and priests;

eventually empires formed

Villages led by chiefs, then united

into kingdoms; kingdoms later

united and ruled by pharaohs

Work of Artisans

Metal products, pottery, cloth Metal products, pottery, cloth

Advances

• Cuneiform writing

• Number system based on 60

• 12-month calendar

• Wagon wheel, plow, sailboat

• Hieroglyphic writing

• 365-day calendar

• Number system based on 10,

and fractions

• Medicine and first medical books

Mesopotamia Egypt

Comparing Mesopotamia to Egypt

Narmer’s united kingdom held together

long after his death. Members of his family

passed the ruling power from father to son

to grandson. Such a line of rulers from one

family is called a dynasty (DY • nuh • stee).

When one dynasty died out, another took

its place.

Over time, ancient Egypt would be

ruled by 31 dynasties, which together lasted

about 2,800 years. Historians group Egypt’s

dynasties into three main time periods

called kingdoms. The earliest period, the

Old Kingdom, was followed by the Middle

Kingdom and then the New Kingdom. Each

marked a long period of strong leadership

and stability.

Define

What is a dynasty?

The civilizations of both Mesopotamia and

Egypt depended on rivers for fertile lands and

irrigation.

1. Which civilization had greater natural

defenses? Explain.

2. Compare Use the chart to compare the

governments of the two civilizations.

038-046 Ch2 S1-824133 6/30/05 5:46 PM Page 44

Early Egyptian Life

Egyptian society was divided into

social groups based on wealth and power.

Reading Focus Did you play with dolls or balls

when you were young? Egyptian children did too.

Keep reading for more details about the Egyptians’

daily life.

If you made a diagram of the different

social groups in ancient Egypt, you would

find that they make a pyramid shape. At the

top was the king and his family. Beneath

that level was a small upper class of priests,

army commanders, and nobles. Next came

a larger base of skilled middle-class people,

such as traders, artisans, and shopkeepers.

At the bottom was the largest group—

unskilled workers and farmers.

Egypt’s Social Classes Egypt’s upper class

was made up of nobles, priests, and other

wealthy Egyptians who worked as the

government officials. They lived in cities and

on large estates along the Nile River. They

had elegant homes made of wood and mud

bricks, with beautiful gardens and pools

filled with fish and water lilies. Wealthy fam-

ilies had servants to wait on them and to per-

form household tasks. The men and women

dressed in white linen clothes and wore

heavy eye makeup and jewelry.

Egypt’s middle class included people

who ran businesses or produced goods.

They lived in much smaller homes and

dressed more simply. Artisans formed an

important group within the middle class.

They produced linen cloth, jewelry, pottery,

and metal goods.

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 45

Pharaoh

Farmers and

herders

Unskilled

workers

Priests and

nobles

Traders, artisans,

shopkeepers, and

scribes

Ancient Egyptian society was

highly structured. At the top

was the pharaoh and his family.

At the bottom was the group

with the least wealth—unskilled

workers.

What group was just

below the pharaoh in Egyptian

society?

038-046 Ch2 S1-824133 3/9/04 2:02 AM Page 45

1. What is papyrus and how did

the Egyptians use it?

2. What rights did women have in

ancient Egypt?

Critical Thinking

Cause and Effect

Draw a

diagram to show three things

that led to the growth of gov-

ernment in ancient Egypt.

Geography Skills How did

the geography of the Nile River

valley lead to the growth of a

civilization there?

Describe Describe the

Egyptian writing system.

Analyze What was the signif-

icance of Narmer’s double

crown?

Predicting Use

what you have learned in this

section to write a paragraph

predicting what life might have

been like on an ancient

Egyptian farm.

Growth of

Government in

Ancient Egypt

What Did You Learn?

Study Central™ Need help with the

material in this section? Visit jat.glencoe.com

46 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt46 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt46 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

Farmers made up the largest group of

early Egyptians. Some rented their land from

their ruler, paying him with a hefty portion

of their crops. Most, however, worked the

land of wealthy nobles. They lived in vil-

lages along the Nile, in one-room huts with

roofs made of palm leaves. They had a sim-

ple diet of bread, beer, vegetables, and fruit.

Many of Egypt’s city dwellers were

unskilled workers who did physical labor.

Some unloaded cargo from boats and car-

ried it to markets. Others made and stacked

mud bricks for buildings. Workers lived in

crowded city neighborhoods. They had

small mud-brick homes with hard-packed

dirt floors and a courtyard for the family’s

animals. On the flat rooftops, families

talked, played games, and slept. Women

worked on the rooftops, drying fruit, mak-

ing bread, and weaving cloth.

Family Life In ancient Egypt, the father

headed the family. However, Egyptian

women had more rights than females in

most other early civilizations. In Egypt,

women could own and pass on property.

They could buy and sell goods, make wills,

and obtain divorces. Upper-class women

were in charge of temples and could per-

form religious ceremonies.

Few Egyptians sent their children to

school. Mothers taught their daughters to

sew, cook, and run a household. Boys

learned farming or skilled trades from

their fathers. Egyptian children had time

for fun, as well. They played with board

games, dolls, spinning tops, and stuffed

leather balls.

Identify

Who made up the

largest group in Egyptian society?

Reading Summary

Review the

• The deserts on either side of the

Nile Valley, along with the Nile

cataracts and delta marshes, pro-

tected Egypt from invaders.

• The Egyptians became successful

farmers using the Nile River’s

floods and irrigation.

• About 3100 B.C., Narmer united

Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt.

• Egypt’s society was divided into

upper-class priests and nobles,

middle-class artisans and mer-

chants, and lower-class workers

and farmers.

038-046 Ch2 S1-824133 3/17/05 11:24 AM Page 46

What’s the Connection?

In Section 1, you learned that

Egyptian dynasties are divided into

the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom,

and New Kingdom. In Section 2,

you will learn about the Egyptians’

leaders, religion, and way of life in

the Old Kingdom.

Focusing on the

• Egypt was ruled by all-powerful

pharaohs.

(page 48)

• The Egyptians believed in many gods

and goddesses and in life after death

for the pharaohs.

(page 49)

• The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom

built huge stone pyramids as tombs

for their pharaohs.

(page 50)

Locating Places

Giza (GEE•zuh)

Meeting People

King Khufu (KOO•foo)

Building Your Vocabulary

pharaoh (FEHR •oh)

deity (DEE•uh•tee)

embalming (ihm•BAHM•ihng)

mummy (MUH•mee)

pyramid (PIHR•uh •MIHD)

Reading Strategy

Organizing Information Use a

graphic organizer like the one below

to identify the different beliefs in

Egypt’s religion.

gypt’s

ingdom

c. 2600 B.C.

Old Kingdom

period begins

c. 2540 B.C.

Great Pyramid

at Giza built

c. 2300 B.C.

Old Kingdom

declines

Memphis

Giza

2600 B.C. 2400 B.C. 2200 B.C.

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 47

Egyptian beliefs

047-052 Ch2 S2-824133 3/9/04 2:43 AM Page 47

Old Kingdom Rulers

Egypt was ruled by all-powerful

pharaohs.

Reading Focus Would you want your student body

president or your sports team captain to have unlimited

authority? Think what it would be like to have such a

leader as you read about the rulers of ancient Egypt.

Around 2600 B.C., the period known as

the Old Kingdom began in Egypt. The Old

Kingdom lasted until about 2300 B.C. During

those years, Egypt grew and prospered. The

Egyptians built cities and expanded trade,

and their kings set up a strong government.

The Egyptian kings, or pharaohs (FEHR•

ohs) as they were called, lived with their fami-

lies in grand palaces. In fact, the word pharaoh

originally meant “great house.” The pharaoh

was an all-powerful ruler who guided Egypt’s

every activity. His word was law, and it had to

be obeyed without question.

