Adasia S. Zackery
Mrs. Howard
World History (Honors)
29 November 2014
Egypt
Geography
The transcontinental country of Egypt is located in the northern part of Africa right alongside the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Egypt shares borders with the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, plus the countries of Libya, Israel, and Sudan. Egypt is mainly made up of desert plateaus, yet the Nile River flows through its eastern part. The country is 386,662 square miles, which make it the 30th largest country in the entire world. The Egypt is normally humid and hot, but the nights are cool. Since Egypt only has two seasons, humid summers and mild winters, the temperatures change tremendously, yet in the winter they don’t seem to change drastically. In fact, in the coastal regions the temperature can range from a minimum of 14°C in the winter to a maximum of 30°C in the summer. In the inland areas temperatures vary widely in the summer. They can range from 7°C at nighttime to 43° in the day. In the winter the temperatures range from 0°C at night to 18°C in the daytime. Winter lasts from November to April, and the summers are from May to October. There aren’t many variations between the two seasons besides the temperature in the daytime and the day-to-day winds. The country barely receives and rain on a yearly basis. In fact, Egypt’s wettest area is the Alexandria, which only receives a maximum of 200 millimeters of rain each year. Egypt receives winds, known as the sirocco and the khamsin, around April that pick up tremendous speeds causing great sandstorms that may lasts for days at a time and damage homes, fields, and even kill animals and people.
Neighboring Countries
Sudan is closely related to Egypt due to the fact that they have had ties together for long periods of time. The two countries were each other’s closest allies. They are also connected socially, and politically, and they both help each other in any way possible. Libya is closely related because they both gained their independence around the same time in the 1950’s. They relatively cooperated with one another. They were also allies in war too, but their relations were strained and their interactions were prohibited. They are now beginning to come back to good terms slowly now.
Egypt’s Development
Northern and Southern Egypt was divided into separate areas. The northern region was known as the Red Land that stretched along the Nile River to Atfih, and the south was known as the White Land that stretched from Atfih to Gebel es-Silsila. The North was reigned by King Menes while the South was ruled by King Scorpion, who tried his best to take over the North in 3200 B.C., but his efforts failed. Around 3100 B.C., the northern and southern regions were joined together by King Menes, which made him the king of the first dynasty. Menes then founded the capital of Egypt. This brought about the archaic period, in which the capital served as a trading ground for Egyptians. Most Egyptians around this point of time were all farmers, so the location close to the Nile was very fertile. This caused the capital to become metropolitan, and there was major growth in Egyptian society, and the first system of hieroglyphics was established for means of communication.
The third dynasty began around 2630 B.C. under the rule of King Djoser. King Djoser brought about the appearance of the world’s first major stone building called the Step-Pyramid. This then paved the way for the construction of many other pyramids during the Old Kingdom. Also, during this dynasty, Egypt went through a period of peace. There was an effective government in which the pharaohs held all of the power, and faced absolutely no threats. A successful military was also put into place.
After a while, during the fifth and sixth dynasties the Kings began to have a higher demand for pyramids to be build for them, and this caused their wealth to be effected negatively. The government began to be faltered and the period of the Old Age ended on a sour note.
Even though the fifth and sixth dynasties ended badly, it didn’t stop the seventh and eighth dynasties from having rapid success and growth. Then, a civil war arose between the central authorities that brought about invasions on Egypt. Egyptians had to also deal with the problems of famine and disease the civil war brought about. From this conflict, two kingdoms were formed. The 17 kings from dynasties ten and eleven, based in Heracleopolis, ruled the middle region of Egypt, but the Prince of Thebes managed to reunite Egypt by overthrowing Heracleopolis. This accomplishment began the eleventh dynasty, but ended the first intermediate period.
After the assassination of the eleventh dynasties king, power was passed on to his chief minister, which began the beginning of the twelfth dynasty. King Amenemhet established a new capital. This also marked the beginning of the Middle Kingdom. Egypt began to succeed once again as it did in during The Old Kingdom period.
