Egypt is the fifteenth most populous

country of the world. Egypt is known

worldwide for its rich ancient
civilization. The Giza pyramids, the
Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings
and the Great Sphinx of Giza add to the
glory of Egypt.
Geography
• The Geography of Egypt can be split into two
sections. Southwest Asia and North Africa
• Egypt has shorelines on the Mediterranean Sea
and the Red Sea.
• It borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south,
and the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east.
• Egypt is about the same size as Texas and New
Mexico combined, four times the size of the UK
and double that of France.
The ancient Egyptians thought of Egypt as
being divided into two types of land, the
'black land' and the 'red land'.
The ‘Black Land'
 fertile land on the banks
of the Nile.
 Ancient Egyptians used
this land for growing their
crops.
only land in ancient
Egypt that could be
farmed because a layer of
rich, black silt was
deposited there every
year after the Nile
flooded.
The ‘Red Land'

 barren desert that

protected Egypt on
two sides.

 separated ancient
Egypt from
neighbouring
countries and invading
armies.

 also provided the

ancient Egyptians with
a source for precious
metals and semi-
precious stones.
Neighboring Countries:
Syria
Israel
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Sudan and Libya
The Nile Valley is also known as Upper Egypt, while the Nile Delta region is
known as Lower Egypt. Steep rocky cliffs rise along the banks of the Nile in
some stretches, while other areas along the Nile are flat, with space for
agricultural production. In the past, flooding of the Nile during the summer
provided silt and water to make agriculture possible on land that is
otherwise very dry.
Fast Facts
 Flag Description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the
hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a
scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered
in the white band; colors derived from the Arab Liberation
flag
 
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars
in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription
centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain
white band
• Official Name Arab Republic of Egypt
• Population 81,731,000
• Capital City Cairo (17,856,000)
• Largest Cities Cairo, Alexandria, El Qahira
• Currency Egyptian Pound
• Languages Arabic (official), English, French
• National Day 23 July; Revolution Day
• Religions Muslim (94%)
Land Statistics
• Land Area 995,450 sq km (384,343 sq
miles)
• Highest Point Mt. Catherine (2,637 m)
(8,652 ft)
• Lowest Point Qattara Depression (-133 m)
Highest Point Mt. Catherine (2,637 m) (8,652 ft)
Lowest Point Qattara Depression (-133 m)
• The first President of Egypt
was Muhammad Naguib, one
of the leaders of the Egyptian
Revolution of 1952, who took
office on 18 June 1953, the day
on which Egypt was declared
a Republic.

• The fourth and current

President of Egypt is Hosni
Mubarak. His first term began
on 14 October 1981, and as of
September 2005 is serving his
fifth term in office. There is no
constitutional limit upon the
number of terms that any one Hosni Mubarak
individual can serve as
President.
Weather
• In Cairo, and along the Nile River Valley, winter high
temperatures range from the mid 60's to the upper 70's,
while lows drop into the 40s.
• Summers bring highs in the mid-90's, and lows in the
70's. Rainfall is sparse here, (2-4 inches annually) but
sudden showers do cause flooding.
• Humidity in Egypt is high throughout the year, and in the
interior deserts, summer high temperatures often exceed
100º.
• Conditions moderate along the Mediterranean coastline,
and rainfall increases to about 8 inches annually.
History
The Greek historian Herodotus called
Egypt, "The Gift of the Nile," and along
that life-giving river, the ancient
Egyptians built their amazing
civilization, one they ruled for three
millennia.
 Historians divide the history of ancient Egypt
into the following periods:

• Prehistory (up to ca. 3100 B.C.),

• the Archaic Period (ca. 3100Ð2650 B.C.),
• the Old Kingdom (ca. 2650Ð2150 B.C.),
• the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2040Ð1640 B.C.)
• the New Kingdom (ca. 1550Ð1070 B.C.),
• the Late Period (ca. 712Ð332 B.C.)
• the Ptolemaic (Hellenistic)
• Roman Periods (332 B.C.ÐA.D. 395).
 Important Points in History
• At the beginning of Dynasty 1, Egypt unified under the rule of
one pharaoh (mythical name: Menes; historical figures: Narmer
and Aha).

• The first major stone monument of Egypt, King DjoserÕs step

pyramid (designed by architect Imhotep), built at Saqqara.

• Power of provincial administrators increases. Relief decorated

and painted cut-rock tombs at many provincial sites.

• In Middle Kingdom, King Mentuhotep II of Upper Egypt

reunites the country with capital at Thebes. Monumental
building projects resume in Upper Egypt, as does trade with
nearby lands.