Pharaohs appointed many officials to

carry out their wishes. These officials saw to

it that irrigation canals and grain store-

houses were built and repaired. They made

sure that crops were planted as the pharaoh

directed. They also controlled trade and col-

lected tax payments of grain from farmers.

Why did Egyptians willingly serve the

pharaoh? One reason was that they believed

the unity of the kingdom depended on a

strong leader. Another was that they consid-

ered the pharaoh to be the son of Re

(RAY), the

Egyptian sun god. As a result, his subjects

paid him the greatest respect. Whenever he

appeared in public, people played music on

flutes and cymbals. Bystanders along the

road had to bow down and “smell the earth,”

or touch their heads to the ground.

The Egyptians thought their pharaoh

was a god on earth who controlled Egypt’s

welfare. He carried out certain rituals that

were thought to benefit the kingdom. For

example, he drove a sacred bull around

Memphis, the capital city. The Egyptians

believed this ceremony would keep the soil

rich and ensure good crops. The pharaoh

was also the first to cut ripe grain. Egyptians

believed this would bring a good harvest.

Analyze

Why did the

pharaohs hold so much power?

The Great Sphinx, a huge statue with the head of a man

(perhaps a pharaoh) and the body of a lion, stands guard

outside the tomb of a pharaoh.

What did the word

pharaoh mean, and why was it used for Egypt’s rulers?

Sylvain Grandadam/Getty Images

047-052 Ch2 S2-824133 3/9/04 2:46 AM Page 48

Egypt’s Religion

The Egyptians believed in many gods

and goddesses and in life after death for the

pharaohs.

Reading Focus Have you seen mummies in horror

movies? Maybe you’ve even wrapped yourself in strips

of cloth to be a mummy for a costume party. Keep read-

ing to find out how the ancient Egyptians made mum-

mies, and why.

Religion was deeply woven into

Egyptian culture. Like the people of

Mesopotamia, the ancient Egyptians wor-

shiped many deities (DEE•uh •teez), or gods

and goddesses. The Egyptians believed

these deities controlled the forces of nature

and human activities.

The main Egyptian god was the sun god

Re. This was probably because of Egypt’s

hot, sunny climate and the importance of

the sun for good harvests. Another major

god was Hapi (HAH • pee), who ruled the

Nile River. The most important goddess was

Isis (EYE • suhs). She represented the loyal

wife and mother, and she ruled over the

dead with her husband Osiris (oh•SY •ruhs).

Life After Death Unlike the Mesopota-

mians, who imagined a gloomy life after

death, the Egyptians took a hopeful view.

They believed that life in the next world

would be even better than life on Earth.

Following a long journey, the dead would

reach a place of peace and plenty.

One of the most important manuscripts

written in ancient Egypt was the Book of the

Dead. This was a collection of spells and

prayers that Egyptians studied to obtain life

after death. They believed that the god Osiris

would meet newcomers at the entrance to the

next world. If they had led good lives and

knew the magic spells, Osiris would grant

them life after death.

For centuries, Egyptians believed that

only the pharaohs and an elite few could

enjoy the afterlife. They also believed that

the pharaoh’s spirit needed a body to make

the journey to the afterlife. If the pharaoh’s

body decayed after death, his spirit would

be forced to wander forever. It was vital

that a pharaoh’s spirit reach the next world.

There, the pharaoh would continue to care

for Egypt.

To protect the pharaoh’s body, the

Egyptians developed a process called

embalming

(ihm•BAHM •ihng). First, priests

removed the body’s organs. A special salt,

natron, was then applied to the body, and it

was stored for a number of days to dry. After

this, the body was filled with spices and per-

fumes, then stitched closed. Next, it was

cleaned with oils and tightly wrapped with

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 49

During the embalming process, the pharaoh’s

body was placed on a special table. The chief

embalmer was dressed as Anubis, the god of

mummification. Why did the Egyptians

embalm the pharaoh’s body?

047-052 Ch2 S2-875047 9/7/06 8:37 PM Page 49

Egypt’s Religion

long strips of linen. The wrapped body was

known as a mummy (MUH•mee). It was put

in several wooden coffins, one fitting inside

the other. The pharaoh was then ready for

burial in a tomb.

Egyptian Medicine In the course of

embalming the dead, the Egyptians learned

much about the human body. Egyptian doc-

tors used herbs and drugs to treat many dif-

ferent illnesses. They grew skilled at sewing

up cuts and setting broken bones.

Some doctors focused on treating par-

ticular parts of the body, becoming the

first specialists in medicine. Egyptians

also wrote the world’s first medical books

on scrolls of papyrus.

Identify Who were some

of the Egyptians’ main gods and goddesses?

The Pyramids

The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom built

huge stone pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs.

Reading Focus Do you think the Statue of Liberty or

the White House will still be here in 4,000 years? The

giant pyramids of Egypt have stood for about that long.

Read to find out how and why they were built.

No ordinary tomb would do for a

pharaoh of Egypt. Instead, the Egyptians

built mountainlike pyramids (PIHR • uh •

MIHDS) entirely of stone. These gigantic struc-

tures, the size of several city blocks, protected

the bodies of dead pharaohs from floods,

wild animals, and grave robbers. The pyra-

mids also held supplies that the pharaoh

might need in the spirit world, including

clothing, furniture, jewelry, and food.

In this painting, the god Osiris (seated at right) watches

as other animal-headed gods weigh a dead man’s soul

and record the results. The scales have balanced, so the

dead man may enter the underworld.

What was the

Book of the Dead?

50 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

Osiris

(t)The British Museum, (b)Musee du Louvre, Paris/Explorer/SuperStock

047-052 Ch2 S2-824133 3/9/04 2:48 AM Page 50

How Was a Pyramid Built? It took thou-

sands of people and years of backbreaking

labor to build a pyramid. Most of the work

was done by farmers during the Nile floods,

when they could not tend their fields. In

addition, surveyors, engineers, carpenters,

and stonecutters lent their skills.

Each pyramid sat on a square base, with

the entrance facing north. To determine

true north, the Egyptians studied the heav-

ens and developed principles of astron-

omy. With this knowledge, they invented a

365-day calendar with 12 months grouped

into 3 seasons. This calendar became the

basis for our modern calendar.

To determine the amount of stone needed

for a pyramid, as well as the angles necessary

for the walls, the Egyptians made advances

in mathematics. They invented a system of

written numbers based on 10. They also cre-

ated fractions, using them with whole num-

bers to add, subtract, and divide.

After the pyramid site was chosen,

workers went wherever they could find

stone—sometimes hundreds of miles away.

Skilled artisans used copper tools to cut the

stone into huge blocks. Other workers tied

the blocks to wooden sleds and pulled

them to the Nile over a path “paved” with

logs. Next, they loaded the stones onto

barges that were floated to the building

site. There, workers unloaded the blocks

and dragged or pushed them up ramps to

be set in place.

Ancient Egyptians buried their kings within

large stone buildings called pyramids.

Air Shaft

King's Burial Chamber The king's mummified

body was placed in a room at the pyramid's center.

Grand Gallery This tall, sloping hall held large

granite blocks that sealed the tomb.

Queen's Burial Chamber This chamber held a

statue of the king, not the queen's body.

Entrance

Underground Burial Chamber Sometimes kings

were buried here instead.

Queen's Pyramids These smaller pyramids are

believed to be tombs for the king's wives.

Mastaba These tombs surrounding the pyramids

held royal family members and other nobles.

Valley Temple This temple may have been used

for rituals before the king was buried.

Inside a Pyramid

047-052 Ch2 S2-824133 3/9/04 2:49 AM Page 51

Reading Summary

Review the

• The all-powerful rulers of Egypt,

called pharaohs, were believed to

be related to Egypt’s main god.

• The Egyptians believed in many

gods and goddesses. They also

believed in life after death for the

pharaoh, whose body would be

mummified before burial.

• The pyramids, built as huge stone

tombs for the pharaohs, required

many years and thousands of

workers to construct.

