OFFICIAL NAME: Arab Republic of Egypt FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic CAPITAL: Cairo POPULATION: 88,487,396 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Arabic MONEY: Egyptian

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1 EGYPT ~

4 OFFICIAL NAME: Arab Republic of Egypt FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic CAPITAL: Cairo POPULATION: 88,487,396 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Arabic MONEY: Egyptian pound AREA: 386,662 square miles (1,001,449 square kilometers) MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Eastern Highlands MAJOR RIVER: Nile

5 Egyptian Flag

6 Map of Egypt GEOGRAPHY Without the Nile River, all of Egypt would be desert. Only about an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain falls throughout Egypt each year. But each summer, the river rises because of rains at its source far to the south in Ethiopia. Floods cover the river's valleys, leaving sediments needed for trees, plants, and crops to grow. Egypt is often divided into two sections: Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north. The sections are named this way because the Nile flows from south to north. The river empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Southern Egypt's landscape contains low mountains and desert. Northern Egypt has wide valleys near the Nile and desert to the east and west. North of Cairo, the capital, is the sprawling, triangular Nile River Delta. This fertile land is completely covered with farms. PEOPLE & CULTURE About 90 percent of Egyptians are Muslim, which means they are followers of the Islamic religion. About 10 percent of Egyptians are Copts, one of the oldest branches of the Christian religion. Egypt's population is growing rapidly. This puts strains on Egypt's resources, since most people live in a narrow strip of land along the Nile River. Having so many people in such a small area can cause overcrowding, from schools to apartment buildings to hospitals. Children are highly valued in Egypt, especially in rural areas where they help on family farms. Children are also expected to look after their parents in their old age. NATURE

7 Egypt is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including jackals, gazelles, crocodiles, and cobras. The best places to see Egypt's wildlife are in its more than 20 protected regions, which include oases, deserts, mountains, coastal areas, river islands, and wetlands. Egyptians have always been close to the natural world. The ancient Egyptians left paintings and carvings of large animals like elephants, hippos, leopards, and cheetahs. These animals were once common in Egypt, but they are now rare or extinct because of hunting and habitat loss. Egyptian Pound Photograph by Roy Pedersen, Dreamstime GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY Egypt's geography, population, history, and military strength have made it highly influential in the region. Egypt is a democratic republic, although some critics claim that it is not truly democratic. Until 2005, there was never more than one presidential candidate to vote for. Along with oil and gas exports, Egypt's tourism industry remains a key part of its economy. Visitors flock to the country to see ancient monuments like the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. HISTORY The first people to live on the banks of the Nile were hunters and fishermen, who settled there over 8,000 years ago. They learned to grow crops and raise animals, and they began to build villages and towns. They traded with their neighbors and learned to sail boats. By 3000 B.C., a civilization was established. Around 3100 B.C., the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were unified under a powerful king, later called a

8 pharaoh. These kings built huge pyramids, temples, and other monuments. They also conquered other lands. By 1000 B.C., Egypt had split into smaller parts and the kingdom was in decline. Strong neighbors attacked and took over Egyptian territory. In 31 B.C., Egypt fell under Roman control. In A.D. 640, Muslim warriors took over Egypt and founded the modern capital, Cairo. They ruled for several centuries. In the 16th century, Egypt became part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. European powers played an increasing role in Egypt starting in the late 18th century. In 1882, the British invaded and occupied Egypt. The British wanted control of the Suez Canal, which linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and greatly shortened the sailing trip from Asia to Europe. Egypt gained full independence from Great Britain in 1952 and took control of the Suez Canal in Egypt and other neighboring Arab countries fought a series of wars with the Jewish state of Israel into the 1970s. In 1979 Egypt and Israel signed a peace agreement. In 2011, a popular uprising toppled Egypt's long-time president, Hosni Mubarek. The country has held several democratic elections since 2011, but the role of the military in government remains strong.

Egyptian Pyramids BUILT ABOUT 4500 years ago, the 80 or so pyramids in Egypt are the oldest human made structures in the world. Of these, the famous three at Giza, near Cairo, are the most impressive.

