Journey Through Ancient Egypt: Uncovering its Geography and History

• Geography
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

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Journey Through Ancient Egypt: Uncovering its Geography and History

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify the key geographical features of Egypt and describe the major historical periods of ancient Egypt.

This slide should be kept on the screen throughout the lesson to remind students of the learning objective.

What do you already know about the geography and history of Egypt?

Geography of Egypt

Egypt is located in northeast Africa and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, and the Sahara Desert to the west.

Use a map to show the location of Egypt and its surrounding bodies of water and countries.

Geography of Egypt

Egypt is located in Northeast Africa and covers an area of 1,001,450 square kilometers.

Introduce the geography of Egypt and discuss the size and location of the country.

Cairo

What is the population of Cairo?

Share one interesting fact about Cairo

The Nile River

The Nile River is the longest river in the world, stretching over 4,000 miles from its source in East Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River was the lifeblood of Ancient Egypt, providing water, fertile land, and transportation.

Use a map to show the path of the Nile River and its importance to Ancient Egypt.

Share two things you learnt about the Nile River

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

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.

What wild animals can be found in Egypt today?

Egyptian Civilization

Ancient Egyptian civilization began around 3000 BCE and lasted for over 3,000 years. The civilization was known for its art, architecture, religion, and hieroglyphic writing.

Use images to show examples of Ancient Egyptian art, architecture, and hieroglyphics.

The Old Kingdom

The Old Kingdom was a period of Ancient Egyptian history that lasted from around 2686 BCE to 2181 BCE. It was characterized by the building of monumental pyramids and the development of a centralized government.

Use images to show examples of pyramids and explain the role of the pharaoh in Ancient Egyptian society.

The Middle Kingdom

The Middle Kingdom was a period of Ancient Egyptian history that lasted from around 2055 BCE to 1650 BCE. It was characterized by the expansion of trade and the arts, and the development of literature and poetry.

Use images to show examples of Ancient Egyptian literature and explain the importance of trade in the Middle Kingdom.

The New Kingdom

The New Kingdom was a period of Ancient Egyptian history that lasted from around 1550 BCE to 1070 BCE. It was characterized by the expansion of the empire, the rise of powerful pharaohs, and the construction of grand temples and palaces.

Use images to show examples of grand temples and palaces built during the New Kingdom.

Religion in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic and believed in a complex pantheon of gods and goddesses. The pharaoh was believed to be a god on earth and was responsible for maintaining Ma'at, or balance and order in the universe.

Use images to show examples of Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses and explain the role of the pharaoh in maintaining Ma'at.

Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics were the writing system used by Ancient Egyptians. The writing was a combination of logographic and phonetic symbols and was used for religious texts, historical records, and everyday communication.

Show examples of hieroglyphics and explain how they were used in Ancient Egyptian society.

Mummification

Mummification was the process of preserving the bodies of the dead for the afterlife. The process involved removing the internal organs, drying the body with natron, and wrapping the body in linen bandages.

Show images of mummified remains and explain the beliefs of Ancient Egyptians about the afterlife.

The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele discovered in 1799 that was inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BCE. The decree was written in three scripts: Greek, hieroglyphics, and demotic. The Rosetta Stone was the key to deciphering hieroglyphics.

Show images of the Rosetta Stone and explain its importance in decoding hieroglyphics.

Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

The pharaoh was the ruler of Ancient Egypt and was believed to be a god on earth. Some of the most famous pharaohs include Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Cleopatra.

Show images of famous pharaohs and explain their impact on Ancient Egyptian society.

The Legacy of Ancient Egypt

The legacy of Ancient Egypt can be seen in modern-day art, architecture, and culture. The pyramids, hieroglyphics, and mummification are just a few examples of the lasting impact of Ancient Egypt.

Ask students to think about examples of modern-day culture that have been influenced by Ancient Egypt.

What is the name of the famous ancient Egyptian queen who ruled in her own right?

1. Isis
2. Nefertiti
3. Hatshepsut
4. Cleopatra

What is the name of the famous ancient Egyptian writing system?

1. Hieroglyphs
2. Hangul
3. Kanji
4. Cuneiform

What is the name of the famous ancient Egyptian king who built many pyramids?

1. Sultan
2. Sheikh
3. Emir
4. Pharaoh

What is the name of the river that flows through Egypt?

1. Yangtze
2. Amazon
3. Mississippi
4. Nile

What is the capital city of Egypt?

1. Cairo
2. Alexandria
3. Luxor
4. Aswan

Geography and war

World War II and Egypt

Slide 1: Introduction

El Alamein is a coastal town in Egypt, located on the Mediterranean Sea. It is famous for its historical significance, especially during World War II.

Slide 2: Physical Geography

El Alamein is situated in the Western Desert, which is part of the larger Sahara Desert. It features arid landscapes, sand dunes, and rugged terrain.

Qattara Depression

Slide 3: Human Geography

In terms of human geography, El Alamein has a small population, primarily engaged in tourism and fishing. It attracts visitors from around the world due to its historical significance.

Further Reading

The Children's University of Manchester

Giza 3D

One day in Cairo

Provide a list of recommended reading materials for students who are interested in learning more about Ancient Egypt.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.