The Middle Kingdom began to become aggressive as they conquered other countries for their resources. The King began to start trade and relations with Syria. The era of pyramid building began again as it did in the Old Kingdom. Egypt began to reach its peak under the rule of the Amenemhet family, but also reached its lowest point. King Amenemhet’s sister, Queen Sobekneferu, became Egypt’s first female ruler and the last ruler of the twelfth dynasty.
The beginning of the thirteenth dynasty became yet another unsettled period where the kings struggled to keep power. This led to another division if Egypt, except this time, it was divided into several different groups of influence. The thirteenth and fourteenth dynasties seemed to have existed at the same time, and were rivalries.
Then around 1650 B.C. a group of rulers known as the Hyksos took over Egypt and this marked the beginning of the fifteenth dynasty. They continued to use Egypt’s traditions when it came to ruling the country. The sixteenth dynasty was believed to be Hyksos or Theban. The seventeenth dynasty retained power over the southern portion of Egypt, and had to pay taxes to the Hyksos to do so. Conflict was inevitable between the two, and flared. Thebans declared war on the Hyksos, and drove them out of Egypt
Ahmose, the first king of the eighteenth dynasty, reunited Egypt. Egypt regained control over countries, and became the world’s greatest empire. The New Kingdom era brought about the reign of women, such as Queen Hatshepsut. Also, in the eighteenth dynasty a religious revolution began. Egyptians went back to worshiping numerous Gods.
The nineteenth and twentieth dynasties marked the beginning of the restoration of Egypt after it’s weakening. A great amount of temples, shrines, and tombs began to be built. In fact, every ruler, except one, of the New Kingdom was laid to rest in deep tombs, but most of them were raided and destroyed. Some were left alone and preserved.
After the rule of Egypt’s beloved Ramses; Egypt’s wealth began to deplete tremendously. Egypt suffered a great amount, and lost its provinces in Palestine and Syria for good, and suffered many invasions.
During the next 400 years of the Third Intermediate Period, many great changes in Egypt’s politics and culture. A centralized government took over during the twenty-first dynasty, and the ruler s of this period paved the way for local officials. This effected the population Egypt long-term. Around 945 B.C. the twenty-second dynasty began under the rule of a Libyan, King Sheshonq. Rulers during the twenty-third and twenty-fourth dynasties were barely known, for poor documentation was kept on them.
Nubian pharaoh established the twenty-fifth dynasty on their own under the rule of the Kushites. Under their rules they had conflict with the Assyrian Empire, and their ruler invaded the Egyptian capital of Memphis driving the Kushites out. He also destroyed Memphis in the process. The Assyrian, Necho, had a brief rule as the first king of the twenty-sixth dynasty. He was assassinated by a Kushite in the battle for power.
Necho’s son was the first to rule during the Saite dynasty, which only lasted for two centuries. In 525 B.C., the king of Persia defeated the last king of the Saite dynasty, which then made Egypt part of the Persian Empire. Persian rulers still ruled Egypt under the same terms as Egyptian Kings. Egyptian began to rebel against Persian government, sparked by the rule of Xerxes. In 404 B.C. during the twenty-eight through thirtieth dynasties, Egypt regained independence.
The Persians once again attacked Egypt, and gained control. Egypt one again was under the rule of the Persians. Alexander the Great then defeated Persian kings gaining control of Egypt. Egypt was then ruled by a long line of Macedonian kings. Cleopatra, the last ruler of Egypt, surrendered Egypt to the armies of Octavian. For six centuries, Egypt was under Roman rule, and Christianity became its primary religion. Egypt was conquest by the Arabs in the seventh century A.D., and when Islam was introduced it did away with all of Egypt’s old culture and politics, and began to modernize it.