1. How was stone for a pyramid

transported to the building site?

2. What did Egyptians learn from

embalming bodies?

Critical Thinking

Organize Information

Draw

a diagram like the one below.

Fill in details about the

pharaohs of the Old Kingdom

and their duties.

Math/Science Link How did

the building of the pyramids

lead to advances in science and

mathematics?

Compare and Contrast

How did the Egyptians’ reli-

gious beliefs compare to those

of the Mesopotamians?

Persuasive Writing Suppose

you are an Egyptian pharaoh

who wants a pyramid built to

house your tomb. Write a letter

to the farmers and workers in

your kingdom explaining why it

is their duty to build the pyra-

mid for you.

What Did You Learn?

Study Central™ Need help with the

material in this section? Visit jat.glencoe.com

52 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

The Great Pyramid About 2540 B.C., the

Egyptians built the largest and grandest of

the pyramids known as the Great Pyramid.

It is located about 10 miles from the mod-

ern city of Cairo. This pyramid, built for

King Khufu (KOO•foo), is one of three still

standing in Giza on the west bank of the

Nile. It rises nearly 500 feet (153 m) above

the desert, covers an area about the size of

nine football fields, and contains more than

2 million stone blocks. Each block weighs an

average of 2.5 tons.

The Great Pyramid was the tallest struc-

ture in the world for more than 4,000 years.

It is equal to the size of a 48-story building

and is the largest of about 80 pyramids

found in Egypt. The Great Pyramid is truly

a marvel because the Egyptians built it

without using beasts of burden, special

tools, or even the wheel.

Explain

What was the pur-

pose of pyramids?

The pyramid shown above is that of King

Khafre, son of Khufu. Although smaller than the

Great Pyramid, Khafre’s pyramid was built on

higher ground so as to appear taller.

About

how tall is the Great Pyramid?

Pharaohs

John Heaton/CORBIS

047-052 Ch2 S2-824133 3/17/05 11:38 AM Page 52

In this story, a prince must avoid

three types of animals because it

was predicted that one of them

would kill him. The people who

love him try to prevent him from

coming into contact with the

animals, but the prince does not

want to live in fear.

Before You Read

The Scene: This story takes place in ancient times in Egypt and in an area

that is now Iraq.

The Characters: The first characters introduced are the king of Egypt, his

son, and the seven Hathor goddesses, who predict the prince’s death. When

the prince travels, he meets Chief of Naharín and his daughter.

The Plot: For many years, the king of Egypt protects his son from the death

that was predicted for him. The prince convinces his father to let him travel.

He meets a princess, and together they try to prevent his fate.

Vocabulary Preview

destiny: an already-determined

course of events

ferried: carried by boat

enchant: to cast a spell

on something

fugitive: a person who runs

away or escapes

folly: a foolish action

vessel: a container

exalting: praising

Translated by Lise Manniche

053-058 CH2 WL-824133 3/13/04 2:28 AM Page 53

seven Hathor goddesses:

goddesses who visited newborn

children to discover their fates

As You Read

This is one of the world’s oldest known fairy tales. It was written in

hieroglyphics more than 3,000 years ago. The places in the tale are real,

and the prince and princess may have been based on real people, as well.

The ancient Egyptians often made important people the main characters

in their stories.

There once was a king of Egypt who had no sons at all. So the king

asked the gods of his time for a son and they decided that he should

have one....

The seven Hathor goddesses

came to decide the boy’s fate and

they declared, “He is destined to be killed by a crocodile or a snake

or a dog.”

The people who were at the boy’s side heard this. They reported

it to the king and his heart grew sad.

The king had a house of stone built for the boy at the edge of the

desert, supplied with servants and with all sorts of good things from

the palace, for the child was not to go outside. There the boy grew up.

One day he climbed up to the roof of the house and saw a dog

following a man, who was walking along the road.

“What is that?” he asked his servant.

053-058 CH2 WL-824133 3/13/04 2:29 AM Page 54

“It’s a dog,” the servant replied.

“Let me have a dog like that,” the boy

said.

The servant reported this to the king

and the king said, “His heart is sad. Let

him have a bounding little puppy.”

So they gave the boy a dog.

In time, the young prince grew

restless and he sent a message to his

father, saying, “Why should I stay here

doing nothing? After all, my destiny has

been determined. Allow me to do as I

wish until I meet my fate.”

The king replied saying “Let a

chariot

be prepared for him, equipped

with all sorts of weapons, and assign a

servant to accompany him.”

So they did as the king commanded

and gave him all that he needed. Then they

ferried him across the Nile to the east bank

and said to him, “Now go as you wish.”

And the dog was with him.

The prince traveled as he pleased

northwards across the desert, living on

the best of all desert game.

Thus he came to the realm of the

Chief of Naharín,

who had no children—

except one daughter. He had built a house

for her with a window seventy cubits

from the ground.

The Chief of Naharín then sent for

all the sons of all the chiefs of Kharu,

saying, “He who can jump up to the

window of my daughter shall have her for

his wife.”

The sons of all the chiefs had been

trying to reach the window each day for

many days when the prince passed by

them.

They took the prince to their house,

and they bathed him, they rubbed him

with oil, and they bandaged his feet. They

gave fodder

to his horses and food to his

servant. They did everything for the

young man.

And to start a conversation, they said,

“Where do you come from, you

handsome youth?”

“I am the son of a chariot officer from

Egypt. My mother died and my father

took another wife. My stepmother grew

to hate me and I have fled her.”

They welcomed him and kissed him.

chariot: a two-wheeled, horse-drawn car

Naharín: an area east of the Euphrates

River in present-day Iraq

cubits: units of length based on the length

of the arm from the elbow to the fingertips

Kharu: an area in present-day Syria

fodder: food for cattle, horses, and sheep

053-058 CH2 WL-824133 7/26/04 2:55 PM Page 55

Several days later the prince asked the

youths, “What are you doing here in

Naharín?”

“The past three months we have

spent each day jumping, for the Chief of

Naharín will give his daughter to the one

who reaches her window,” they said.

“Oh, if only I could enchant my feet, I

would jump with you,” said the prince.

The youths went off to jump, as it was

their daily custom, while the prince stood

at a distance, watching.

From her window the daughter of the

Chief of Naharín gazed at him.

At last, when many days had passed,

the prince joined the sons of the chiefs.

He jumped and he reached the window

of the daughter of the Chief of Naharín.

She embraced him and she kissed him.

A messenger went to inform her father.

“One of the young men has reached

the window of your daughter,” the

messenger said.

“Whose son is it?” the Chief of

Naharín inquired.

“He is the son of a chariot officer from

Egypt. He has fled from his stepmother.”

The Chief of Naharín grew very

angry. “Am I to give my daughter to a

fugitive from Egypt? Send him home!”

“You must go back where you came

from,” the messenger said to the prince.

But the princess clung to the prince,

and she swore, “As Re lives, if they take

him from me, I will not eat, I will not

drink, I will die within the hour!”

When the messenger had reported

everything she had said to her father, her

father sent men to kill the prince then and

there.

Again the princess swore, “As Re lives,

if they kill him, I shall die before sunset. I

will not live an hour more than he!”

They repeated this to her father, and

the Chief of Naharín had the prince and

his daughter brought before him.

The young man impressed the Chief,

who welcomed him and kissed him and

said, “Now you are like my own son. Tell

me about yourself.”

“I am the child of a chariot officer from

Egypt,” said the young man, “My mother

died and father took another wife. She

grew to hate me, and I have fled from her.”

The Chief of Naharín gave his

daughter to the prince, and he gave him a

house and fields and herds and

everything they needed.

053-058 CH2 WL-824133 3/13/04 2:32 AM Page 56

When they had lived together for

some time, the young man told his wife,

“I know my fate. I shall be killed by one

of three: a crocodile or a snake or a dog.”

