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Africanhistoryandcivilization--Egypt.ppt
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African history and civilization:

Egypt and the Nile Valley

The Nile Valley

Nile Valley cont…

The Egyptian civilization

  • Over 2,000 years ago, Herodotus wrote:
  • “Concerning Egypt itself I shall extend my remarks to a great length, because there is no country that possess so many wonders, nor any that has such a number of works that defy description.”

Time line

  • c.3500 B.C. – c.3000 B.C. Predynastic Period
  • c.3000 B.C. – c.2686 B.C. Early Dynastic Period
  • c.2686 B.C. – c.2150 B.C. Old Kingdom
  • c.2150 B.C. – c.2050 B.C. 1st Intermediate Period
  • c.2050 B.C. – c.1750 B.C. Middle Kingdom
  • c.1750 B.C. – c.1570 B.C. 2nd Intermediate Period
  • c.1570 B.C. – c.1070 B.C. New Kingdom
  • c.1070 B.C. – c.716 B.C. 3rd Intermediate Period
  • c.716 B.C. - c.332 B.C. Late Period

Peopling of the Nile valley

  • Region had attracted proto-humans and human groups
  • Early population groups roamed the region as foragers
  • Global climate and environmental changes started from c.10,000 B.C
  • Deglaciation in Europe; increased rainfall in Africa (pluvial period)
  • Period followed by cooling (decreased rainfall in Africa)
  • Desiccation and desertification of Sahara

Nile Valley cont…

Peopling of the Nile valley cont…

  • Climatic and environmental change triggered demographic change in the valley
  • Population increased with waves and bands of immigrants from the Sahara to the west
  • Immigration from the east and the south swelled this population
  • Neolithic revolution and sedentary life further increased population

Social complexity: Emergence of State society

  • Nation-states now a dominant feature global cultural landscape
  • Political units that claim sovereignty and command allegiance
  • Record of this in Egypt date to 6,000 years ago but process started earlier

Social complexity cont…

  • Between 6,000 and 4,000 B.C. settlements developed along the Nile
  • Knowledge of the control of the annual Nile flood waters necessary for this
  • The communal effort for this endeavor was the basis for the Egyptian civilization
  • Demographic change (immigration and natural increase) led to increased competition for resources
  • Competition increased the potential for conflict

Social complexity…

  • The neolithic revolution also led to specialization
  • The need to avoid conflict led to co-operation
  • All of these processes led to the birth of the Egyptian state and civilization c.3,000 B.C.
  • This attributed to Pharaoh Narmer/Menes
  • Palette of Narmer

Social complexity cont…

Egyptian Pyramids

Highlights of Egyptian civilization

  • Religion
  • Ka and the afterlife
  • Architecture
  • Political system
  • Agriculture
  • Animal and plant domestication
  • Technology
  • Irrigation
  • Astronomy
  • Science and Medicine