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Walk Like an Egyptian: Exploring Ancient Egypt Through Literature

Introduction | Background Knowledge | Activities | Extensions | Standards

Introduction

Water sustains life, and early humans flocked to the Nile River for water and food. As more people came to live near the Nile, they formed tribes, living together for the betterment of all. These tribes developed skills and culture that would be the basis of one of the greatest civilizations in the history of the world.For example, the tribes had a grasp of how to make plants and animals serve them through agriculture and animal husbandry. They traded with other communities in Africa and began using written pictures to communicate. Ancient Egypt started its rise to greatness in about 3100 BCE when Menes, the first king of the first dynasty, unified Upper and Lower Egypt.

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Background Knowledge

Click the image above to view a video that shows more about Ancient Egypt.

The first 500 years (c3150-2686 BCE) of the Ancient Egyptian civilization is known as the Early Dynastic Period. One major outcome from this period was the establishment of the capital at Memphis. The consolidation of Upper and Lower Egypt was slow, but the cultural advances were fast. Early hieroglyphics were found from this period, but the language symbols represented are unknown. Wealthy Egyptians began to request more elaborate burials, setting the stage for the opulence to come. Egyptians began to use copper during this period. They began to build using sun-dried bricks. They began to use decorative architecture such as arches and recessed walls. Towns and villages along the Nile solidified trading routes and organized the labor force to increase output. Leaders looked to the gods to legitimize their rule in the vein of divine kingship.

The Old Kingdom (2686 - 2181 BCE) is known as the "Age of Pyramids." Egypt flourished during this period. The government was unified and organized. The vizier, the highest state official to serve under the king, coordinated the government. Under the viziers' leadership, the government collected taxes, established a justice system, and organized construction projects and the workforce to complete the projects. A class system also began to take shape. Kings such as Khufu had the Great Pyramids at Giza built to house them in the afterlife. The Great Sphinx was erected to guard the pyramids.

After the prosperity of the Old Kingdom, Ancient Egypt had a "dark period" known as the First Intermediate Period (2181 - 2055 BCE). The government could not sustain the economy. Food shortages combined with political disarray caused famines throughout the country. With the fall of the central government, local leaders took control of their regions. With no oversight from a centralized government, the local provinces were able to increase their wealth. This prosperity trickled down to all citizens, evidenced by larger and more extravagant burials for all classes. Rival leaders took control of Upper and Lower Egypt, separating it once again. The country reunited in about 2055 BCE.

The reunification ushered in the Middle Kingdom (3124 - 1690 BCE). The Middle Kingdom era restored structure, peace,and prosperity to Ancient Egypt. This time period saw a return of art, literature, and architecture projects in Egypt. Unlike the Old Period, where there was a focus on the many gods of Egyptian mythology, the Middle Kingdom focused on an individual's personal reverence. Kings focused on increasing agricultural output and used the power of the Nile River to irrigate crops in the region. Later in the period, the kings overextended their reach and diverted an abundance of resources to building and mining projects. There were years of extreme Nile flooding which devastated the agriculture fields in the region. Settlers in the Nile's Delta region began to control the area and took control of Egypt.

The Hyksos, or "foreign rulers," seized control of Egypt as the rulers of the Middle Kingdom weakened. Their reign is known as the Second Intermediate Period (1674-1549 BCE). The Hyksos retained many customs and government models as they came to power. For example, they introduced the composite bow and the horse-drawn chariot to the Egyptian people. Many Egyptian rulers tried to overthrow the Hyksos. One conflict lasted 30 years but was unsuccessful. Finally, Ahmose I defeated the Hyksos, sent them from Egypt, and established a new dynasty.

After the Hyksos were driven from power and driven from Egypt, the era of the New Kingdom (1549 - 1069 BCE)* began. During this time, the kings of Egypt began to be known as pharaohs. The New Kingdom was the most powerful period of Ancient Egypt. Hatshepsut, a powerful female pharaoh, rebuilt many temples destroyed by the Hyksos. She also re-established trade partnerships. The pharaoh that followed her expanded the empire and began to import bronze and wood. Temples and monuments were a focus during the New Kingdom, with many temples built to glorify the god Amun. Many pharaohs built monuments to highlight their accomplishments, real or not.

Around 1350 BCE, Amenhotep IV ascended to power and his actions threatened to undo all of the progress that had been made in this era. He changed his name to Akhenaten and devoted his life to creating an obscure son god, Aten, to the supreme deity of Egypt. After his death, the subsequent pharaohs restored the traditional religion. One of these pharaohs was the boy king, Tutankhamun, known more for his death mask than his time as pharaoh. Around 1279 BCE, Ramses II, known as Ramses the Great, came to power. He was known as a strong leader who built many temples, statues, and obelisks around the country. He was also known to be the father of many children, ensuring a line of succession. He was a brilliant military mind and led his army to the first recorded peace treaty in 1258 BCE after a conflict with the Hittites ended in stalemate. As Egypt and its wealth grew, so did the challenges for power from outside of the country. Pressure from abroad also created internal conflicts in the country, such as corruption, civil unrest, and tomb-robbing. The pharaohs lost power to the priests from the Temple of Amun, who amassed land and wealth but fractured Egypt.

When Libyan princes came and took control of Egypt, the country entered another period of uncertainty known as the Third Intermediate Period (1069 - 652 BCE). Shoshenq I, the first Libyan to rule Egypt, vaulted his family members into favorable positions as priests. This dynasty ruled Egypt for 200 years until the Kushites invaded from the south and took over. Kushite pharaohs restored and rebuilt temples and monuments in the Nile Valley. They are also responsible for constructing the first new pyramids since the Middle Kingdom. The Assyrians had taken control of many of Egypt's allies, and between 671 and 667 BCE, they began their assault on Egypt and came into power, ending the Third Intermediate Period.

