The civilization of ancient Egypt developed west of Mesopotamia, in Africa, and centered along the longest river in the world, the Nile River. Favorable environmental conditions, such as the predictability of the Nile's floodwaters and fertile soil, enabled the ancient Egyptians to build a prosperous agricultural economy. The many sophisticated political, cultural, and architectural accomplishments of the ancient Egyptians reflect this prosperity, and are a source of excitement and amazement today.

Essential Questions

• What impact did geography have on the rise and development of ancient Egyptian civilization?
• What were the major achievements of the ancient Egyptians and how should they be remembered?
• How are the ancient Egyptians similar to and different from the ancient Mesopotamians?

 

Warm-Up

Take a moment to read the following account from the Greek historian Herodotus, which describes one of the funeral rituals for prominent Egyptians. What does the passage reveal about the ancient Egyptians? What did they value? What were the ancient Egyptians knowledgeable about? How might their handling of death reflect their behaviors in life?

"First they draw out the brains through the nostrils with an iron hook...Then with a sharp stone they make an incision in the side, and take out all the bowels...Then, having filled the belly with pure myrrh, cassia, and other perfumes, they sew it up again; and when they have done this they steep it in natron [a mineral salt], leaving it under for 70 days, they wash the corpse, and wrap the whole body in bandages of waxen cloth."

Herodotus, The History of Herodotus