Ancient Egypt

Today in Western Civilization we started taking on our new section called Ancient Egypt. Here are the notes I took.

Geography

·      Egyptian life is centered around the Nile River

·      The Nile River flows from South to North

·      Cataracts – water is rocky and rough

·      Water from the Nile was used for irrigating, for bathing, and for transportation

·      Every July it floods (snow melts/ rain water)

·      Every October it leaves behind rich soil

·      The delta is a broad, marshy triangular area of fertile soil

·      Managing the river required technological breakthrough irrigation

Pyramids

·      The Great Sphinx of Giza

·      Built 2555-2532 BC

·      The Sphinx is a recumbent lion with s human’s head

·      The oldest monumental statue in the world

Daily Life

·      Pyramidal Society: Pharaoh, Government officials – Nobles and Priests, Soldiers, Scribes, Merchants, Artisans, Farmers, Slaves and Servants

·      Slaves and Servants helped the wealthy with household and child raising duties

·      Farmers raised wheat, barley, lentils, onions – benefitted irrigation of the Nile

·      Artisans would carve statues and reliefs showing military battles and scenes to the afterlife

·      Merchants eventually used the money/barter system – merchants might accept bags of grain for payment – later, coinage came about