TheHistory Channelclassroompresents

Egypt:

Engineering an Empire

LongbeforethegloryofRomeandthemarvelsoftodaysmodernday skyscrapers,oneoftheworldsmostamazingcivilizationsflourishedin Egypt.Likemostgreatcivilizations,ancientEgyptsgrandeurcanbe attributedtoamixofnaturalbountyandhumaningenuity.Therichwaters oftheNileprovidedtheresourcesandpathwaystobuilddynamictrade routes,whileEgyptsarchitectsdedicatedthemselvestoharnessing thepoweroftheNiletoengineerthestunningstructureswhichhave achievedworldrenown.Overthecourseofgenerationsandcenturies, thesearchitectsbuiltdams,pyramids,temples,fortresses,andtombs thathavebecomemodelsofengineeringinnovation.Studentswilllearn howideastravelfrombeingvirtuallyinconceivabletobecomingreality throughdedication,carefulthinking,anddaringexperimentation. Egypt: Engineering an Empiredelvesintothetechniquesandtools architectsmastermindedtocreatethestructuresandlandscapesthat continuetofascinateustoday.Thestoryopensin3032B.C.asthe NilesfloodingteststhedamsofthecityofMemphis,andfollowsthroughtheenthrallingdevelopmentofEgyptian citiesoverthecourseofcenturies.PowerfulEgyptianpharaohsandpedigreedqueensenlistedtheirarchitects andthousandsoflaborerstopourtheirsweatandtalentsintoenactingtheirvisions.Withcommentaryfrom historiansandcolorfulmaps,thistwo-hourdocumentaryoffersafreshperspectiveonthisamazingcultureoflong agoandtheinfluenceofitsinventionsintodayscitiesandcultures.

curriculum links
Egypt: Engineering an EmpirewouldbeusefulforHistory, GlobalStudies,SocialStudies,ScienceandTechnology, andEngineeringclasses.Itwouldbeanexcellent programforinterdisciplinarycoursesandlessonplans.Itis appropriateformiddleschoolandhighschoolstudentsand fulfillsseveralNationalStandardsguidelinesasoutlinedby theNationalCouncilforHistoryEducationincluding:(1) HumanInteractionwiththeEnvironment;and(2)Civilization, CulturalDiffusionandInnovation.

vocabulary
Usingthedictionaryatwww.merriamwebster.com, anInternetresourcesuchaswww.history.com,oran encyclopedia,studentsshoulddefineorexplainthe significanceofthefollowingterms: catastrophic coalition divine empire faade inconceivable obelisk subterranean symmetrical unprecedented

discussion questions
1.  hatroledoyouthinktheNileRiverplayedin W Egyptsprosperity?DoyouthinkancientEgyptcould havebecomeamajesticcivilizationwithouttheNile? 2.  hatweresomeofthewaysEgyptiansharnessed W thepoweroftheNile?Whatwastheprimaryroute oftransportationtheydeveloped,andwhatwerethe techniquesancientEgyptiansusedtodevelopthem?
1

H 3.  owwouldyoudescribethepowerstructureof ancientEgypt?Whatdoesitmeantodescribe Egyptiankingsandqueensasdivine?Whatpowers didtheybelievethisenabledthem? 4.  hatweresomeexamplesofthechallengeslaborers W facedinconstructingEgyptsmonuments?Whatdo youthinkmotivatedthem?

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discussion questions (cont.)

5.  hisdocumentaryrevealsthewaysmanyEgyptian T engineeringfeatsweremarkedbyfailureinitially. Givesomeexamplesofmistakesorfailuresengineers andworkersencounteredandthesolutionsthey developed.WhatiftheEgyptianshadsimply abandonedthesetasks? 6.  hywerepharaohstombssosignificantinancient W Egypt?Whatweresomeofthehallmarksandnotable characteristicsofEgyptiantombs? 7.  hywasthereignofQueenHatshepsutimportant W amongthelonglineofEgyptianleaders?Whatwere someofthekeyinnovationsthatresultedfromherreign? W 8.  hataresomeoftheconnectionsbetweenEgyptian engineeringandtheexpansionofitsempire? B 9.  ybuildingsuchgrandmonuments,whatmessages doyouthinktheEgyptianswantedtosendtotheir enemies,totheirgods,andtothegenerationsthat followedthem?Couldsomemonumentsachieveallof thesegoalsatthesametime?Discuss. 10.  hyareEgyptianobelisksconsideredoneofthe W mostamazingarchitecturalfeatseverachieved?Do youthinktheycouldbeconstructedtoday?

extended activities
1.  hroughoutthisdocumentary,manyarchitectural T innovationsandstructuresareintroduced.Insmall groups,chooseoneofthesestructuresandcreatea planforhowyouwouldbuilditifyouweregiventhe tasktoday.Besuretoincludedetailsformaterials needed,thetechniquesyouwouldemploy,andthe numberofpeoplerequiredtoconstructit.Then,build areplicaofthesemonumentsin3-DPowerPoint presentations,orindrawings. 2.  gyptianobelisksstoodassomeofthemostsignificant E monumentsadornedwithsymbolsrichinmeaning. Designanobeliskofyourowntorecordthehistory ofyourcity,school,orcountry.Includeashortessay describingthesymbolsyouhavechosenandwhat theyrepresent.Alsoincludeanexplanationofwhoyou imaginewillviewyourobeliskandwhatmessagesyou wouldliketotransmittothem.Ifpossible,createart projectsthatdepictyourobelisks,andsharethemwith yourlargerclassorgroup. 3.  hisdocumentarycoversanextensivetimeperiodin T ancientEgypt.Insmallgroups,constructatimeline whichtracestheerasofEgyptianhistorydiscussed inthisdocumentary.Then,onalargertimeline,plot ancientEgyptalongabroadertimelinethatincludes theotherempiresandculturesyouhavestudied. Thesetimelinescouldbeillustratedwithimagesand additionalfactsaboutancientEgypt.

websites&books
websites
BritannicasEgyptpage:britannica.com/eb/article9106015 Collectionofthegreatestbuildingsintheworld:www. greatbuildings.com HistoryforKidswebsiteonEgyptianarchitecture:www. historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/architecture/ egyptarchit.htm TheBBCssiteonEgyptianhistory:www.bbc.co.uk/ history/ancient/egyptians/ OfficialwebsitefortheEgyptianpresidencyandrelevant histories:www.presidency.gov.eg/index.html

books
Andrew,IanandDugaldSteer.Egyptology(Candlewick, 2004). Arnold,Dieter.The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture(Princeton,2003). Hornung,Erik.History of Ancient Egypt: An Introduction (Cornell,1999). Shaw,Ian.The Oxford Illustrated History of Ancient Egypt (Oxford,2002). Somers,ClarkandR.Engelbach.Ancient Egyptian Construction and Architecture(DoverPublications,1990).

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