Name:
Date:
Humanities
Homeroom:
Gift of the Nile
Do Now: Based on your knowledge of ancient civilizations thus far, what are 3-5 potential reasons early humans settled near waterways? Please read silently when complete.
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Objectives: SWBAT rank and justify the evidence that best supports a given claim about the impact of Egypt’s geography.ELA / Social Studies
What am I learning?
Why is it important?
How does it connect to my own life?
Introduction to Egypt
Silent Video Analysis
Task: What geographic features were present in ancient Egypt? / Expectations:Natural Barriers
The ancient Egyptians enjoyed many natural barriers. There were deserts to the east and west of the Nile River, and mountains to the south. This isolated the ancient Egyptians and allowed them to develop a truly distinctive culture.
What BEST explains the significance of the natural barriers?The Nile is the world's longest river. It is over 4000 miles long! It is shaped like the lotus flower so often seen in ancient Egyptian art. Each spring, water would run off the mountains and the Nile would flood. As the flood waters receded, black rich fertile soil was left behind. The ancient Egyptian called this rich soil either the ‘black lands’ or the Gift of the Nile.
What reason MOST likely explains why the soil was referred to as the Gift of the Nile?Fertile soil for crops was not the Nile's only gift. The Nile gave the ancient Egyptians many gifts. Thanks to the Nile, these ancient people had fresh water for drinking and bathing. The Nile supported transportation and trade. It provided materials for building, for making cloth for clothes, and even for making paper - made from the wild papyrus weed, that grew along the shores of the Nile.
Because of the annual flooding of the Nile, the ancient Egyptians enjoyed a high standard of living compared to other ancient civilizations. Without the Nile, all of Egypt would be a desert.
The 'red land,' the region away from the Nile, was the barren desert that protected Egypt on two sides. These deserts separated ancient Egypt from neighboring countries and invading armies. They also provided the ancient Egyptians with a source for precious metals and semi-precious stones.
What evidence BEST supports the idea that the natural resources were advantageous to the Ancient Egyptians?A. Thanks to the Nile, these ancient people had fresh water for drinking and bathing.
B. The Nile is the world's longest river.
C. Because of the annual flooding of the Nile, the ancient Egyptians enjoyed a high standard of living compared to other ancient civilizations.
D. There were deserts to the east and west of the Nile River, and mountains to the south.
Justification:
Guided Practice: Other Resources
Egypt's dominance of the ancient world was a result of more than just determination and brute force. Ancient Egypt was blessed with an abundance of natural resources - not least the river Nile.
The Nile provided vast amounts of fertile land and was a major route for communications and travel - it was the freeway of ancient Egypt. Boats moved cattle, grain and soldiers across the Kingdom and the Nile linked Egypt's provincial centers to its capital, Thebes. This enabled Egypt to function as an integrated kingdom, rather than a collection of independent provinces.
What evidence BEST supports the idea that the Nile connected people in Ancient Egypt?A. This enabled Egypt to function as an integrated kingdom, rather than a collection of
independent provinces.
B. Egypt's dominance of the ancient world was a result of more than just determination and brute force.
C. Ancient Egypt was blessed with an abundance of natural resources - not least the river Nile.
D. The Nile provided vast amounts of fertile land and was a major route for communications and
travel - it was the freeway of ancient Egypt.
Justification:
Egypt also had many other natural resources that helped it achieve new levels of wealth and sophistication. The most important of these was gold. Egypt's gold turned it into a superpower, respected and courted by friends and enemies alike. Gold-bearing rocks were crushed and the fragments carried to the river by donkeys, where they would be washed and the precious nuggets extracted.
The desert regions also gave Egypt a rich supply of salts, particularly natron, brine and soda. These were used in medicine, to preserve and flavor food and to tan animal hide. Natron was used to make ceramics and glass, and to solder precious metals together: it was even used as a mouthwash. Mixed with salt, it was used to preserve fish, meat and to mummify dead bodies; mixed with oil, it became an early form of soap.
The deserts around Egypt also provided building materials for temples, palaces and tombs. Sandstone and limestone were quarried and shaped without any machinery or cutting tools. Instead, wedges were pushed into channels cut into blocks of rock to split stones away from the rest of the rock.