9 Egyptian Pyramids BUILT ABOUT 4500 years ago, the 80 or so pyramids in Egypt are the oldest human made structures in the world. Of these, the famous three at Giza, near Cairo, are the most impressive. Their construction is an amazing feat of technology. Yet no one knows for sure how they were built. The ancient Egyptians had only simple tools made of stone, wood and bronze. They had no cranes, computers, rock cutters or heavy earthmoving equipment. Pyramids and rock tunnels From about 2500 BC, the mummies and treasures of important people such as pharaohs were usually entombed in pyramids. This practice lasted only about 500 years, though, because robbers were a major problem. Thereafter, tombs for such people were dug into mounds and cliffs in the Valley of the Kings. But even these were not completely safe. Over time, they were all raided, except one the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamen. The Great Pyramid at Giza, built around 2550 BC, was the tomb of the pharaoh Khufu. The other two were built for his son Khafre and grandson Menkure. The Great Pyramid, the biggest of the three, is close to 150 metres high and contains around granite blocks, each of which weighs around 2.5 tonnes. Pyramid mysteries Some say that the technology of the pyramids is so astonishing that they must have been built by an alien intelligence. Another view is that those who built the pyramids at Giza, and the Great Sphinx that guards them, used knowledge and skills passed down from a very old, but highly advanced civilization that existed way before the Old Kingdom in Egypt. Heavenly sails One treasure the robbers missed in the Great Pyramid was a 43-metrelong boat, built to carry Chufa to the afterlife. It was not found until It had been broken into 1224 pieces before being packed into a rock cavity near the base of the pyramid. The cavity was so tightly sealed that when archaeologists broke into it they could still smell the cedar oil in the wood after 4500 years! After you have read each paragraph, summarize it in one sentence!

10 Egypt The Land of Mystery The river Nile is in Egypt TRUE Egypt is in Africa TRUE Pharaohs were soldiers

11 No Way! The Red Sea is in Egypt TRUE Pyramids were houses where people lived No Way! Camels and cobras live in Egypt

12 TRUE The Nile river is the longest river in the world TRUE Egypt is the largest country in Africa The cobra was the symbol of power for the Pharaoh The Nile river from space. It is the longest river in the world at 6853 km. Algeria is the largest country in Africa

13 No Way! Egypt has never got snow in the winter No Way! HOWEVER, on December 13, 2013, snow fell in the Middle East, including the city of Cairo above. The first time in 112 years. Fake photo of snow covering the pyramids

14 Talk about the pictures below: Welcome to Egypt!

15 IMAGINE BEING THE FIRST EXPLORER TO ENTER AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TOMB. Describe what happens, how you feel and what treasures you find.

THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA TEMPLES OF KARNAK LUXOR TEMPLE SIWA

WHAT? e PYRAMIDS MUMMIES CLAY HOUSES IRRIGATION CANALS 3.

ANCIENT EGYPT? RICE BARLEY GRAPES SALT f l. ANSWERS: B.

16 LET S TRAVEL TO EGYPT! I. MATCH THE LANDMARKS USING THE FOLLOWING CHOICES: ABU SIMBEL THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA TEMPLES OF KARNAK LUXOR TEMPLE SIWA OASIS MOSQUE OF IBN TULUN d II. CIRCLE THE CORRECT ANSWER: 1. WHOSE PYRAMID DOES THE SPHINX GUARD? KHUFU S PYRAMID AMUN RE S PYRAMID a CAIRO KHAFRE S PYRAMID SAKHMET S PYRAMID 2. EGYPTIANS WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE NILE RIVER BY BUILDING WHAT? e PYRAMIDS MUMMIES CLAY HOUSES IRRIGATION CANALS 3. USED TO MAKE BREAD AND BEER, WHAT WAS b c THE MAJOR CROP OF ANCIENT EGYPT? RICE BARLEY GRAPES SALT f l. ANSWERS: B. ABU SIMBEL A. SIWA OASIS C. TEMPLES OF KARNAK E. THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA D. MOSQUE OF IBN TULUN 2. IRRIGATION CANALS 3. BARLEY F. LUXOR TEMPLE ll. ANSWERS: 1. KHAFRE S PYRAMID

17 C Copyright by Education.com More worksheets at EGYPT PHARAOH QUEEN HIEROGLYPH MUMMY CANOPIC MYRRH ROYAL OBELISK ALABASTER PAPYRUS TEMPLE DATES KILN DEPICTIONS E G Y P T H I E R O G L Y P H Q U E E N O B E L I S K C A N O P I C P A P Y R U S P H A R A O H M Y R R H T M P L E R O Y A L D A T E S K I N M U M M Y A L A B A S T E R D E P I C T I O N S Z Z H U K J W B Q X R U P A S D F G H J K L Z X C V B N M Q W W E T Y I O P A S D F G H J K L X C V B N Q W R T U I O P A S D F G H J K L C V B N M G N Q D P G J F K B T Ancient Egyptian Life Word Search Fun!

