ANCIENT EGYPTIAN AND AFRICAN CIVILIZATION

The Nile River Valley Civilization started at the northern most peak of the Nile River at the time of the
Neolithic Revolution. This early civilization formed down the lush fields of the Nile River. Protected by
the water and desert, the civilization was able to grow into Egypt and surrounding colonies.
CATEGORY
1. POLITICAL SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION
Organization:

Political History developed around 3100 B.C.E.

3100 B.C.E:
-

Merging of several earlier states into a unified

territory stretching 1000 miles along Nile.

Maintained this unity and independence for almost

3000 years.
Southern wind patterns and northern currents
made sailing along Nile very easy.
- Facilitated communication, exchange, unity. And
stability in the Nile Valley.
Cities not as important as in Mesopotamia.
- Cities included:
a. Political Capitals.
b. Market Centers.
c. Major burial sites.
- All of which gave Egypt an urban presence as well.
Centralized government:
- Pharaoh, a god in human form, was the focus of the
Egyptian State.
a. Ensured Niles annual flooding.
b. Defined Law.
c. Was the peoples link to the afterlife.
d. Most powerful in 2200 B.C.E.
Political leader:

Menes
First Dynasty Egyption King
Possibly found Ancient Rome
Accredited for combining upper and lower Egypt
Military:
- In the early times of the empire the weapons were
small compared to later times.
- Clubs and stone- headed maces, daggers, and
spear heads of copper were used.
- After Egypt was attacked by the Hyksos, they
started using the composite bow, horses and
chariots.
- Their use of chariots gave them advantages over
their enemies.
- The Egyptian military were not innovative in itself
but adapted enemy weapons which made them a
powerhouse.
2. SOCIAL STRUCTURE

How it is developed?
Social Structure/Job Specification:
King
Had a special status
Female companion also had a special status
Ruler of the land
Ruling Class
Related or of high importance of the King
Craftsman
Craftsman make weapons and tools for the people
Work on the decorations for tombs
Farmers
Most people of the Nile tribes were farmers that can only be

vaguely distinguished by their tombs.

Marginalized Groups
Very little known about the people.
Did not live in organized structures
Acted as military
Slaves
Little evidence of slavery
Servants were often used and sold.
The Pyramids were built by servants who were paid in beer

3. SOCIAL CLASS

Pharaohs-They were the leaders who were thought to be gods

in human form.
- They owned all the land.
Women- They had greater rights than in other regions.
- They could own, sell and inherit property.
- They could dissolve marriages.
- Men were still superior to women.
Slaves- They were prisoners of war or captured during
conquest of surrounding areas.
- Slaves could be appointed into positions in the
government and palace.
Social Mobility- Social mobility was possible.
- Peasants and farmers could move up the economic
ladder.
- Lower class families could save money to send their
sons to learn a trade.

4. ECONOMY/TRADE
SYSTEM

Very wealthy:
- Artwork involved gold and precious stones.
- Funding for Great Pyramids and other engineering

marvels.
- Economy strongly fueled by agriculture.
Interaction and Exchange:
- Frequently interacted with Mesopotamia
Egypts strong agriculture benefitted from
interaction:
- Wheat and barley, Egypts primary crops, came
from Mesopotamia
- Received gourds, watermelon, and domesticated
donkeys and cattle from Sudan.
- Scholars believe Egyptian step pyramid and writing
derived from Mesopotamian models.
Established long-distance trade routes.
Egyptian influence can be seen in Mediterranean
basin.
- Minoan art influenced by Egypts.
- Greeks drew heavily on Egyptian art, religion,
philosophy, and language.
The inhabitants of the Nile River Valley Civilization depended
heavily on farming. Close proximity to the Nile allowed easy
access to water needed for crops. Seasonal flooding fertilized the
land for the next year's crops. Agriculture was essential for
survival, growth, and economic success.
5. TECHNOLOGIES

Paper and Writing:

-

Papyrus formed from beaten strips of Papyrus

plant introduced in 3000 B.C.E.

Egyptian hieroglyphics served as basis for

Phoenician alphabet, from which later alphabets

derived.
Buildings:
- Temples:
a. Many still standing today.

b. Among largest constructions ever conceived and

built by humans.
c. Rock cut tombs showed they had mining and rock
cutting technology.
- Pyramids:
a. Built by brick/stone slabs.
b. Built for tombs of Pharaohs.
c. The only one of the Seven Wonders of the World
still standing.
d. Capped in gold and outfitted in polished white
limestone.
- Ships and Navigation:
a. Used sails to navigate.
b. Introduced a variety of ships.
c. Introduced stern-mounted rudders.
d. First to evolve sails for better navigation.
- Agriculture and Irrigation:
a. Egypts main economic stabilizer.
b. Used flooding of the Nile for maximum crop
output.
c. Used domestic animals to make work easier.
6. KNOWLEDGE/
INVENTIONS/WRITINGS

d. Main crops were barley and wheat.

- The Egyptians had a highly advanced writing
system known as hieroglyphics.
- They were series of pictures that represented
letters and words.
- They were interested in astronomy.
- This lead to the creation of their calendar.
- They were highly skilled.
- Engineering the pyramids.
- They used precious metals and stone.
- Egyptians used job specialization.
Produced a 365-day calendar based on astronomy.
Developed early Geometry used for designing fields and canals.

Hieroglyphics were created and carved on to tablets for

7. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

communication
- Polytheistic
- Some gods include Re, Anubis, Seth, Osiris, Isis and
Horus.
- They had a main focus on the afterlife.
-They believed they could take belongings with
them.
- Believed the body was useful in the afterlife
therefore mummification was created.
- Once dead it was said that your soul would be
weighed against Anubis Father.
- If your soul was heavy with bad deeds then you
were punished.
- If lighter then Anubis, you would move on.
- Egyptians sacrificed animals in religious rituals.
- Cats were important.
Polytheistic religion - Multiple gods
What they believed?
Religious practices:

8. ART AND
ARCHITECTURE

Gods:
Art
Involved precious metals and stones:
- Showed extreme wealth.
- Many Pharaohs sarcophagus made out of gold.
- Pyramids originally capped in gold and outlined in
polished white limestone.
Egyptian sculptures and pyramids:
- Showed job specialization: had to mine stone,
develop tools which would cut stone.
- Showed use of technology: lever and ramp
introduced to help carry heavy stone slabs for
pyramids.
Artwork was very colorful:

- Shows they were resourceful: had to find different

resources to produce the different colors.
Shows gender equality:
- Artwork often included women just as much as
men, and almost never showing one was better than
the other.
Buildings/Structures
Pyramids
Large boats for transport
Rigid structures that held pharaoh at the top, followed by priests,
artisans, farmers, and finally slaves.
9. RIVER SYSTEM

Geography for the Nile River Valley Civilization was very

important. The Nile would flood each year starting in July and
lasting until November. This flood would provide new, rich soil
for the Egyptians and would wash away waste. The seas around
the civilization served a barrier against war and disease.

10. CITY-STATE

References:
https://apworldhistory-rochester-k12-mi-us.wikispaces.com/1C.+Basic+features+of+early+civilizations+Mesopotamia,+Indus+Valley,+%26+Egypt
http://www.rivervalleycivilizations.com/nile.html