“Then,” she said, “the dog that follows

you everywhere must be killed.”

“That would be folly,” he replied. “I

will not have the dog killed for I have had

it ever since it was a puppy.”

So his wife began to watch over him

closely, and she did not allow him to go

out alone.

It so happened that on the very day

the prince had arrived in Naharín, the

crocodile, his fate, began to follow him. It

caught up with him in the town where the

prince lived with his wife.

But there in the lake was a giant who

would not let the crocodile out, and so

the crocodile refused to let the giant out.

For three whole months they had been

fighting all day long, beginning each day

at sunrise.

The prince spent many pleasant days

in his house, and in the evenings when

the breeze died down, he went to bed.

One evening when sleep had overcome

him, his wife filled a vessel with wine and

another with beer. Then she sat down

beside him, but she did not sleep.

A snake came out of its hole

intending to bite the prince, but the

vessels tempted it and the snake drank

from them, got drunk and rolled over on

its back to sleep.

His wife chopped the snake in three

pieces with her axe. Then she roused her

husband and said to him, “See, your god

has placed one of your fates in your

hands. He is protecting you.”

The prince made offerings to his god

Re, adoring him and exalting his power

each day that passed.

After some time, the prince went for a

stroll around his estate. His wife stayed at

home, but his dog followed him.

Suddenly the dog turned on him and

the prince fled from it.

He ran to the edge of the lake and

jumped into water to escape the dog, but

there the crocodile seized him and

dragged him off to find the giant.

053-058 CH2 WL-824133 7/26/04 3:01 PM Page 57

“I am pursuing you, for I am your fate,” said the crocodile.

“Listen, for three whole months I have been fighting with the giant.

I will let you go now if you will take my side and kill the giant

when he returns to fight.”

So the prince waited by the water all that night, and when

dawn broke and a second day began, the giant returned.

The giant began to fight the crocodile at once, but the

prince stepped forward with his scimitar

in his hand.

He cut out the heart of the giant and the giant died.

At that very moment the dog sneaked up

behind the prince. It attacked him and tore

him to bits and spread the pieces all about.

When the prince failed to return, his wife set

out to look for him. After seven days and seven

nights in search for him, she came upon his remains.

She collected all the pieces of her husband’s body

and put them back together again—except for his heart.

That she placed in a lotus flower which was blooming on the water.

Lo and behold, the prince reappeared as he had been before.

From that day on the prince and princess lived together happily

until they crossed over to the fields of the blessed.

1. How did the prince’s father and wife try to protect him?

2. How would this story be different if it were told from the

point of view of the prince?

3. Evaluating Information Do you think the prince paid

enough attention to the goddesses’ warning? Why or why

not? Support your opinion with examples.

4. Drawing Conclusions Why do you think the prince lied to

the Chief of Naharín about his parents?

5. Read to Write Suppose you are the prince,

captive in the stone house, or the princess, captive in the

tower. Write three diary entries about your daily life, your

feelings about being kept away from society, and your hopes

for the future.

Responding to the Reading

scimitar (SIH • muh • tuhr): a long sword with a curved blade

053-058 CH2 WL-824133 3/13/04 2:35 AM Page 58

c. 2050 B.C.

Middle Kingdom

begins

c. 1500 B.C.

Queen Hatshepsut

reigns

c. 1279 B.C.

Ramses II takes

the throne

Memphis

Thebes

2400 B.C. 1600 B.C. 800 B.C.

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 59

What’s the Connection?

During the Old Kingdom,

Egyptians established their civilization.

During the Middle Kingdom and the

New Kingdom, Egypt’s powerful

pharaohs expanded the empire by

conquering other lands.

Focusing on the

• The Middle Kingdom was a golden age

of peace, prosperity, and advances in

the arts and architecture.

(page 60)

• During the New Kingdom, Egypt

acquired new territory and reached

the height of its power.

(page 61)

• Akhenaton tried to change Egypt’s

religion, while Tutankhamen is

famous for the treasures found in his

tomb.

(page 64)

• Under Ramses II, Egypt regained

territory and built great temples, but

the empire fell by 1150

B.C. (page 65)

Locating Places

Thebes (THEEBZ)

Meeting People

Ahmose (AHM•OHS)

Hatshepsut (hat•SHEHP•soot)

Thutmose III (thoot•MOH•suh)

Akhenaton (AHK •NAH•tuhn)

Tutankhamen

(TOO •TANG•KAH•muhn)

Ramses II (RAM•SEEZ)

Building Your Vocabulary

tribute (TRIH•byoot)

incense (IHN•SEHNS)

Reading Strategy

Categorizing Information Create

a diagram to show the major

accomplishments of Ramses II.

Ramses

gyptian

mpire

The

059-067 Ch2 S3-824133 10/14/04 5:17 PM Page 59

The Middle Kingdom

The Middle Kingdom was a golden age

of peace, prosperity, and advances in the arts and

architecture.

Reading Focus Have you heard older people talk

about enjoying their “golden years”? Countries can also

experience such happy, productive times. In the fol-

lowing paragraphs, you’ll learn why the Middle

Kingdom was a golden age for Egypt.

About 2300 B.C., the pharaohs lost con-

trol of Egypt as nobles battled one another

for power. Almost 200 years of confusion

followed. Finally, a new dynasty of

pharaohs came to power. They moved their

capital south from Memphis to a city called

Thebes (THEEBZ). There they restored order

and stability, ushering in a new period

called the Middle Kingdom.

The Middle Kingdom lasted from about

2050 B.C. to 1670 B.C. During this time,

Egyptians enjoyed a golden age of stability,

prosperity, and achievement.

The Drive for More Land During the

Middle Kingdom, Egypt took control of

new lands. Soldiers captured Nubia to the

south and attacked what is now Syria. The

conquered peoples sent tribute (TRIH •

byoot), or forced payments, to the Egyptian

pharaoh, enriching the kingdom. Within

Egypt, the pharaohs added more waterways

and dams. They increased the amount of

land being farmed and built a canal between

the Nile River and the Red Sea.

The Arts Blossom During the Middle

Kingdom, arts, literature, and architecture

thrived. Painters covered the walls of tombs

and temples with colorful scenes of the

deities and daily life. Sculptors created large

wall carvings and statues of the pharaohs,

showing them as ordinary people rather

than godlike figures. Poets wrote love

songs and tributes to the pharaohs.

A new form of architecture was also

created. Instead of building pyramids,

pharaohs had their tombs cut into cliffs

west of the Nile River. This area became

known as the Valley of the Kings.

Who Were the Hyksos? The Middle

Kingdom came to an end in 1670 B.C.

Nobles were again plotting to take power

from the pharaohs. This time, however,

Egypt also faced a serious threat from out-

side. A people known as the Hyksos (HIHK•

SAHS), from western Asia, attacked Egypt.

60 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

This artwork with gold inlay from the Middle

Kingdom period shows a funeral boat. How did

architecture change during the Middle Kingdom?

Web Activity Visit jat.glencoe.com

and click on Chapter 2—Student Web Activity to

learn more about ancient Egypt.

Gianni Dagli Orti/CORBIS

059-067 Ch2 S3-824133 3/9/04 3:18 AM Page 60

Today, millions of people use

computer icons as symbols for words

and even emotions in e-mails and

other electronic communication.These

icons are pictures—such as flags or paper

clips—that represent other things. In what way

are hieroglyphs and computer icons similar?

Hieroglyphs and Computer Icons

The ancient Egyptian system of writing was

made up of hundreds of different characters called

hieroglyphs. Each hieroglyph was a picture that

represented a word. For example, a large circle

with a smaller circle drawn in its center

meant “sun.” Egyptian scribes carved

hieroglyphic symbols on monuments and

used them for everyday communication.