• Western Asiatic kings originating from foreign community at

Avaris with strong ties to southern Canaan gain power over
most of Egypt.
• King Ahmose reconquers Memphis and destroys Avaris
 Hatshepsut, important female ruler, sponsors fine works of art and
architecture (Temple of Deir el-Bahri).

 Dynasties ruled over.

 Great era of temple building. Campaigns in the Near East

against the Hittites; peace treaty made with Hittites in reign
of Ramesses II.

 In Dynasty 20, Ramesses III repelled the sea peoples (dislocated tribes
mainly from Asia Minor). Political decline and economic
difficulties. Traditional time of the Israelites exodus from
Egypt.

 Egypt again divided; one dynasty rules in Nile Delta, sharing

power with high priests of Amun at Thebes.

 Kushite rulers from Nubia invade and reunite Egypt. revived Egyptian
art and
Architecture
In 332 B.C. Egypt is conquered by Alexander the Great
(Macedonian Dynasty of mainland Greece [332Ð304 B.C.]).
Upon his death, Greek general Ptolemy and his descendants
rule. Important temples are built completely in
Egyptian style. Many are preserved to this day (Edfu and
Dendara).

Last Ptolemaic ruler, Cleopatra VII, and Antony defeated by

Augustus Caesar in 30 B.C. Egypt conquered by Rome. Last
great phase of temple building under Augustus (Temple of
Dendur).
Under rule of Roman emperors temples are still
enlarged and decorated in Egyptian style.
Culture, Life,
Practices and
Beliefs
 Egyptian Life

• Daily life in ancient Egypt revolved

around the Nile and the fertile land
along its banks. The yearly flooding of
the Nile enriched the soil and brought
good harvests and wealth to the land.
• The people of ancient Egypt built mudbrick
homes in villages and in the country. They
grew some of their own food and traded in
the villages for the food and goods they
could not produce
Most ancient Egyptians worked as field
hands, farmers, craftsmen and scribes. A
small group of people were nobles.

Together, these different groups of people

made up the population of ancient Egypt.
 Ancient Egyptian Women

Cleopatra VII Hatshepsut

The position of women in Egyptian society was generally secondary to that of

men. As a rule they were excluded from high governmental and administrative
offices, but there are exceptions.
They were also tenant landholders or
held office related to weaving,
medicine, singing and dancing,

 In ancient Egypt women were above

all wives, mothers, and mistresses of
the house.

 They played a subordinate role to

men in Egyptian society, and this is
how they were predominantly depicted
in art. In reliefs, paintings, and statues
women are represented embracing
their husbands (the opposite is
extremely rare);

 They are usually smaller in stature

than men (as is natural), but in some
periods and circumstances they are
much smaller, as when they sit beside
their husband’s legs.

 The legal status of women in Egypt

was essentially equal to that of men.
 Women could own property and dispose of it at will
 They could enter into contracts and initiate court cases;
 They could serve as witnesses, sit on juries, and
witness legal documents.

 In this respect women in ancient Egypt were in a much better

position than those in many other ancient cultures.
 The ancient Egyptians believed in many different gods and
goddesses.
Each one with their own role to play in maintaining peace and
harmony across the land.
The ancient Egyptians believed in many different gods and
goddesses. Each one with their own role to play in maintaining
peace and harmony across the land.

The ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to recognize and

worship these gods and goddesses so that life continued smoothly.
The earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in
small pits in the desert. The heat and dryness of the
sand dehydrated the bodies quickly, creating lifelike
and natural 'mummies'.

Egyptians went to great efforts to honor

their deceased rulers, and to insure
them a successful trip to the afterlife.
These kings were buried with elaborate
treasures, food supplies, and often even
servants. The bodies of the kings as well
as those of other important individuals
were preserved from decay through the
process of mummification.
 Lord of the Two Lands

The most powerful person in ancient Egypt was the pharaoh. The
pharaoh was the political and religious leader of the Egyptian people,
holding the titles: 'Lord of the Two Lands' and 'High Priest of Every
Temple'.
 As 'Lord of the Two Lands' the pharaoh was the ruler
of Upper and Lower Egypt. He owned all of the land,
made laws, collected taxes, and defended Egypt against
foreigners.
 As 'High Priest of Every Temple', the pharaoh
represented the gods on Earth. He performed rituals
and built temples to honor the gods

They believed that pharaoh is half-man

and half-god.
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as
tombs for the pharaohs and their
queens. The pharaohs were buried in
pyramids of many different shapes and
sizes from before the beginning of the
Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle
Kingdom.
 There are about eighty pyramids known today from
ancient Egypt. The three largest and best-preserved of
these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old
Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was
built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the 'Great
Pyramid'.
Great Pyramid of Giza from a 19th century
The Great Pyramid was the tallest
man-made structure in the world for
over 3,800 years
 The Great Pyramid of Giza, in 2005. Built c. 2560 BC,
it is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis.
It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,
and the only one to remain largely intact.
 The Great Pyramid was surfaced
by white 'casing stones' – slant-
faced, but flat-topped, blocks of
highly polished white limestone.

