Ancient Egypt was one of the earliest and most influential civilizations. The document provides background information on Ancient Egypt, including that the name 'Egypt' comes from the Greek name for the country. It discusses some of Egypt's major river valley civilizations and highlights the importance of the predictable flooding of the Nile River in the development of Egyptian settlements and agriculture. Key sites from Ancient Egypt are described, such as the pyramids at Giza and structures built during the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. Ancient Egyptian cities, tomb types (such as mastabas and rock-cut tombs), and religious sites (like Karnak and Luxor Temple) are also outlined.

1. Ancient Egypt

2. Ancient Egypt
Egypt is a country in North Africa,
on the Mediterranean Sea, and is
among the oldest civilizations on
earth. The name 'Egypt' comes from
the Greek Aegyptos which was the
Greek pronunciation of the Egyptian
name 'Hwt-Ka-Ptah' (which means
"House of the Spirit of Ptah", who
was a very early God of the Ancient
Egyptians). ,
the country was known simply
as Misr which means 'country', a
name still in use by Egyptians for
their nation in the present day.

3. River Valley Civilizations
• Sumerian Civilization - Tigris & Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia)
• Egyptian Civilization - Nile River
• Harappan Civilization - Indus River
• Ancient China - Huang He (Yellow) River

4. Ancient Egypt

5. Ancient Egypt
• Sumerian Civilization - Tigris &
Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia)
• Egyptian Civilization - Nile River

6. Egypt on the Nile
A. The Nile
1. Egypt’s settlements arose along
narrow strip of land made fertile by
the river
2. Yearly flooding, but predictable
Regular cycle: flood, plant,
harvest
3. Intricate network of irrigation
ditches
4. Worshiped as a god – giver of life
and benevolent
B. Environment
1. Unlike Mesopotamia, the Nile was
predictable
2. Deserts on both sides of Nile
- provided natural protection against
invaders
- also reduced interaction with other
people
Egypt would develop mostly in isolation
and therefore, a culture that was quite
unique.

7. Ancient Egypt
I. GEOGRAPHY
B. Upper and Lower Egypt
1. Most of Egypt’s history focused
around Lower Egypt, around the
Nile delta which flows into the
Mediterranean Sea.
Upper Egypt developed later
upstream Nile provided reliable
transportation to go north, drift with
the current toward the sea to go
south, sail catching the
Mediterranean breeze

8. UNITED EGYPT’S
GOVERNMENT
A. Unlike Sumeria, no independent
city-states in Egypt
B. Menes, the king of Upper Egypt,
1. united the two regions – Upper
and Lower – in 3,100 B.C.E.
2. Capital: Memphis
3. Creates first Egyptian dynasty
C. The Pharaoh [means, royal
house] – the ruler of Egypt
1. were considered gods; served
both political and religious roles

9. • EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD 2920-2575 BCE
Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by Menes. Foundation of the capital Memphis. Early Step
Pyramid is built at Saqqara.
OLD KINGDOM - 2660-2180 BCE
The Great Pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure (Mycerinus) are built at Giza.
Pyramids of Sahure, Neferirkare, Raneferef, Neuserre are built at Abusir.
MIDDLE KINGDOM 2180-1550 BCE
Fragmentation of centralized power. Kings in Thebes establish control over all Egypt. Chaos leads
central administration in Lower Egypt to disappear following infiltration by Hyksos, an Asiatic people
in the Nile Delta. Upper Egypt dominated by kings in Thebes.
NEW KINGDOM 1550-1070 BCE
Theban king Ahmose expels the Hyksos and reunites Egypt. Reigns of such kings as Amenhotep
and Thutmose (Thutmosis). Memphis now main residential city. Ramses II (1290- 1224 BC) divides
power in Middle East with the Hittites; Qantir capital of Egypt. Invasions of mysterious sea peoples
wreck havoc throughout Mediterranean region.
• Future history….
Alexander the Great of Macedonia / Greece conquers and the Ptolemy dynasty governs; 332 – 30 BC
After the defeat of Cleopatra, the last Ptolemy ruler, the Roman emperors exploit Egypt as the main
production center of wheat, papyrus and textiles for the vast Roman Empire; 30 BC – 394 AD