Computer icons

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 61

The Hyksos were mighty warriors. They

crossed the desert in horse-drawn chariots

and used weapons made of bronze and

iron. Egyptians had always fought on foot

with copper and stone weapons. They were

no match for the invaders.

The Hyksos ruled Egypt for about 120

years. Then, around 1550 B.C., an Egyptian

prince named Ahmose (AHM • OHS) led an

uprising that drove the Hyksos out of

Egypt.

Identify

Who were the

Hyksos?

The New Kingdom

During the New Kingdom, Egypt acquired

new territory and reached the height of its power.

Reading Focus Do you know the names of any

women who hold political office? In ancient civiliza-

tions, women rarely held positions of power. Read to

learn how a woman became ruler of Egypt.

Ahmose’s reign in Egypt began a period

known as the New Kingdom. During this

time, from about 1550 B.C. to 1080 B.C., Egypt

reached the height of its ancient glory.

Hieroglyphs

(l)Smithsonian Institution, (r)file photo

059-067 Ch2 S3-875047 9/7/06 8:42 PM Page 61

A Woman Ruler About 1473 B.C., a queen

named Hatshepsut (hat•SHEHP •soot) came

to power in Egypt. She ruled first with her

husband and then, after his death, on behalf

of her young nephew. Finally she made

herself pharaoh. Hatshepsut became one of

the few women to rule Egypt.

Hatshepsut was more interested in

trade than conquest. During her reign,

Egyptian traders sailed along the east coast

of Africa. They exchanged beads, metal

tools, and weapons for gold, ivory, ebony,

and incense

(IHN•SEHNS), a material burned

for its pleasant smell.

Another product Egyptians wanted was

wood. The Nile Valley had few trees, and the

Egyptians needed wood for boats and other

items. The search for wood took Egyptian

traders to the eastern Mediterranean, where

Lebanon is located today. The region had

many trees, and its people, called the

Phoenicians, were famous for their wooden

furniture.

Trading brought great wealth to Egypt.

Hatshepsut used some of this wealth to

build monuments. One of her greatest proj-

ects was a huge temple and tomb in the

limestone cliffs of the Valley of the Kings.

Expanding the Empire When Hatshepsut

died, her nephew, Thutmose III (thoot •

MOH • suh), became pharaoh. Thutmose’s

armies expanded Egypt’s borders north to

the Euphrates River in Mesopotamia. His

troops also moved south and regained

control of Nubia, which had broken free

from Egypt earlier.

Thutmose’s empire grew rich from

trade and tribute. In addition to claiming

gold, copper, ivory, and other valuable

goods from conquered peoples,

Egypt enslaved many prisoners of

war. These unfortunate captives

were put to work rebuilding

Thebes. They filled the city with

beautiful palaces, temples, and

monuments.

Slavery had not been widespread in

Egypt before. During the New Kingdom,

however, it became common. Enslaved peo-

ple did have some rights. They could own

land, marry, and eventually be granted

their freedom.

Summarize

Describe

Egyptian trade during the rule of Hatshepsut.

62 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

300 km

300 mi.0

Lambert Azimuthal

Equal-Area projection

40°E

30°E

30°N

20°N

Mediterrranean Sea

LOWER

EGYPT

UPPER

EGYPT

SYRIA

NILE DELTA

ARABIAN

PENINSULA

Cyprus

Giza

Memphis

Thebes

Egyptian Kingdoms

During the Middle Kingdom, the capital of

Egypt moved from Memphis to Thebes.

1. Which kingdom included lands across the

Mediterranean Sea?

2. What physical feature makes up much of the

eastern border of the Middle Kingdom?

Old Kingdom

Land added during Middle Kingdom

Land added during New Kingdom

Pyramids

KEY

Motion

059-067 Ch2 S3-875047 9/12/06 4:30 PM Page 62

ATSHEPSUT

Reigned 1473–1458

Hatshepsut was the daughter of King Thutmose I

and Queen Aahmes. Even as a young princess, she

was confident, describing herself as “exceedingly

good to look upon ...a beautiful maiden” who

was “serene [peaceful] of nature.” During her

marriage to King Thutmose II, Hatshepsut

influenced her husband’s decisions and hoped

to someday have more power. She saw an

opportunity when Thutmose died and

declared herself pharaoh.

Because the position of pharaoh was

usually passed from father to son,

Hatshepsut had to prove that she was a

good leader. She often wore men’s clothing

to convince the people that she could

handle what had always been a man’s job.

Unlike other pharaohs, Hatshepsut avoided

military conquests. She focused her attention

instead on expanding Egypt’s economy. She restored

Egypt’s wealth through trade with Africa and Asia.

Returning home from trading expeditions, cargo ships were loaded

with ebony, gold, ivory, incense, and myrrh. During her reign, Hatshepsut also

rebuilt many of Egypt’s great temples, including the temple at Karnak. In her

temple at Deir el Bahri, the reliefs on the walls recorded the major events of

Hatshepsut’s reign.

Hatshepsut’s 21-year reign was peaceful, but her stepson, Thutmose III, was

plotting against her. He overthrew Hatshepsut and her government.

It is unknown how Hatshepsut died, but

after her death, Thutmose III ordered

that the reliefs and statues in

Hatshepsut’s temple be destroyed.

Hatshepsut

“A dictator excellent

of plans”

—Egyptian scribe quoted in

Barbarian Tides

Make a list of Hatshepsut’s strengths as a

leader. Then choose a present-day female

leader and list her leadership strengths. Write a

paragraph comparing their similarities and

differences.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift,1929 (29.3.3)

059-067 Ch2 S3-824133 3/17/05 11:40 AM Page 63

Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY

Cats in Ancient Egypt In ancient

Egypt, cats were loved and even

worshiped. Egyptians valued the ability

of wild cats to protect villages’ grain

supplies from mice and rats. Over

several hundred years, cats became

tame, and their role developed from

valued hunter to adored

family pet to goddess.

In ancient Egyptian

tombs, archaeologists

have found many wall

paintings, carvings, and

statues of cats. Often the

statues were adorned with

beautiful jewelry, such as

silver or gold earrings, nose

rings, and collars. When an

Egyptian family’s cat

died, its owners

shaved their

eyebrows to show

their grief and had the

cat’s body mummified.

Egyptians worshiped

cats because they

associated them with the

goddess Bastet. She represented

motherhood, grace, and beauty, and

often appears in paintings and statues

as a woman with the head of a cat.

The Legacies of Two Pharaohs

Akhenaton tried to change Egypt’s

religion, while Tutankhamen is famous for the

treasures found in his tomb.

Reading Focus If you ask people to name an

Egyptian pharaoh, the answer you’re likely to get is

“King Tut.” Read on to find out more about him and his

predecessor.

About 1370 B.C., Amenhotep IV (AH •

muhn•HOH•TEHP) came to the throne. With

the help of his wife, Nefertiti (NEHF • uhr •

TEET•ee), Amenhotep tried to lead Egypt in

a new direction.

A Religious Reformer Amenhotep real-

ized that Egypt’s priests were gaining

power at the expense of the pharaohs. In

an attempt to maintain his own power,

Amenhotep introduced a new religion

that swept away the old gods and god-

desses. Instead, only one god, called Aton

(AH • tuhn), was to be worshiped. When

Egypt’s priests resisted these changes,

Amenhotep removed many from their

positions, seized their lands, and closed

temples. He then changed his name to

Akhenaton (AHK • NAH•tuhn), which means

“Spirit of Aton.” He began ruling Egypt from

a new city.

To most Egyptians, Akhenaton’s attacks

on the gods seemed to be an attack on

Egypt itself. They refused to accept Aton as

the only god. Meanwhile, Akhenaton

became so devoted to his new religion that

he neglected his duties as pharaoh. The

administrators he appointed were not as

experienced as the priests they replaced,

and Akhenaton took no action when ene-

mies from what is now Turkey, the Hittites,

attacked Egypt. As a result, Egypt lost most

of its lands in western Asia, greatly shrink-

ing the empire.