It is thought that, at construction, the Great Pyramid was originally 280

Egyptian cubits tall, 146.478 meters (480.57 ft) but with erosion and absence
of its pyramidion, its present height is 138.75 meters (455.22 ft). Each base
side was 440 royal cubits, 230.37 meters (755.81 ft) in length. A royal cubit
measures 0.524 meters. The mass of the pyramid is estimated at 5.9 million
tonnes. The volume, including an internal hillock, is roughly 2,500,000 cubic
meters. Based on these estimates, building this in 20 years would involve
installing approximately 800 tonnes of stone every day.
 Inside the narrow
passages, galleries, and
chambers in the Great
Pyramid, people have
found that the walls and
turns coincide perfectly
with significant world
events. For example: the
birth of Christ, the
Crusades, both World Wars
Why were pyramids in triangular shape? why
not square? or any other shapes?

The true pyramid exists only in Egypt, though the term has also been
applied to similar structures in other countries. Egyptian pyramids are
square in plan and their triangular sides, which directly face the points of
the compass, slope upwards at approximately a 50° angle from the ground
and meet at an apex.

The prototype for the pyramid are the mastabas of the Old Kingdom
(2680—2565 ), which are rectangular in plan and have only two sloping
sides. After these came the step-pyramid at Sakkara, built c.2620 , which
soon evolved into the straight-sided true pyramid.

 As a result of the lack of sophisticated machinery, the construction of

each pyramid took many years and required measureless amounts of
building materials and labor.
 Sphinx

 A sphinx is a mythological creature that is

depicted as a recumbent feline with a human
head. It has its origins in sculpted figures of
a lionesses with female human head (unless
the pharaoh was depicted as the son of the
deity) of Old Kingdom Egypt in association
with their solar deities, Bast or Sekhmet.
 Generally the role of sphinxes is associated
with architectural structures such as royal
tombs or religious temples.
The Great Sphinx of Giza, with the Pyramid of Khafre in the background
 The ancient Egyptians believed
that temples were the homes of
the gods and goddesses. Every
temple was dedicated to a god or
goddess and he or she was
worshipped there by the temple
priests and the pharaoh.

The large temple buildings were made of stone so

that they would last forever. Their walls were
covered with scenes that were carved onto the
stone then brightly painted. These scenes showed
the pharaoh fighting in battles and performing
rituals with the gods and goddesses.
 Ancient Government
The pharaoh was the absolute monarch of the
country and, at least in theory, wielded
complete control of the land and its
resources. Slavery was known in Egypt.

The head of the legal system was

officially the pharaoh, who was
responsible for enacting laws,
delivering justice, and maintaining
Local councils of elders, known as Kenbet
law and order, a concept the
in the New Kingdom, were responsible for
ancient Egyptians referred to as
ruling in court cases involving small
Ma'at.
claims and minor disputes.
Today’s Government
Egypt has been a republic since 18
June 1953. Mubarak is currently serving his fifth
term in office (28 years). He is the leader of the
ruling National Democratic Party. Prime Minister
Dr. Ahmed Nazif was sworn in as Prime Minister
on 9 July 2004

Executive power is theoretically

divided between the President and the Prime
Minister, in practice it rests almost solely with
the President who traditionally has been elected
in single-candidate elections for more than fifty
years.
Egypt also holds regular multi-party
parliamentary elections. The last presidential
election, in which Mubarak won a fifth
consecutive term, was held in September 2005.
Economy, Agriculture
and Trade
 Ancient Economy
 Trade started to happen in the fourth century B.C.  The Egyptians
traded with countries around the Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea,
and the Red Sea. 
 Items brought from other countries were goods like silver, iron,
cedar logs, horses, ivory, copper, cattle, leopard skins, and
spices. 
 The main products brought from Egypt were gold and other
minerals, wheat, barley, and papyrus sheets. 
 One of the more famous trade expeditions in Ancient Egypt was
when Queen Hatshepsut sent an expedition down the Red Sea
where they got frankincense, trees, elephants’ tusks, ebony, gold,
spices, and foreign animals like panthers. 
 Sailors on the trading ships were paid in grain.  When their ships
stopped to unload, they were able to visit dockside shops to
exchange their grain for clothes, fresh fruit, and vegetables.
 Little boys started learning their father’s job when they were four. 
When they were older they were expected to do the same
occupation as their father.  They studied reading, writing, and
math
 Over all, the Ancient Egyptian civilization had a pretty advanced
economy. 
 Today’s Economy
 Egyptian economy relies heavily on tourism, oil
and gas exports, and Suez Canal revenues,
 The U.S. has a large assistance program in Egypt
and provides funding for a variety of programs.
 Approximately one-third of Egyptian labor is
engaged directly in farming, and many others work
in the processing or trading of agricultural
products.
 Nearly all of Egypt's agricultural production takes
place in some 2.5 million hectares (6 million acres)
of fertile soil in the Nile Valley and Delta.
 Egypt is one of the U.S.'s largest markets for
wheat sales
Nile River
The Nile flooded and still floods the land in Egypt and
deposits black sediment, which is why Egyptians called
it "Ar" which means "black".