10. Ancient Egypt Old
Kingdom
• Pyramids The Old Kingdom period is most famous for building pyramids.
This includes the first pyramid, the Pyramid of Djoser, and the largest
pyramid, the Great Pyramid at Giza. The peak of the Old Period was
during the Fourth Dynasty when pharaohs such as Sneferu and Khufu
ruled. The Fourth Dynasty built the Giza complex including several large
pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
• Interesting Facts About the Old Kingdom of Egypt
• Pharaoh Pepi II, who ruled near the end of the Old Kingdom, was
pharaoh for around 90 years. The capital city of Egypt during the Old
Kingdom was Memphis.
• Art flourished during the Old Period. Many of the styles and images
created during the Old Kingdom were imitated for the next 3000 years.
• The Old Kingdom is sometimes referred to as the "Age of Pyramids."
Egypt established trade with many foreign civilizations during this period.
• They built trade ships to travel the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Much
of what we know about the Old Kingdom comes from tombs, pyramids,
and temples.
• The cities where people lived were largely made from mud and have long
since been destroyed. Some historians say the Old Kingdom continued
until the end of the Eighth Dynasty when the capital city moved away
from Memphis.
The "Old Kingdom" is a period of
time during the history of Ancient
Egypt. It lasted from 2575 BC to
2150 BC. Over these 400 years,
Egypt had a strong central
government and a prosperous
economy.
The Old Kingdom is most famous as
a time when many pyramids were
built.
Egypt became wealthy enough to
build the first Egyptian pyramid, the
Pyramid of Djoser.

11. Giza Necropolis • Why was the Great Pyramid built? The Great
Pyramid was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu.
The pyramid once held all the treasures that Khufu
would take with him to the afterlife.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the
largest of all the Egyptian pyramids
and is one of the Seven Wonders of
the Ancient World. It is located
around 5 miles to the west of the
Nile River near the city of Cairo,
Egypt.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is part of
a larger complex called the Giza
Necropolis. There are two other
major pyramids in the complex
including the Pyramid of Khafre and
the Pyramid of Menkaure. It also
includes the Great Sphinx and
several cemeteries.

12. The Great Pyramid
of Giza
It took 20,000 workers around 20
years to build the Great Pyramid. Its
construction began around 2580 BC,
shortly after Khufu became pharaoh,
and was completed around 2560
BC.
No one is quite sure how the
pyramids were built. There are a lot
of different theories as to how the
Egyptians were able to lift such large
stone blocks all the way up to the
top of the pyramids. It is likely that
they used ramps to move the stones
up the sides of the pyramid. They
may have used wooden sleds or
water to help the stones slide better
and reduce friction.

13. The Great Pyramid
of Giza
Interesting Facts about the Great Pyramid of Giza
It is thought that the architect of the pyramid was
Khufu's vizier (his second in command) named
Hemiunu.
There were three small pyramids next to the
Great Pyramid built for Khufu's wives. It was the
tallest man-made structure in the world for over
3,800 years until a spire was built on the Lincoln
Cathedral in England in 1300.
Recent evidence suggests that paid skilled
workers built the Giza Pyramids, not slaves.
Despite its name, archeologists do not think that
the Queen's Chamber is where the queen was
buried.
No treasure was found inside the pyramid. It was
likely looted by grave robbers over a thousand
years ago. The pyramid was originally covered
with flat polished white limestone.
It would have had a smooth surface and shone
brightly in the sun. These cover stones were
removed to construct other buildings over the
years.

14. The
Stepped Pyramid of
Djoser at Saqqara
The Stepped Pyramid of Djoser at
Saqqara is an archaeological remain
in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt,
northwest of the city of Memphis.
It was built during the 27th century
BC for the burial of Pharaoh
Djoser by his vizier, Imhotep.

