Journey Back to Ancient Egypt
Items in this lesson
Journey Back to
Ancient Egypt
What do you already know about Ancient Egypt?
What Will We Learn Today?
At the end of this lesson you will know where Ancient Egypt was, who ruled it, why the River Nile was important, what daily life was like, cool facts, and more!
Where Was Ancient Egypt?
• In North Africa • Next to the River Nile • Surrounded by deserts
The River Nile
• Gave water for drinking and farming • Flooded each year, bringing good soil • Used for boats and travel
Pharaohs
• Egyptian kings and queens • Believed to be gods on Earth • Famous: Tutankhamun, Cleopatra
Pyramids and Tombs
• Huge stone buildings • Built as tombs for pharaohs • Pyramids had secret rooms
Gods and Religion
• Many gods and goddesses • Believed in life after death • Made mummies to keep bodies safe
Daily Life
• Homes made from mud bricks • Ate bread, fruits, and fish • Children played, went to school
Writing and Inventions
• Used pictures called hieroglyphics • Wrote on papyrus (paper made from plants) • Invented calendars and tools
Fun Facts
• Cats were sacred • Boys and girls wore make-up • Played games and had toys
Discovering King Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun: The Boy Pharaoh
Who Was Tutankhamun?
Tutankhamun, also called King Tut, was a king of ancient Egypt. He ruled a long time ago during the 18th Dynasty. People know him because his tomb was found almost untouched in 1922.
Early Life and Rule
Tutankhamun was born around 1341 BC. He became king when he was just about 9 years old! He started ruling after Akhenaten, the king before him, died. His first name was Tutankhaten, but he changed it to Tutankhamun. This new name means "living image of Amun." Amun was a god that people in Egypt worshipped. During his rule, from about 1333 to 1323 BC, Tutankhamun brought back the old gods.
Finding the Tomb
Tutankhamun's tomb, called KV62, was found in the Valley of the Kings. An archaeologist named Howard Carter discovered it in 1922. The tomb was special because it was one of the best-preserved royal tombs ever found. Inside, there were thousands of treasures, like a famous golden mask, chariots, and jewellery. These things helped us learn about how ancient Egyptians used to bury their kings and what kind of things they used.
Why Is Tutankhamun Important?
Even though he was king for a short time and died young, at about 18 or 19 years old, Tutankhamun is very famous. This is because of all the treasures found in his tomb and the secrets about his life and death.
How Ancient Egyptians Made Mummies
In ancient Egypt, people wanted to keep bodies safe after they died. They believed this helped them in the afterlife. Here's how they made mummies:
Cleaning: First, they washed the body to make it clean.
Removing Organs: They took out organs like the liver and lungs because these could rot. They left the heart inside because it was special.
Drying: The body was covered in a type of salt called natron for 40 days. This dried it out.
Wrapping: After drying, they wrapped the body in many layers of cloth.
Final Touches: Finally, they put the mummy in a coffin, ready for the afterlife.
Mummies were very important to the ancient Egyptians, and they took great care to make them.
Ancient Egyptians lived in Africa beside the River Nile, which provided water for drinking, farming, and travel. Egypt was ruled by powerful kings and queens called pharaohs, who were believed to be chosen by the gods and responsible for the people and the land. The Egyptians built huge pyramids and tombs for pharaohs and filled them with food, gold, and treasures for the afterlife. They believed in many gods and in life after death, so they made mummies to protect bodies. One famous pharaoh was Tutankhamun, who became king at about 9 years old and ruled for a short time. He is famous because his tomb was found almost untouched in 1922 by Howard Carter, full of treasures that taught us a lot about Ancient Egypt. Another famous ruler was Cleopatra, one of the last pharaohs of Egypt, who was known for being very clever and for trying to protect Egypt from being taken over by Rome. Over time, Ancient Egypt grew weaker because of wars, poor rulers, and invasions, and the civilisation eventually ended.
Ancient Egypt Summary
Where: North Africa, River Nile • Why Nile: Water, farming, travel • Who ruled: Pharaohs • Beliefs: Many gods, afterlife, mummies • Fun fact: Cats were sacred
Quiz Time! Lets Recap
1. What river was most important to Ancient Egyptians? 2. Who were the rulers? 3. Why did they build pyramids? 4. Name one thing they invented. 5. What animal was sacred?