Egyptian

goddess

depicted

as a cat

Connecting to the Past

1. Why did ancient Egyptians first value cats?

2. With what goddess did the ancient

Egyptians associate cats?

059-067 Ch2 S3-824133 3/9/04 3:26 AM Page 64

The Boy King When Akhenaton died, his

son-in-law inherited the throne. The new

pharaoh, Tutankhamen (TOO • TANG • KAH •

muhn), was a boy about 10 years old. He

relied on help from palace officials and

priests, who convinced him to restore the

old religion. After ruling for only nine

years, Tutankhamen died unexpectedly. He

may have suffered a fall or been murdered;

no one is sure.

What is certain is that “King Tut,” as he is

nicknamed, played only a small role in

Egypt’s history. Why, then, is he the most

famous of all pharaohs? The boy king cap-

tured people’s imaginations after a British

archaeologist, Howard Carter, found his

tomb in A.D. 1922.

The tomb contained the king’s mummy

and incredible treasures, including a brilliant

gold mask of the young pharaoh’s face.

Carter’s find was a thrilling discovery,

because most royal tombs in Egypt were

looted by robbers long ago.

Evaluate

Why is

Tutankhamen so famous today?

The End of the New Kingdom

Under Ramses II, Egypt regained terri-

tory and built great temples, but the empire fell by

1150

Reading Focus Egypt remained mighty for thou-

sands of years, but it finally fell to outsiders. Read to

learn about Egypt’s last great pharaoh and the empire’s

decline.

During the 1200s B.C., pharaohs

worked to make Egypt great again. The

most effective of these pharaohs was

Ramses II (RAM • SEEZ). He reigned for a

remarkable 66 years, from 1279 B.C. to 1213

B.C. During this time, Egyptian armies

regained lands in western Asia and rebuilt

the empire. Ramses also launched an

ambitious building program, constructing

several major new temples.

Tutankhamen’s

gold mask

Temple of Karnak

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 65

(t)Egyptian National Museum, Cairo/SuperStock, (b)Gavin Hellier/Getty Images

059-067 Ch2 S3-824133 7/15/04 12:46 AM Page 65

AMSES

Reigned 1279–1213

Ramses II began his military training at a very young

age. Ramses’ father, Seti I, allowed his 10-year-old son to

serve as a captain in his army. Seti also made his son

coruler of Egypt. By the time Ramses was crowned pharaoh

of Egypt, he was a great warrior and experienced leader.

Nine kings who ruled after Ramses II named themselves in

his honor. Many centuries later, archaeologists nicknamed

the pharaoh “Ramses the Great” because of his fame on the

battlefield, his construction and restoration of buildings and

monuments, and his popularity among the Egyptian people. His

subjects fondly called him “Sese,” an abbreviation of Ramses.

Ramses continued in his father’s footsteps by trying to

restore Egyptian power in Asia. In the early years of his reign,

he defeated forces in southern Syria and continuously battled

Egypt’s longtime enemy, the Hittites. Details about one costly

battle with the Hittites were carved on temple walls, showing

the Egyptians succeeding against great odds.

During his 66-year reign, Ramses II undertook a large-scale

building program. He could afford such an expensive plan because

Egypt was very prosperous during his reign. He restored the

Sphinx, completed the Temple of Karnak, and built himself a city

with four temples as well as beautiful gardens and orchards. He

is famous for the temple built at Abu Simbel. It was carved out

of a solid rock cliff and featured four huge statues of Ramses II,

two on each side of the doorway.

Ramses’ first wife, Queen Nefertari, died early in his reign.

Like other pharaohs, Ramses had many wives. Ramses II was

proud of his large family, which included more than 100

children.

Statue of Ramses II

holding an offering

table

Coffin of Ramses II

“They all came bowing

down to him, to his

palace of life and

satisfaction.”

—hieroglyphic translation

by James B. Pritchard,

Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Use the Internet and your local library to learn

about Mount Rushmore, a monument in South

Dakota. Describe Mount Rushmore, and then

compare it to Ramses’ temple at Abu Simbel.

(t)Michael Holford, (b)O. Louis Mazzatenta/National Geographic Society Image Collection

059-067 Ch2 S3-824133 3/20/04 9:16 AM Page 66

Reading Summary

Review the

• During the Middle Kingdom, Egypt

expanded its borders, and the arts

flourished.

• Under New Kingdom rulers,

Egypt built a strong empire and

expanded trade.

• Akhenaton failed in his attempt

to create a new religion.

Tutankhamen ruled briefly but

gained fame because of treasures

found buried with him.

• Ramses II was Egypt’s last great

pharaoh. In the 900s

B.C., Egypt

lost power to outside invaders.

1. What improvements did the

Middle Kingdom rulers make?

2. What purposes did temples

serve in Egypt?

Critical Thinking

3. Organizing Information

Create a chart like the one

below. Fill in details about

Egypt’s Middle Kingdom and

New Kingdom.

Evaluate What was unusual

about the reign of Hatshepsut?

Analyze How did Akhenaton

upset the traditional order?

Compare and Contrast

Describe the similarities and

differences between the rule of

Hatshepsut and Ramses II.

Expository Writing Which

of the rulers discussed in this

section do you think had the

greatest effect upon Egyptian

history? Write a short essay to

explain your answer.

What Did You Learn?

Study Central™ Need help with the

material in this section? Visit jat.glencoe.com

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 67

Why Were Temples Built? Under Ramses

II and other New Kingdom rulers, scores of

new temples rose throughout Egypt. Many

were built by enslaved people captured in

war. The most magnificent was Karnak at

Thebes. Its huge columned hall decorated

with colorful paintings still impresses visi-

tors today.

Unlike modern churches, temples, and

mosques, Egyptian temples did not hold

regular services. Instead, most Egyptians

prayed at home. They considered the tem-

ples as houses for the gods and goddesses.

Priests and priestesses, however, performed

daily temple rituals, washing statues of the

deities and bringing them food.

The temples also served as banks.

Egyptians used them to store valuable

items, such as gold jewelry, sweet-smelling

oils, and finely woven cloth.

Egypt’s Decline and Fall After Ramses II,

Egypt’s power began to fade. Later pharaohs

had trouble keeping neighboring countries

under Egyptian control. Groups from the

eastern Mediterranean attacked Egypt by sea,

using strong iron weapons. The Egyptians

had similar arms, but they paid dearly for

them because Egypt lacked iron ore.

By 1150 B.C., the Egyptians had lost their

empire and controlled only the Nile delta.

Beginning in the 900s B.C., Egypt came

under the rule of one outside group after

another. The first conquerors were the

Libyans from the west. Then in 760 B.C., the

people of Kush, a land to the south, seized

power and ruled Egypt for the next 70

years. Finally, in 670 B.C., Egypt was taken

over by the Assyrians.

Identify

What groups con-

quered Egypt starting in the 900s

B.C.?

Middle Kingdom New Kingdom

059-067 Ch2 S3-824133 3/17/05 11:42 AM Page 67

ivilization

ush

c. 750 B.C.

Kashta of

Kush conquers

part of Egypt

Napata

Mero¨e

800 B.C. 700 B.C. 600 B.C. 500 B.C.

68 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

What’s the Connection?

In Sections 1, 2, and 3, you

learned about the rise and fall of

civilizations in ancient Egypt.

Another civilization in early Africa

was Kush. It was located near Egypt

and was very similar.

Focusing on the

• To the south of Egypt, the Nubians

settled in farming villages and

became strong warriors.

(page 69)

• The people of Kush devoted

themselves to ironworking and grew

wealthy from trade.

