Ancient Egypt (part 1)

2025-09-04

Nile

• floods leave the banks very fertile
• the Nile's flood began in june, and ended by december?
• the flood was predictable and reliable
• together with the dry climate which preserves things, the Nile contributed to the:
  • idea of permanence
  • idea of renewal
• egypt's natural barriers - the sahara desert and other desert areas, the cataracts, and limited coastal entry points
• north-south travel encourages political and cultural unity

archaic period

• lower egypt and upper egypt would be unified by king narmer
• writing (hieroglyphics)
• mummification (embalming)

Jean Francois Champollion

• translated egyptian hieroglyphics into greek (rosetta stone)

old kingdom