18 ALL ABOUT Ancient Egypt L L E A T O C T I W J R S S C I H P Y L G O R E I H G R R S D H T E X I W N M A G A T C C A N C P G O U W H D J Q M I R A J H I M F X C Q C H U P A L V T M I Z A Q P I Y S Y O F A I G R Y S V R P T I R H G E T D E Z U K U O K C S I S F H O S W E X F N Q P R M T P Y R A M I D S A H R D the banks of the IERN REILV Answer: Nile River D C Y F D S S N R R C I Z Canopic Jars Pharaoh Mummies The Sphinx Hieroglyphics Pyramids Papyrus dead in decorated coffins called: A. Mummies C. Sarcophagi B. Hieroglyphics D. Cartouches Color Anubis, the god of the afterlife Answer: C Copyright by Education.com More worksheets at

Ancient Egyptian Life Animal Worship 1 Cats were an important animal to people in ancient Egypt. The cat goddess Bast was worshipped for 3000 years or more up until 390 AD.

Thousands of mummified cats have been found in tombs and graves. What do you think? Think about an animal that you believe might be worth worshipping to in an ancient society.

Sailors would pray to god of crocodiles, Sobek, in the hopes that a crocodile wouldn t eat them. Like other highly worshipped animals, crocodiles were mummified when they died.

19 Ancient Egyptian Life Animal Worship 1 Cats were an important animal to people in ancient Egypt. The cat goddess Bast was worshipped for 3000 years or more up until 390 AD. Cats were praised for their natural ability to catch mice and snakes, which protected stored grain from these pests. It was even was considered a death sentence if a cat was killed accidentally. Thousands of mummified cats have been found in tombs and graves. What do you think? Think about an animal that you believe might be worth worshipping to in an ancient society. Draw and write about why they would be a good animal here in this box. Crocodiles were formidable animals of the Nile River. The river was widely used for transportation. Sailors would pray to god of crocodiles, Sobek, in the hopes that a crocodile wouldn t eat them. Like other highly worshipped animals, crocodiles were mummified when they died. The Apis bull was said to be the god Osiris incarnate. They were treated so well that an Apis bull had his own harem of cows. When one was found it was floated down on a huge barge down the Nile River to the temple where it would live out its natural life. When this special bull died it was embalmed and mummified. He would then be placed into a sarcophagus. Copyright C by Education.com More worksheets at

Ancient Egyptian Life Animal Worship 2 This small bird, the ibis, was associated with the god Thoth. Thoth was the scribe of all the gods, and was believed to judge disputes between the gods.

Think about an animal that you believe might be worth worshipping to in an ancient society. Draw and write about why they would be a good animal here in this box.

Horus was often shown in art as a bird of prey. He is really a super hawk, as he is made up of many birds. He has the wings of an eagle, and eyes of a falcon.

20 Ancient Egyptian Life Animal Worship 2 This small bird, the ibis, was associated with the god Thoth. Thoth was the scribe of all the gods, and was believed to judge disputes between the gods. The most common ibis bird was white and black, called the African Sacred Ibis. These birds can still be found in Egypt. Think about an animal that you believe might be worth worshipping to in an ancient society. Draw and write about why they would be a good animal here in this box. Since falcons and hawks flew high in the sky against the backdrop of the sun, they were associated with Horus the sun god. Horus was one of the most revered gods. He was the protector of the pharaohs. Horus was often shown in art as a bird of prey. He is really a super hawk, as he is made up of many birds. He has the wings of an eagle, and eyes of a falcon. The Egyptian Cobra is found all over Africa, even today. The cobra is posionous but its venom can also be used to cure its bites. The snake was portrayed as the goddess Wadjet, the protector of the pharaohs and all of Lower Egypt. Wadjet is seen on all official headdresses worn by the pharaohs of Egypt. Copyright C by Education.com More worksheets at

Chapter 4 : Ancient Egypt and Kush

Chapter 4 : Ancient Egypt and Kush Chapter 4 Section 1 Geography and Ancient Egypt The Nile River is the most important thing in Egypt. The Nile is the longest river in the world. It stretches about 4000