Based on the evidence provided, what is the MOST important natural resource in Ancient Egypt?A. Gold
B. Salt
C. Sandstone
D. Limestone
What evidence BEST supports your claim?
Reed All About It
Egyptians had a winning way with reeds, which grew in huge numbers beside the Nile. Reeds were the material with a million uses: they were turned into mats, baskets and sandals, while the mud they grew in was used as clay for pottery and bricks.
They also had a massive supply of papyrus, a plant that grew in marshes and swamps near the Nile. Papyrus was used to make paper. The stalks were sliced into strips: these were then laid over each other and beaten to make a sheet.
Because it could quickly be written on with pen and ink, and easily rolled up and carried, papyrus soon became indispensable. Bureaucrats could now ensure that a famine could be averted and its soldiers properly supplied. Lessons could be learned and knowledge could be stored, bringing Egypt to new levels of efficiency. While its power was based primarily on gold, it was papyrus that gave Egypt its sophistication.
What evidence BEST supports the idea that reeds were instrumental to Egyptian life?A. Papyrus was used to make paper.
B. They also had a massive supply of papyrus, a plant that grew in marshes and swamps near the Nile.
C. Because it could quickly be written on with pen and ink, and easily rolled up and carried, papyrus soon became indispensable.
D. The stalks were sliced into strips: these were then laid over each other and beaten to make a sheet.
Justification:
Independent Practice: Farming
Egypt could never have sustained its massive empire unless it enjoyed the security brought by self-sufficiency in the basic essentials of life. The most important of these was food.
Bread and Beer
The fertile soil meant that Egypt's farmers could grow a huge variety of crops. The most basic of these were emmer wheat and barley. These were used to make bread, the staple of the Egyptian diet, as well as cakes and beer, which were often flavored with spices, honey or dates. The bread was often supplemented by lentils, garlic, peas and fava beans.
Fruit and Vegetables
Egyptians also ate a wide variety of vegetables and fruit. Lettuces, cucumbers, leeks, onions and radishes could all be grown in the fertile floodplains. There were also plenty of orchards, in which pomegranates, dates, melons and figs were grown.
Lunch that Walks
Although meat and poultry were too expensive for most Egyptians to eat everyday, they were a common sight in the countryside. Ducks and geese lived along the banks of the Nile, and farmers would keep sheep, goats, cattle and pigs, as well as donkeys, the basic working animal in ancient Egypt.
Of course, the Nile itself was a fantastic source of fresh fish, including perch, catfish and tilapia. What's more, during the summer flood, huge numbers of water birds would flock to the Nile. These were often trapped or snared to provide a little seasonal variety on the dinner table.
What piece of evidence BEST supports the idea that farming was valuable in ancient Egypt?A. Although meat and poultry were too expensive for most Egyptians to eat everyday, they were a common sight in the countryside.
B. Ducks and geese lived along the banks of the Nile, and farmers would keep sheep, goats, cattle and pigs, as well as donkeys, the basic working animal in ancient Egypt.
C. The fertile soil meant that Egypt's farmers could grow a huge variety of crops.
D. The bread was often supplemented by lentils, garlic, peas and fava beans.
Justification:
Exit Slip
Directions: In 2-3 sentences, explain why geography was influential in ancient Egypt. To strengthen your argument, you may want to consider using evidence from the text.______
Advanced Practice: Read the following using your strategies, then answer the questions.
Part One: Flooding of the Nile in 2014
Flooding of the Nile or Wafaa el-Nil is an annual festival and holiday in Egypt to celebrate an important annual flooding system dating back to centuries ago. Without this cycle, people in Egypt couldn’t run their farm or grew the crops. Flooding of the Nile is celebrated for two weeks starting from 15 August every year.
When is Flooding of the Nile 2014?
Flooding of the Nile 2014 will be held for two weeks starting from Friday, 15 August 2014.
When is Flooding of the Nile 2015?
Flooding of the Nile 2015 will be held for two weeks starting from Saturday, 15 August 2015.
