Egypt – the Nile country
the location of ancient Egypt and the role of the Nile in the life of Egyptians;
who the pharaohs were;
about Egyptians’ beliefs and the related funeral ceremonies;
that the fear of death and beliefs about life after death are universal, i.e. they occurred in the old days and they accompany humanity until today;
that cemeteries/burial sites are an important source of knowledge about the life and beliefs of people who were buried there.
The Egyptian state emerged on the Nile River in north‑east Africa in the 4th millennium BC. Regular Nile floods contributed to the development of Egypt’s agriculture. The state was ruled by a pharaohpharaoh (king) who was believed to be a god on earth. A pharaohpharaoh held absolute power over Egypt and its people. PriestsPriests and government officials also played a very important role. Egyptians worshipped many deities and perceived them as human figures with animal heads. They also believed in life after death and, therefore, they mummifiedmummified their deceased. The people of Egypt are famous for being ingenious builders. They constructed massive stone structures called the pyramidspyramids (pharaoh'spharaoh's tombs) which have survived until this very day. In Egypt, the hieroglyphic script was used.
Match events to correct dates.
Development of hieroglyphic writing., The rise of ancient Egypt., The death of Cleopatra, the occupation of Egypt by Rome., Founding Alexandria in Egypt., The rule of Pharaoh Tutankhamen., The Great Pyramid of Giza is being built.
| the turn of the fourth and third millennium BC | |
| twenty-sixth century BC | |
| fourteenth century BC | |
| thirty century BC | |
| 332 BC | |
| 30 BC |
Please read the following text carefully, get acquainted with the photo and the gallery of illustrations. Why was the Nile so important in the lives of the Egyptians? Why is it said that Egypt is a gift of the Nile?a gift of the Nile?
The life of the inhabitants of ancient Egypt was connected with the Nile. Over 5000 years ago, they chose the river valley as a place to settle, because the river provided water needed for drinking and cultivating plants in the sun‑burned desertdesert. The Nile flooded every spring. Falling water dropped the fertile sediment on the fields along the river. As a result, fertile farmlands were created, which gave the farmers a rich harvest. Sometimes, however, there was little water, drought came and reigned hunger.
The Egyptians closely watched the floods of the Nilefloods of the Nile. Special constructions called nilometers were used for this.
Explain why every year the Egyptians were asking themselves how big the flood would be. What depended on it?
Chronologicaly organize events related to agricultural work in Egypt.
- Nile is flooding.
- Farmers sow the grain.
- The waters of the Nile are going down, and a fertile mud remains is left on the fields.
- Harvests are underway.
- Cultivated fields are under water.
Look carefully at the image of Hatshepsut. How can you know that she was a pharaohpharaoh?
Look at the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza and familiarise yourself with its story.
Keywords
Egypt, Nile, pharaoh, pyramid, hieroglyph
Glossary
pustynia
piramida
sfinks
świątynia
mumia
sarkofag – zdobiona trumna w kształcie skrzyni
budowniczy
dar Nilu
wylew Nilu
faraon
korona
władza
lud
społeczeństwo
kapłani
urzędnicy
rzemieślnicy
chłopi
niewolnicy
bogowie
mumifikacja – proces konserwacji zwłok zapobiegający rozkładowi
życie pozagrobowe
grobowce