Ancient Egypt and Mr. Matera

Everyone knows about mummies & pyramids. Rightfully so I say. These are the hallmarks of an ancient civilization that was much more advanced than the rest of the world at that time. As most “tribes” and I do use that term loosely were still hunting and gathering, the Egyptians were engineering and empire. The Egyptians were not only building huge pyramids but they had constructed irrigation canals, multi story houses, massive fortifications that would be unrivaled till the middle ages in Europe. These are the Egyptians I want my students to know about. Masters of construction, conquerors of the Nile Valley, and a powerful empire that lasted for more than three thousand years.

Last week began our Egyptian unit. We had just finished studying ancient Mesopotamia. We learned all about the small city states they had constructed. Then, we turned our attention to the first great empire. The empire of the Egyptians. I told the students that this year we will be studying many empires. Going from one to the next.  Studying what made each a success and what failures tore apart such a large and powerful units. The students will have to answer that question. This is not an easy one to come to a conclusion on. I am sure the answer will encompass a great many reasons. Some out of the Egyptians control and others a direct relation to what the people and leaders choose to do. This might not be a question they can come to an answer on right now. It may take them some time to understand and piece together what makes an empire both week and strong at the same time. These are ideas they will have to wrestle with for some time and I hope they do.