Origin of Flooding of the Nile
Nile River is the only significant source of water for the Egyptians. Once a year in the past, a flood cycle occurred in the Nile River which was very crucial to Egyptian people. Without this cycle of flood, the Egyptians wouldn’t be able to grow the crops, and they might die of starvation. In the ancient period, the Egyptians believed that the flood was caused by the tears of Isis, a goddess in Egypt, for the death of her husband, Osiris.
The water debit of the flood in the Nile River was very consistent and just about the right amount of water needed to irrigate the fields. The flood cycle was also very consistent that people started to calculated the time by using the heliacal rising of Sirius. Thus, Egyptian people were able to determine the date to observe the Flooding of the Nile.
In 1970, the construction of the High Dam of Aswan was finished so that the annual flooding cycle did not occur anymore. However, the Flooding of the Nile is still celebrated by the Egyptians from 15 August every year.
Happy Flooding of the Nile 2014 !
When did the Nile flood this year?How long did the flooding last?
What did the ancient Egyptians believe caused the flood?
What THREE pieces of evidence BEST prove that the flooding of the Nile is important in modern-day Egypt?
Part II
Objective: SWBAT write a succinct, accurate, and focused summary of a fictional text.ELA / Social Studies
What am I learning?
Why is it important?
How does it connect to my own life?
Turn & Talk: If you were going to tell a friend about a movie, what would you include in your summary?
How to Summarize a Fictional Text
Part I: Creation Myth of Egypt
In the beginning, there was only the swirling watery chaos, called Nu. Out of these unruly waters rose Atum, the sun god. It is believed that he created himself, using his thoughts and will. In the watery chaos, Atum found no place to stand. In the place where he first appeared, he created a hill. Atum’s hill may represent the fertile, life-giving hills left behind by the departing waters of the Nile's yearly flood.
Setting / Major Characters / Major Conflict / ResolutionSummary
Guided Practice Part II: Creation Myth of Egypt
His next act was to create more gods. Because he was all alone in the world, without a mate, he made a union with his shadow. This unusual way of creating children was not considered strange to the Egyptians. The Egyptians saw Atum as the one and only creative force in the universe.
The birth of Atum's children took place on the first hill. He gave birth to his son by spitting him out. His daughter he vomited. Shu, his son, represented the air and Tefnut, his daughter, was a goddess of moisture. Shu and Tefnut were given the task of separating the chaos into principles of law, order, and stability. The chaos was divided into light and dark and set into place. This order was called Maat, which formed the principles of life for all time. Maat was light and pure. To this order Shu contributed the 'principles of Life' while Tefnut contributed the 'principles of order'.
Setting / Major Characters / Major Conflict / ResolutionSummary
Independent Practice Part III: Creation Myth of Egypt
Creation was not yet completed, however. After some time, Shu and Tefnut became lost in the watery chaos of Nu. Atum had only one eye, which was removable and all-seeing. Atum removed the eye and sent it in search of his children. When they finally returned with the eye, Atum wept tears of joy. Where these tears hit the ground, men grew. As the men populated the earth, they had to uphold the truth and balance of Maat. They had the task of tending the earth and worshipping the gods. The gods, in turn, protected and loved their creations.
Setting / Major Characters / Major Conflict / ResolutionSummary
Advanced Practice
Part Two: Aswan High Dam
Aswan High Dam
Location: Aswan, Egypt
Completion Date: 1970
Cost: $1 billion
Reservoir Capacity: 5.97 trillion cubic feet
Type: Embankment
Purpose: Flood control, hydroelectric power, irrigation
Reservoir: Lake Nasser
Materials: Rock, clay
Engineer(s): planned by a team of British engineers; built by a team of Soviet engineers
In the middle of the arid Egyptian desert lies one of the largest embankment dams in the world. It is called the Aswan High Dam, or Saad el Aali in Arabic, and it captures the mighty Nile River in the world's third largest reservoir, Lake Nasser. Before the dam was built, the Nile River overflowed its banks once a year and deposited four million tons of nutrient-rich silt on the valley floor, making Egypt's otherwise dry land productive and fertile. But there were some years when the river did not rise at all, causing widespread drought and famine. In 1952, Egyptian president Gamal Abdal-Nasser pledged to control his country's annual flood with a giant new dam across the Nile River. His plan worked.