(page 70)

Locating Places

Nubia (NOO•bee•uh)

Kush (KUHSH)

Kerma (KAR•muh)

Napata (NA•puh•tuh)

Meroë (MEHR•oh•ee)

Meeting People

Kashta (KAHSH•tuh)

Piye (PY)

Building Your Vocabulary

savanna (suh•VA •nuh)

Reading Strategy

Compare and Contrast Use a Venn

diagram like the one below to show

the similarities and differences

between Napata and Meroë.

The

Napata

Meroë

728 B.C.

Piye of Kush

defeats Egyptians

c. 540 B.C.

Kush moves

capital to Meroë

068-072 Ch2 S4-824133 3/9/04 4:53 AM Page 68

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 69

In this wall painting, four Nubian princes offer rings and gold to an Egyptian ruler.

What kingdom was formed when more powerful Nubian villages took over weaker ones?

Nubia

To the south of Egypt, the Nubians set-

tled in farming villages and became strong warriors.

Reading Focus Are you on good terms with your neigh-

bors? It’s not always easy—for individuals or countries.

Read on to find out about the Egyptians’ neighbors to the

south and the ways the two civilizations mixed.

The Egyptians were not alone in settling

along the Nile River. Farther south, in

present-day Sudan, another strong civiliza-

tion arose. This was in a region called

Nubia (NOO•bee•uh), later known as Kush

(KUHSH).

Historians do not know exactly when

people arrived in Nubia. Evidence suggests

that cattle herders arrived in about 2000 B.C.

They grazed their herds on the savannas

(suh•VA •nuhs), or grassy plains, that stretch

across Africa south of the Sahara. Later, peo-

ple settled in farming villages in Nubia. They

grew crops, but they were also excellent

hunters, skilled at using the bow and arrow.

Soon the Nubians began forming armies

known for their fighting skills.

The Kingdom of Kerma The more pow-

erful Nubian villages gradually took over

the weaker ones and created the kingdom

of Kerma (KAR • muh). Kerma developed

close ties with Egypt to the north. The

Egyptians were happy to trade for Kerma’s

cattle, gold, ivory, and enslaved people.

They also admired Nubian skills in warfare

and hired Nubian warriors to fight in their

armies.

Kerma became a wealthy kingdom. Its

artisans made fine pottery, jewelry, and metal

goods. Like Egyptian pharaohs, the kings of

Kerma were buried in tombs that held pre-

cious stones, gold, jewelry, and pottery. These

items were as splendid as those found in

Egypt during the same period.

Egyptian Expedition of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Rogers Fund, 1930 (30.4.21)/The Metropolitan Museum of Art

068-072 Ch2 S4-824133 3/9/04 4:54 AM Page 69

Why Did Egypt Invade Nubia? As you

learned earlier, the Egyptian pharaoh

Thutmose III sent his armies into Nubia in

the 1400s B.C. After a 50-year war, the king-

dom of Kerma collapsed, and the Egyptians

took control of much of Nubia. They ruled

the Nubians for the next 700 years.

During this time, the people of Nubia

adopted many Egyptian ways. They began

to worship Egyptian gods and goddesses

along with their own. They learned how

to work copper and bronze and changed

Egyptian hieroglyphs to fit their own lan-

guage. As people and goods continued to

pass between Nubia and Egypt, the two

cultures mixed.

Identify

Where was Kush

located?

The Rise of Kush

The people of Kush devoted them-

selves to ironworking and grew wealthy from trade.

Reading Focus Do you and your friends ever trade

video games or CDs? Trading may be a casual activity

for you, but it was very important to ancient peoples.

Read to find how Kush took advantage of its location

along an important trade route.

As Egypt declined at the end of the New

Kingdom, Nubians saw their chance to

break away. By 850 B.C., a Nubian group

had formed the independent kingdom of

Kush. For the next few centuries, powerful

Kushite kings ruled from the city of Napata

(NA•puh •tuh).

Napata was in a favorable location. It

stood along the upper Nile where trade

caravans crossed the river. Caravans soon

carried gold, ivory, valuable woods, and

other goods from Kush to Egypt.

70 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

300 km

300 mi.0

Lambert Azimuthal

Equal-Area projection

40°E

30°E

30°N

20°N

10°N

Mediterranean Sea

EGYPT

SAHARA

ARABIA

Thebes

Memphis

Napata

Mero¨e

These Kushite pyramids

were much smaller and

had more steeply sloped

sides than Egyptian

pyramids. How else was

Meroë rebuilt to look

like an Egyptian city?

Kush Kingdom c. 250 B.C.

Kush

KEY

Kush developed along the Nile River to the

south of Egypt.

1. Which of Kush’s capital cities was closest to

Egypt?

2. Based on its location, where might trade that

passed through Kush have come from?

Timothy Kendall/Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

068-072 Ch2 S4-824133 3/9/04 4:56 AM Page 70

In time, Kush became rich enough and

strong enough to take control of Egypt.

About 750 B.C., a Kushite king named

Kashta (KAHSH•tuh) headed north with a

powerful army. His soldiers began the

conquest of Egypt that his son Piye (PY)

completed in 728 B.C. Piye founded a

dynasty that ruled both Egypt and Kush

from Napata.

The kings of Kush greatly admired

Egyptian culture. In Napata they built

white sandstone temples and monuments

similar to those of the Egyptians. The

Kushites also built small pyramids in which

to bury their kings. The ruins of these pyra-

mids can still be seen today.

The Importance of Iron Kush’s rule in

Egypt did not last long. During the 600s B.C.,

the Assyrians invaded Egypt. Armed with

iron weapons, they drove the Kushites back

to their homeland in the south.

Despite their losses, the Kushites gained

something from the Assyrians—the secret

of making iron. The Kushites became the

first Africans to devote themselves to iron-

working. Soon, farmers in Kush were using

iron for their hoes and plows instead of

copper or stone. With these superior tools,

they were able to grow large amounts of

grain and other crops.

Kush’s warriors also began using iron

spears and swords, increasing their military

power. Meanwhile, traders from Kush car-

ried iron products and enslaved people as

far away as Arabia, India, and China. In

return, they brought back cotton, textiles,

and other goods.

A New Capital About 540 B.C., Kush’s rulers

left Napata and moved farther south to be

out of the Assyrians’ reach. In the city of

Meroë (MEHR • oh • ee), they set up a royal

court. Like Napata, the new capital had

access to the Nile River for trade and trans-

portation. The rocky desert east of Meroë,

however, contained rich deposits of iron

ore. As a result, Meroë became not only a

trading city but also a center for making

iron.

With their growing wealth, Kush’s

kings rebuilt Meroë to look like an

Egyptian city. Small pyramids stood in the

royal graveyard. A huge temple sat at the

end of a grand avenue lined with sculp-

tures of rams. Sandstone palaces and red-

brick houses had walls decorated with

paintings or blue and yellow tiles.

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 71

Selecting a

New King

When their king died, the Kushites asked

the god Amon-Re to appoint a new leader.

“[The Kushite officials said] ‘We have come to

you, O Amon-Re . . . that you might give to us

a lord. . . . That beneficent office [helpful task]

is in your hands—may

you give it to your son

whom you love!’

Then they offered the

king’s brothers before

this god, but he did not

take one of them. For a

second time there was

offered the king’s

brother . . . Aspalta . . .

[Amon-Re said] ‘He is

your king.’”

—author unknown,

c. 600

B.C.,

“The Selection of Aspalta

as King of Kush”

Do you think Aspalta was qualified to be

king? Why or why not?

Lion statue

in honor of

King Aspalta

Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York/Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund/Bridgeman Art Library

068-072 Ch2 S4-824133 3/9/04 4:58 AM Page 71

Reading Summary

Review the

• In the Nile Valley to the south of

Egypt, the Nubians founded the

kingdom of Kerma and traded

with the Egyptians.

• The Kushites set up a capital at

Meroë that became a center for

ironmaking and the base of a

huge trading network.

1. Who were the Nubians?

2. What were the Kushites’ most

important economic activities?

