The Old Kingdom

1
The Old Kingdom

• In this lesson, students will identify
  characteristics of the Old Kingdom of ancient
  Egyptian history.
• Students will be able to define and/or identify
  the following terms
• Lower Egypt
• Upper Egypt
• Dynasty
• Pharaoh
• Pyramid

2
Ancient Egypt consisted of two regions Lower
Egypt and Upper Egypt.
3
Lower Egypt was located near the Mediterranean
Sea. It was northern Egypt.
4
The people of Lower Egypt lived near the Nile
Delta. A delta is the mouth of a river where it
flows to the sea.
5
The Nile delta valley was very fertile. The
people of Lower Egypt were able to farm and
produce agricultural surplus.
6
Upper Egypt was located in southern Egypt. Upper
Egypt had its own kingdom.
7
Lower and Upper Egypt Unite

• The people of Upper Egypt (southern Egypt) began
  to build large irrigation projects.
• Irrigation is the process of bringing water from
  the rivers to the neighboring farms.
• In order to finish these irrigation projects, the
  people of Upper Egypt needed to work together
  with the people of Lower Egypt.

8
Around 3100 B.C., a ruler united Upper Egypt and
Lower Egypt.
9
Dynasty

• A dynasty is a ruling family.
• There were many dynasties in ancient Egypt.
• The Pharaoh was the head of the dynasty. He was
  considered a divine ruler or a god.
• The Egyptians believed in many gods. They were
  polytheistic.

10
During the period of the ancient Egyptian Old
Kingdom, Pharaohs were buried in Pyramids.
11
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids or tombs for
their deceased rulers.
12
The Old Kingdom lasted from 3100 B.C. to 2186
B.C.
13
The ancient Egyptians mummified their deceased
Pharaohs. Believing in an afterlife,
mummification preserved the Pharaohs body.
14
Questions for Reflection

• Where was Lower Egypt located?
• Where was Upper Egypt located?
• Why did Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt unite?
• Define dynasty, Pharaoh, divine ruler,
  mummification, and polytheism.
• Why did the people of the Old Kingdom mummify
  their deceased Pharaohs and build pyramids?