Major Leaders * King Narmer (3100 -2950 B.C.)- reunited Egypt ,and founded its first dynasty * King Djoser (2950 - 2575 B.C.) - built the first step pyramid * Prince Mentuhotep (2055 B.C.- assassination) -toppled Heracleopolis and reunited Egypt beginning the eleventh dynasty * King Amenemhet III (1842-1797 B.C.) - helped Egypt reach it’s economical peak * Queen Sobekneferu (1789-1786 B.C.) – first female ruler of Egypt, and last ruler of twelfth dynasty * Queen Hatshepsut (1503-1482 B.C.) - began ruling as a regent for her young stepson, King Thutmose III, Egypt’s greatest military hero * King Ramses III (1187-1156 B.C.) – Egypt’s most powerful ruler * King Darius (522-485 B.C.) – Persian ruler who supported Egypt’s religious cults and undertook the building and restoration of its temples. * King Xerxes (486-465 B.C.) – sparked uprisings that led to Egypt’s independence from Persia in 404 B.C. * Queen Cleopatra (51- 31 B.C.) – surrendered Egypt to the armies of Octavian
Evolution of Egypt’s Government
Egypt began as a monarchy in 3100 B.C. The Pharaoh was the head of the monarchy, and had every say so. The Pharaoh was looked at and treated like a God, and wasn’t only the supreme leader of the government, for he was also the supreme leader of religion. The Pharaoh couldn’t run everything alone, so he had other officials. The Vizier was the Primary Leader of the Government, and ranked right under the pharaoh. The Nomarks ranked under the Vizier. The Nomarks looked over states and provinces. Nomarks were sometimes appointed by the pharaoh, but the position could also be passed down through generations. Other officials were the army commander, the chief treasurer, and the minister of public works, and had to report to the pharaoh. The Scribes played a major role, and kept up with the money and finances. Today, Egypt’s government is based off of Republicanism, with a semi-Presidential system. Egypt’s president is limited to two four year terms. To be eligible to run for President one must obtain 30,000 signatures from 15 provinces, or 30 members of a chamber of the legislature, or even elected by a party holding, at the least, one seat in legislature. Egypt also has a Parliamentary System, and a House of Representatives that has 567 members. Egypt has a council called the Shura Council, the 264-member upper house of Parliament created in 1980. The drastic change in Egypt’s government came about when it was modernized by the Arabs when they conquest the country in the seventh century A.D.
Military
Egypt has an active military called the Armed Forces of Egypt, and is the largest in Africa and the Middle East. The Egyptian Armed Forces is led by the General command or the Supreme Council, and in extreme and important cases, the President can lead them. The President also holds the title of the Supreme Leader of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Egypt’s military has been in many wars throughout its existence, and are currently at war today with Israel. The many wars that they have been in so far have mostly been victorious. Egypt’s military has played a major role in the country’s history. The military has won its battles, and protected the country faithfully. Not only do they fight, and keep them safe, the military also helps economically. The military has created jobs, and lowered the unemployment rates since its creation
Egypt’s Economy Egypt makes its money from the Suez Canal, tourism, exportation of goods, and its oil production. Egypt is relatively average, and is now recovering from 4 years of a slow economy. Egypt has also had to receive aid from different countries. Egypt has been industrialized since the 1920’s, but is still far behind other countries. Egypt is an active exporter of oil. The country produces at least 630,600 barrels a day, and exports 155,200 barrels per day. Egypt is mostly known for its pyramids, mummies, hieroglyphics, and lifestyle. Tourism is a big part of Egypt’s economy because people visit to see the landscapes, monuments, sites, and experience the cultured.
Extra Information Egypt has the largest population of Arabians in the world. Egypt, Syria, and Yemen all have similar flags. Ancient Egyptians worshiped over 1,000 Gods. Egypt is almost three times larger than Mexico. Ancient Egyptians invented the first clocks. The word pharaoh means “great house”. Children were considered blessings. Some tombs of the dead included toilets.

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