15. Middle Kingdom
• The "Middle Kingdom" is a period of
time during the history of Ancient Egypt.
It lasted from 1975 BC to 1640 BC. The
Middle Kingdom was the second peak
period of the Ancient Egyptian
civilization (the other two being the Old
Kingdom and the New Kingdom).
During this time all of Egypt was united
under a single government and
Pharaoh.
• The Middle Kingdom period was ruled
by the Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth
Dynasties. Historians sometimes
include the Fourteenth Dynasty as well.
• Around 2000 BC, a powerful leader
named Mentuhotep II became king of
southern Egypt. He launched an attack
on the north and eventually reunited
Egypt under one rule. This began the
period of the Middle Kingdom.
• Under the rule of Mentuhotep II, Thebes
became the capital of Egypt
• Mentuhotep II ruled for 51 years. During
that time, he re-established the pharaoh
as the god-king of Egypt. He rebuilt the
central government and expanded the
borders of Egypt.

16. Second Intermediate
Period The
Second Intermediate Period The Second
Intermediate Period is most famous for
the rule of foreign invaders called the
Hyksos. The Hyksos ruled northern Egypt
from the capital city of Avaris until around
1550 BC.
Interesting Facts About the Middle
Kingdom of Egypt
The pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom
often appointed their sons as coregents,
which was kind of like a vice-pharaoh.
The Pharaoh Senusret III was one of the
most powerful leaders of the Middle
Kingdom.
He is sometimes called a "warrior-king"
because he personally led his troops into
battle. The Middle Kingdom is sometimes
referred to as Egypt's "classical age" or
"The Period of Reunification." During the
Twelfth Dynasty, a new capital city was
built called Itj Tawy.
Mentuhotep II

17. Ancient Egypt New
Kingdom
• Interesting Facts About the New Kingdom of Egypt
• There were eleven pharaohs who had the name
Ramesses (or Ramses) during the the Nineteenth and
Twentieth Dynasties.
• This period is sometimes called the Ramesside period.
• Hatshepsut was one of the few women who became
pharaoh. She ruled Egypt for around 20 years.
• The Egyptian Empire was at its largest during the rule of
Thutmose III. He is sometimes called the "Napoleon of
Egypt.
• " Pharaoh Akhenaten converted from the traditional
religion of Egypt to the worship of one all-powerful god
named Aten. He built a new capital city named Amarna in
the honor of Aten.
The "New Kingdom" is a period of
time during the history of Ancient
Egypt. It lasted from around 1520
BC to 1075 BC. The New Kingdom
was the golden age of the civilization
of Ancient Egypt. It was a time of
wealth, prosperity, and power.
The Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and
Twentieth Egyptian Dynasties ruled
during the New Kingdom. They
included some of the most famous
and powerful of all the Egyptian
pharaohs such as
Ramses II, Thutmose III,
Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun and
Akhentaten.

18. Cemeteries
As the pyramids were constructed,
the mastabas for lesser royals were
constructed around them. Near the
pyramid of Khufu, the main
cemetery is G 7000 which lies in the
East Field located to the east of the
main pyramid and next to the
Queen’s pyramids. These
cemeteries around the pyramids
were arranged along streets and
avenues.

19. Ancient Egypt Cities
Capital Cities
The largest and most important
cities in Ancient Egypt were the
capital cities.
• Memphis
• Thebes
• Alexandria
• Amarna
• Abydos
• Hermopolis
• Crocodilopolis
• Elephantine
• Kom Ombo

20. Mastaba
is a type of ancient Egyptian tomb in
the form of a flat-roofed, rectangular
structure with inward sloping sides,
constructed out of mud-bricks (from
the Nile River) or stone. These
edifices marked the burial sites of
many eminent Egyptians during
Egypt's Early Dynastic
Period and Old Kingdom.

21. Rock-cut tomb
A rock-cut tomb is a burial chamber
that is cut into an existing, naturally
occurring rock formation, usually
along the side of a hill. It was a
common form of burial for the
wealthy in ancient times in several
parts of the world.

