Ancient Egypt

You will be using the internet, library, and other resources to learn more about Ancient Egypt and to complete a project. The internet sites that will help you in your search are included in this paper. You will link to them by clicking on the underlined words.

Introduction

The civilization of ancient Egypt grew up along the banks of the Nile River of northeast Africa around 3000 B.C. and became a rich, powerful, and united nation. The Egyptians built a civilization that lasted more than 2,000 years. Come explore the mysteries of ancient Egypt - from the construction of massive pyramids to the discovery of the tomb of young pharaoah Tutankhamen ("King Tut"). Click here to see map of Egypt, and information on this country today (geography, people, economy, government, etc.)

Your project

To learn more about ancient Egypt, go to at least three of the sites listed in this lesson. From the information found at these internet sites, and from additional resources you've found, select a topic of interest to you and create a project on ancient Egypt, which includes the following:

  1. A timeline of ancient Egyptian history.
  2. A report of what you learned about your topic.
  3. From researching your topic, is it valuable to us today to learn about ancient Egypt? Why or why not? Justify your answer with examples from your research.
  4. A visual representation of something that pertains to your topic (e.g. a model, diagram, dramatization, class demonstration, etc.)
  5. Explain how you used the internet on your project.
  6. List at least one new site you found as a result of your search on the internet, and two additional sources that you used to research your topic. Please include in bibliography.
  7. Be prepared to share what you have done with others in the class.


Resources

The following is a list of sites on the internet which will assist you in your studies.

The World's Longest River - The Nile

The Nile River flows 4,000 miles from the mountains of central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea (the last 600 miles is in Egypt). Without the Nile, the civilization of ancient Egypt would never have existed. Every year, about the middle of July, the Nile would overflow its banks and leave behind large amounts of rich soil good for growing crops. The Nile and its canals also provided the main means of transportation and trade. At this location, travel with the "first ever" kayak expedition down the Nile.

The God-kings of Egypt - Pharaohs

Egyptian rulers were first called kings, and later were called pharaoh, meaning "great house". To the Egyptians, the pharaoh was a ruler, a priest, and a god. The pharaoh was the center of Egyptian life and ruled on earth the way other gods ruled in heaven.

The Pyramid

Between 2700 and 1640 B.C., more than eighty pyramids were built along the banks of the Nile. These consisted on one, step pyramid and the later smooth-sided pyramids more familiar to us. Although only a small number still stand today, the pyramids tell us much about the ideas, beliefs, and technology of the people who built them. Why were pyramids built? Who built them? How were they constructed? How were their shape and location determined?


Mummification

Egyptians preserved bodies of dead pharaohs, as well as the bodies of family members and selected nobles to ensure their successful trip to the next world and to ensure safety for the Egyptian people for all eternity.

Hieroglyphics

The Egyptians used a form of picture writing called hieroglyphics. Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs for inscriptions on tombs and temples.