It is one of the longest rivers in the world; it used to be

the longest but recent studies suggest that Amazon
River can be longer than Nile. The length of the river is
approximately 6695 km and the river has two tributaries.

River Nile has two tributaries namely the Blue Nile and
the White Nile; the volume of water of Nile is mostly
determined by the Blue Nile

Nile also played an important in the building if the

famous Pyramids since the blocks of stone, which were
used to make these pyramids, were actually transported
from the source to the site with the help of Nile.
The Egyptians rightly termed it as "River of Life" since it has infused life not only in the land
of Egypt but also its culture and civilization. The Egyptian Civilization grew up on the banks
of Nile as the river deposits extremely fertile soil, which provided soil for the Egyptians to
grow food crops, which sustained them amidst the desert. This has been repeated time and
again and Nile has time and again proved itself to be the life giving force of Egypt
 Egypt’s Contribution,
Inventions and Discoveries
 List of Inventions
• Black Ink
• First Ox-Drawn Plows
• 365 Day Calendar and Leap Year
• Paper
• First Triangular Shaped Pyramids
• Organized labor
• Hieroglyphics as an early system of writing
• Sails
• One of the inventions
before Christ in Egypt
was surprisingly
black ink. The
Egyptian people were
very talented at
creating not only
black ink, but many
multi-colored types of
ink and dye.
 The first ox-draws
plows that appeared in
Egypt as early as 2500
B.C. were;
nevertheless ancient
Egypt technological
inventions. Skilled
metal working would
have been required in
order to form a
workable plow, as well
as animal husbandry.
The ancient Egyptians
also have the distinct
honor of having
invented not only the
modern 365 day
calendar but the leap
year system as well.
Ancient civilizations
recorded and marked
time using a lunar
calendar system. A
solar system
established calendar,
based on twelve
months of 30 days
each, with five extra
days, was first
conceived of by the
ancient Egyptians.
One of the many ancient Egyptian inventions was an early system of
writing, now recognized around the world, known as hieroglyphics. Not
only did the ancient Egyptians invent a system of writing, but they also
invented the paper on which to place it. Taken from the fibers of the
papyrus plant, Egyptian paper was the first of its kind.
Egyptians were the
first to invent and
employ organized
labor on a massive
scale in order to
construct these
magnificent
stone structures.
 Egyptian
inventions also
include sails.
Living in such
close proximity
to the Nile River,
it would have
been imperative
for the Egyptians
to devise efficient
methods of water
transportation.
Other Inventions:
• Glass
• Linen
• the calendar
• the clock
• Geometry and the alphabet
• The refinement of dress and ornament
• Furniture and dwellings
• Society and life
The remarkable development of orderly
and peaceful government:

• First United Nation

• First Centralized Government
• Census and post
• primary and secondary education
• Technical training
• Office and administration
• The advancement of writing and literature
• Science and medicine
The first clear formulation known to us of
individual and public conscience:

•The first cry for social justice

•The first widespread monogamy

•The first essays in moral philosophy

•The elevation of architecture

•Sculpture and the minor arts

Fun Facts
• Small bits of stone
and sand often got
mixed into the bread
dough in ancient
Egypt, wearing down
Egyptian teeth.

• The first sailing boats

were built in Egypt.
• Mummies are
wrapped with about
ten layers of linen.

• Cats were first

domesticated in
ancient Egypt.
• The Egyptians thought it was good
luck to enter a house left foot first.

• The process of mummification in

Egypt involved removing all
moisture and internal organs, then
drying the body and anointing it
with various preserving chemicals.
• The Egyptians
invented the toilet
seat.

• The Egyptian
week had ten
days.

• Ancient Egyptians
used giant stone
slabs as pillows.
“Great people are those who make others feel that they, too, can
become great”- Mark Twain

“ It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is
essential is invisible to the eye”.-Antoine De Saint-Exupery

“He who helps early helps twice”.-Tadeusz Mazowieck