Critical Thinking

3. Sequencing Draw a diagram

to show events that led up to

the Kushite conquest of Egypt.

Geography Skills Why

was Napata’s location

advantageous?

Analyze How did the Kushite

kings demonstrate their admi-

ration for Egyptian culture?

Compare Describe the simi-

larities between Kush and

Egypt.

Persuasive Writing Create

an advertisement that could

have been used in ancient

Egypt and Kush to promote the

many uses of iron.

What Did You Learn?

Study Central™ Need help with the

material in this section? Visit jat.glencoe.com

72 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

Building a Profitable Trade Meroë became

the center of a huge trading network that

stretched north to Egypt’s border and south

into central Africa. Kush’s traders received

leopard skins and valuable woods from the

interior of Africa. They traded these goods,

along with enslaved workers and their own

iron products, to people throughout the

Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean area.

Kush remained a great trading power

for some 600 years. By the A.D. 200s, though,

the kingdom began to weaken. As Kush

declined, another kingdom rose to take its

place. The kingdom is called Axum and

was located in what is today the country of

Ethiopia. Around A.D. 350, the armies of

Axum burned Meroë to the ground. You

will read more about the kingdom of Axum

when you study Africa.

Explain

How did Kush

become a wealthy kingdom?

Kush Conquest

of Egypt

The Kushite king Taharqa

was one of the most

powerful leaders in

Nubian history. During

his reign, the kingdom

grew and prospered.

He built many large

temples in and

around Egypt

and Kush. What

kingdom replaced

Kush?

Kushite King

Kushite king

Taharqa

SuperStock

068-072 Ch2 S4-824133 3/17/05 11:43 AM Page 72

The Egyptian Empire

The Civilization of Kush

The Nile Valley

Section

Vocabulary

cataract

delta

papyrus

hieroglyphics

dynasty

Vocabulary

pharaoh

deity

embalming

mummy

pyramid

Vocabulary

tribute

incense

Vocabulary

savanna

Focusing on the

• The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile River valley, where natu-

ral barriers discouraged invasions.

(page 39)

• The Egyptians depended on the Nile’s floods to grow their crops. (page 41)

• Around 3100 B.C., Egypt’s two major kingdoms, Upper Egypt and Lower

Egypt, were combined into one.

(page 43)

• Egyptian society was divided into social groups based on wealth and

power.

(page 45)

Focusing on the

• Egypt was ruled by all-powerful pharaohs. (page 48)

• The Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses

and in life after death for the pharaohs.

(page 49)

• The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom built huge stone

pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs.

(page 50)

Focusing on the

• The Middle Kingdom was a golden age of peace, prosperity,

and advances in the arts and architecture.

(page 60)

• During the New Kingdom, Egypt acquired new territory

and reached the height of its power.

(page 61)

• Akhenaton tried to change Egypt’s religion, while Tutankhamen

is famous for the treasures found in his tomb.

(page 64)

• Under Ramses II, Egypt regained territory and built great

temples, but the empire fell by 1150

B.C. (page 65)

Focusing on the

• To the south of Egypt, the Nubians settled in farming villages and became

strong warriors.

(page 69)

• The people of Kush devoted themselves to ironworking and grew wealthy

from trade.

(page 70)

Egypt’s Old Kingdom

Tutankhamen’s

gold mask

Study anywhere, anytime!

Download quizzes and flash cards

to your PDA from glencoe.com

073-075 CH2 CRA-875047 9/7/06 9:03 PM Page 73

Predicting

What Do You Predict?

Read these sentences from page 72.

As Kush declined, another kingdom rose to

take its place. The kingdom is called Axum

and was located in what is today the country

of Ethiopia. Around

A.D. 350, the armies of

Axum burned Meroë to the ground. You will

read more about the kingdom of Axum when

you study Africa.

20. Based on what you know about the loca-

tion of Ethiopia and the culture of Kush

and Egypt, predict what the kingdom of

Axum might be like. Check your predic-

tions when you read about medieval

Africa.

To review this skill,see pages 36–37.

Section 2 • Egypt’s Old Kingdom

10. What were the Egyptians’ religious beliefs?

11. Where did Egyptians of the Old Kingdom

bury their pharaohs?

Section 3 • The Egyptian Empire

12. Why was the Middle Kingdom called a

golden age?

13. Why are Akhenaton and Tutankhamen

well-known?

Section 4 • The Civilization of Kush

14. Where did the Nubians live?

15. What made the Kushites wealthy?

Critical Thinking

16. Describe Identify the four social groups

in ancient Egypt, and explain who

belonged to each group.

17.

Synthesize How do you think religious

leaders reacted to Akhenaton’s changes?

18.

Analyze Do you agree that Egyptian civi-

lization can be called “the Gift of the

Nile”? Explain.

19.

Compare In what ways did Meroë look

like an Egyptian city?

Review Vocabulary

Match the definitions in the second column to

the terms in the first column. Write the letter of

each definition.

___

1. savanna a. area of fertile soil at

the end of a river

___

2. tribute b. reed plant used to

make baskets, rafts,

and paper

___

3. cataract c. grassy plain

___

4. delta d. rapids

___

5. hieroglyphics e. Egyptian writing

system

___

6. pharaoh f. forced payments

___

7. papyrus g. title for Egyptian

leaders

Review Main Ideas

Section 1 • The Nile Valley

8. What natural barriers protected Egypt

from invasion?

9. What factors divided Egyptians into social

groups?

74 CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt

073-075 CH2 CRA-824133 3/22/04 8:55 AM Page 74

100 km

Azimuthal Equidistant projection

100 mi.

W E

30°E

30°N

Mediterranean Sea

Red Sea

Dead

Sea

Great Pyramid

and Sphinx

ARABIAN

DESERT

WESTERN

DESERT

EASTERN

DESERT

NILE DELTA

LOWER EGYPT

UPPER EGYPT

Giza

Memphis

Thebes

CHAPTER 2 Ancient Egypt 75

Ancient Egypt

Analyze

The Greek historian Herodotus noticed

that the Nile was different from other

rivers.

“The Nile, when it floods, spreads over not

only the Delta but parts of what are called

Libya and Arabia for two days’ journey in

either direction, more or less....This that I

have mentioned was the subject of my

persistent asking why, and also why it is

that it is the only river that has no breezes

blowing from it.”

—Herodotus, The History, 2.19

28. According to Herodotus, how much

land does the Nile cover when it

floods?

29. What two questions does Herodotus

ask about the Nile?

Geography Skills

Study the map below and answer the following

questions.

21.

Location The Nile River delta empties

into what body of water?

22.

Movement Why would ancient Egyptians

find it easier to travel north and south than

to travel east and west?

23.

Human/Environment Interaction Why

is most farming in ancient Egypt and in

present-day Egypt done along the Nile?

Read to Write

24. Descriptive Writing Imagine you are an

ancient Egyptian pharaoh. You are making

plans that your followers will carry out

after your death. Describe the types of

items you want buried with you in your

pyramid. Then explain what people from

later centuries will know about you if they

find those items.

25.

Using Your Use your foldable to

describe one of the civilizations from the

chapter, including such things as religious

life, family life, and contributions. A class-

mate should identify which civilization you

are describing. Then your classmate will

describe a civilization, and you will identify

it. When you are finished, discuss similari-

ties and differences among the civilizations.

Using Technology

26. Developing Multimedia Presentations

Use the Internet and your local library to

find out more about the reign of one of the

Egyptian pharaohs. Create a computer

slide show presentation that includes

details about the pharaoh’s reign and life.

Include an illustrated time line of significant

events.

Linking Past and Present

27. Organizing Information Use the Internet

and atlases to locate present-day countries

that rely heavily on a major river. Make a

chart listing the country, the river, the

river’s length and average depth, and how

the people of that country use the river.

Self-Check Quiz To help prepare for the

Chapter Test, visit jat.glencoe.com

Nile Valley

KEY

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