The Late Period (643 - 332 BCE) began when the Assyrians were pushed out of Egypt and the twenty-sixth dynasty, consisting of Saite kings, came into power. Aided by Greek mercenaries who formed the first Egyptian navy, the culture of Egypt began to see Greek influence. Saite rule was brief, and the powerful Persian dynasty conquered Egypt in 525 BCE. For almost 200 years, Egypt vacillated between Persian and independent rule until 332 BCE when Egypt was given to Alexander the Great without conflict.

Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. Instead of being seen as an invader, the Egyptians saw the Greek leader as a rescuer. Alexander the Great brought in the Ptolemaic Era (332-30 BCE). This was a time of Hellenistic rule. The capital was moved to Alexandria, which became a center of learning and culture. Under his control, the Library at Alexandria, one of the great wonders of the ancient world, was created. Alexander the Great and the Ptolemaic leaders that followed him did not try to change Egyptian culture. Many of their building projects were in the Egyptian style. Despite the attempts to placate the Egyptians, the Ptolemies faced challenges, including rebellions, family rivalries, and insurrections. The Romans took notice and intervened.

When the Roman Empire defeated Cleopatra in 30 BCE, the Ancient Egyptian era ended. The civilization lasted for over three millennia. It survived for so long because the people learned to harness the Nile River in order to thrive in the region. They developed an irrigation system and complex agricultural systems. The leadership system centered under the pharaoh provided unity and maintained an intricate religious system that was a hallmark of the society. The Egyptians constructed massive architectural feats that required builders to survey and quarry. These examples of architecture - the pyramids, multiple obelisks, and many others - still exist today. The Egyptians' burial practices are a subdiscipline of study for Egytolgoists and are a fascination for people worldwide. The civilization created a system for medicine as well as a system of mathematics. In its 3000 years, Egypt left a legacy for the modern world.

*Moses, a prophet in Christianity, Judiasm, and Islam, may be brought up by students who have a faith base. World History.org may provide some insight if needed or desired by school staff.

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Activities

Pyramids

  • The Great Pyramids of Giza are a well-known symbol of Ancient Egypt. Students are very interested in the pyramids. and they can be a great way to start a unit about Egypt.
    • Book choices
      • Egyptian Pyramids (Ancient Wonders) by Elizabeth Raum (ISBN 9781607534662) While there are many books written about the Egyptian Pyramids and any would be great, this one is clear and explains complex ideas in a student-friendly way. It is written on a relatively low reading level and is excellent for students in primary grades.
      • The Great Pyramid by Jeanette Leardi (ISBN 9781597162661) This title is narrative nonfiction and filled with pictures of artifacts, maps, and diagrams. It also includes a timeline. It is written for middle grades and has enough information.
    • Build a pyramid out of sugar cubes. While these directions are for a very neat, tidy, and large pyramid, students can create a pyramid with a 4x4 base using about 30 sugar cubes. For extra fun, spray paint the finished pyramid with gold spray paint.
    • A cross-curricular activity would be to calculate the weight of the stones that were used to build the Great Pyramids. Add to that how were these "stones" made, transported, and set into place. Consider sharing this excellent video.
    • Take a virtual tour of a pyramid at Describing Egypt (TeachersFirst review). These tours are VR compatible if you have that technology available, but you can still take the tour without it.
    • PBS (TeachersFirst review) also offers virtual tours of the pyramids.
    • PBS Learning Media also has an interactive lesson about the pyramids.

Mummies

  • Mummies are dried or otherwise preserved bodies. They are often accompanied by objects that were believed to help the deceased in the afterlife.

Egyptian Gods

  • A god or goddess represented practically every aspect of Egyptian life.
  • The ancient Egyptians had over 2,000 gods and goddesses. These deities helped the people understand the world around them. The Egyptians passed on the stories of the deities through oral tradition. We know these stories as Egyptian mythology.

Hieroglyphics

Videos

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Extensions

Burial Chambers

  • Learn more about the intricate structures underneath the pyramids. Learn about the different rooms and the twists and turns that were supposed to lead people away from the actual burial chamber.
  • Create a diorama of an Egyptian burial chamber.

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Correlation to Standards

  • AASL National School Library Standards
    • Inquire Shared Foundation, Think Domain - Learners display curiosity and initiative by: 1. Formulating questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic. 2. Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning
    • Inquire Shared Foundation, Grow Domain - Learners participate in an ongoing inquiry-based process by: 1. Continually seeking knowledge
    • Include Shared Foundation, Create Domain - Learners adjust their awareness of the global learning community by: 2. Evaluating a variety of perspectives during learning activities Include Shared Foundation, Grow Domain - Learners demonstrate empathy and equity in knowledge building within the global learning community by: 2. Demonstrating interest in other perspectives during learning activities
    • Curate Shared Foundation, Create Domain - Learners gather information appropriate to the task by: 2. Collecting information representing diverse perspectives
    • Explore Shared Foundation, Think Domain - Learners develop and satisfy personal curiosity by: 1. Reading widely and deeply in multiple formats and write and create for a variety of purposes. 2. Reflecting and questioning assumptions and possible misconceptions.
    • Explore Shared Foundation, Share Domain - Learners engage with the learning community by: 1. Expressing curiosity about a topic of personal interest or curricular relevance
  • ISTE Standards for Students
    • Knowledge Constructor - 3d. Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

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