22. What is a Sphinx?
What is a Sphinx?
A Sphinx is a mythological creature
with the body of a lion and the head
of a person.
In Ancient Egypt a lot of times the
head was that of a Pharaoh or a
god.
The Great Sphinx is huge! It is 241
feet long, 20 feet wide, and 66 feet
high. The eyes on the face are 6 feet
tall, the ears over three feet tall, and
the nose would have been nearly 5
feet long before it was knocked off. It
is carved out of the bedrock in a
trench at the Giza site.

23. Ancient Egypt King
Tut's Tomb
The tomb is in the Valley of the
Kings near Luxor, Egypt.
This was where the Pharaohs and
powerful nobles were buried for
around 500 years during the history
of Ancient Egypt.

24. Pyramid of Khafre
The Pyramid of Khafre or of
Chephren is the second-tallest and
second-largest of the Ancient
Egyptian Pyramids of Giza and the
tomb of the
Fourth-
Dynasty pharaoh Khafre (Chefren),
who ruled from c. 2558 to 2532 BC.

25. Cairo, Gizeh,
Pyramid of
Menkaure, Egypt
The Pyramid of Menkaure, located
on the Giza Plateau in the
southwestern outskirts
of Cairo, Egypt, is the smallest of the
three main Pyramids of Giza. It is
thought to have been built to serve
as the tomb of the fourth
dynasty Egyptian PharaohMenkaure

26. Sneferu's Bent
Pyramid in Dahshur
The Bent Pyramid is an ancient
Egyptian pyramid located at the
royal necropolis of Dahshur,
approximately 40 kilometres south
of Cairo, built under the Old
Kingdom Pharaoh Sneferu (c. 2600
BC). A unique example of early
pyramid development in Egypt, this
was the second pyramid built
by Sneferu.
The Bent Pyramid rises from the
desert at a 54-degree inclination, but
the top section is built at the
shallower angle of 43 degrees,
lending the pyramid its very obvious
'bent' appearance.

27. Abu Simbel temples
The complex was relocated in its
entirety in 1968, on an artificial hill
made from a domed structure, high
above the Aswan High
Dam reservoir. The relocation of the
temples was necessary to prevent
their being submerged during the
creation of Lake Nasser, the
massive artificial water reservoir
formed after the building of the
Aswan High Dam on the Nile River.

28. Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple is a large Ancient
Egyptian temple complex located on
the east bank of the Nile River in the
city today known
as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was
constructed approximately 1400
BCE. In the Egyptian language it is
known as ipet resyt, "the southern
sanctuary". In Luxor there are
several great temples on the east
and west banks

29. Karnak
Karnak, located on the East Bank at
Thebes, is one of Egypt’s largest
surviving temple. Founded in the
Middle Kingdom, it had become
Egypt’s principal religious centre by
the New Kingdom.
The walls of the pylons, courts, and
temples were extensively decorated;
the reliefs here include depictions of
cult activities, religious festivals,
coronation ceremonies, and military
campaigns

30. Precinct of Amun-Re

31. Valley of the Kings
The valley stands on the west bank of
the Nile, opposite Thebes
(modern Luxor), within the heart of
the Theban Necropolis.
The wadi consists of two valleys, East
Valley (where the majority of the royal
tombs are situated) and West Valley.

32. Deir el-Bahari
Deir el-Bahari is a complex
of mortuary temples and tombs
located on the west bank of the Nile,
opposite the city of Luxor, Egypt.
This is a part of the Theban
Necropolis.
Mentuhotep II, Eleventh
Dynasty king who reunited Egypt at
the beginning of the Middle
Kingdom, built a very unusual
funerary complex. His mortuary
temple was built on several levels in
the great bay at Deir el-Bahari.

34. Pyramid of Unas
The Pyramid Complex of Unas is
located in the pyramid field
at Saqqara, near Cairo in Egypt. It
was built for pharaoh Unas, the ninth
and final king of the Fifth Dynasty in
the mid 24th century BC. Its ancient
name, Nefer Isut Unas, means
"Beautiful are the places of Unas".
Originally reaching 43 metres
(141 ft) high with a square base of
58 by 58 metres (190 ft × 190 ft), the
pyramid is now completely ruined.

35. architectnazim@gmail.com
Ar. Nazim Bin Shamshiraz Saifi