The document summarizes key aspects of ancient Egypt's geography, economy, and political history. It notes that Egypt's civilization was centered around the fertile valley created by the Nile River. The annual flooding of the Nile was vital to Egypt's agriculture. It also describes the three main periods of ancient Egypt - the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom - highlighting the strong centralized state and construction of pyramids in the Old Kingdom and the empire building of powerful pharaohs like Ramses II in the New Kingdom. The Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt and integral to the rise of what became the world's first unified state.

1. Section 1 Notes

2.  “Egypt is wholly the gift of the Nile”

3.  Farming villages were formed along the Nile River
 “Black Land”---narrow band (10 miles) of irrigated
land
 “Red Land”---Sahara Desert
 Farmers used the fertile soil of the Nile Valley to grow
crops such as wheat and flax
 The ancient Egyptians eagerly awaited the yearly
flooding of the Nile---it brought life-giving water and
spread a layer of silt

4.  Flooding needed to be controlled
 Ancient Egyptians used dikes, reservoirs, and
irrigation ditches to channel the rising river and store
water for the dry season

7.  Ancient Egypt had two distinct regions: Upper Egypt
and Lower Egypt
 Upper Egypt stretched from the first cataract of the
Nile northward to within 100 miles of the
Mediterranean
 Lower Egypt covered the delta region where the Nile
empties into the Mediterranean
 About 3100 BC, Menes united the two regions---the
Nile helped to make Egypt the world’s first unified
state and served as the major trade route in Egypt

9.  History of ancient Egypt is divided into three main
periods
 Old Kingdom---about 2700BC to 2200BC
 During the Old Kingdom, Egyptian rulers called
pharaohs organized a strong, centralized state
 Pharaohs claimed divine support for their rule
 Egyptians believed the pharaoh was a god---the
pharaoh thus had absolute power, owning and ruling
all the land in the kingdom
 Vizier---chief minister of a pharaoh who supervised
the business of government

10.  Under the vizier, various departments looked after tax
collection, farming, and the all-important irrigation system
 The majestic pyramids at Giza were built during the Old
Kingdom
 To complete the pyramids, workers hauled and lifted
millions of limestone blocks, some weighing two tons or
more. The builders had NO iron tools or wheeled vehicles.
Workers quarried the stones by hand, pulled them on sleds
to the site, and hoisted them up earthen ramps. Building a
pyramid took so long that often a pharaoh would begin to
build his tomb as soon as he inherited the throne.

15.  Middle Kingdom---about 2050BC to 1800BC
 The Middle Kingdom was a turbulent period
 The Nile did not rise as regularly as it had
 Corruption and rebellions were common

16.  New Kingdom---about 1550BC to 1100BC
 During the New Kingdom, powerful and ambitious
pharaohs created a large empire
 At its height, the Egyptian empire reached the
Euphrates River (in Iraq)

17.  The most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom was
Ramses II
 Between 1290BC and 1224BC, Ramses pushed Egyptian
rule northward as far as Syria

20.  Nubia was located just to the south of ancient Egypt
 For centuries, Egyptians traded or fought with their
southern neighbor. From Nubia, they acquired
ivory, cattle, and slaves.
 During the New Kingdom, Egypt conquered Nubia.
Ramses II used gold from Nubia to pay charioteers in
his army