The civilization was divided into lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. Upper Egypt started at Aswan and was a narrow, more arid land bordered by high cliffs and the desert. Lower Egypt included the rich plain of Faiyum and the Delta where the river widened out and emptied into the sea. Tucked into the desert with the Mediterranean as a northern border, Egypt was easily defensible. Lower Egypt is known as Northern Egypt because it is downriver along the Nile.

Lower Egypt is the northern-most section of Egypt stretching from just south of modern-day Cairo to the Nile Delta at Alexandria. Lower Egypt's landscape is dominated by the Nile delta at Alexandria. The deltal region is well watered, crisscrossed by channels and canals. There are marshy areas and the mosquitoes can be very annoying. The climate is milder than the climate in Upper Egypt. Temperatures are less extreme and there is more rainfall in this area. The Lower Egyptians' dialect and customs historically varied from those of the Upper Egyptians. Even in modern times, Lower Egypt is much more industrialized, and influenced by trade and commerce with the rest of the world.

Upper Egypt is known as Southern Egypt because it is upstream, closer to the source of the Nile. Upper Egypt is a narrow strip of land that extends from the cataract boundaries of modern-day Aswan to the area south of modern-day Cairo. Historically, Upper Egypt's land was more isolated from activities to the north.

While developing into a civilization, the Egypitians had to harness the Nile. They learned to determine the seasons of the year by the behavior of the river. The first season was Inudation, a time of flooding from June thgough September. At this time the peasants hauled stone for the Pharaoh for his building projects. The next season was Emergence when men caught and hoarded the fast-receding waters and planted in the mud. Usually the soil remained wet until February while the crops grew. During the last season, Drought, the men harvested and threshed. Then in June the whole cycle repeated itself.

Egyptian civilization began in Lower Egypt. A major characteristic of the Middle and New Kingdom is the movement of power to Upper Egypt and the constant struggle of the dynasties to keep the two kingdoms united.

Children were the focus of family life. They were allowed to attend most adult functions and took an active part in family businesses. Girls learned matters of running a household; record-keeping, organizing the many containers and great jars of foodstuffs and materials, and supervising the house slaves.

Boys, beginning at age 4, went to school for 10-12 years. Some were sent to local scribes to learn reading an writing. Scribes also taught young boys good manners, respect for parents, honesty, humility and self-control. Scribes were highly regarded in ancient Egyptian civilization.

Another group that was highly regarded were the priests. This was an occupation of high influence. The priests were trained in temple schools by other priests. They married, lived everyday lives and spent only a certain amount of time away from their families.

Beer and bread were the main staples of the ancient Egyptians. Unbaked bread dough was fermented in a mixture of water and honey. The liquid was drunk by everyone and the dough was baked. Other foods supplemented their diet such as Cattle, sheep and goats for meat and dairy products. Vegetables, such as radishes, cucumber, beans and lettuce were grown. Honey was used as a sweetener and meals were supplemented with dates and wine. Peasants sat on the floor to eat while nobility and wealthy families had a food stand set before each member.

Tomb workers were always needed to build rock cut tombs of the pharaohs. Many of the peasants assisted during the off growing season but their were some permanent workers who often were slaves, criminals or violent people. They were walled off in prison like places. Farmers, though were happy to do this work because they were taken good care of and fed well. They were also satisfied in the knowledge they were getting in the good favor of their king.

Other occupations included professional magicians, wrestlers, dancers, singers, acrobats and storytellers. The entertainment of the upper class was a full time job. Members of the ruling classes enjoyed outside sports as well such as swimming, hunting, fishing, fowling, and chasing crocodiles and hippopotami. One game relates to the Nile in that people in boats climb poles and try to knock the other people off into the Nile. Along with adult games were children games. They played with toy animals, dolls and leather balls. They collected amulets and charms that were carried in small bundles on belts at their waists or worn as necklaces. These were to bring good luck or protection. They also enjoyed other games such as Senet; Hounds and Jackals, and Nine Men's Morris.

Women used rouge on their cheeks and henna (a small shrub) on their hands. These were all prized possessions and kept in small decorated jars, another job of the craftsman. Wigs were worn by both men and women. They were made of braided linen strips set with beeswax. Women often wore false braids to fill out their own hair. It is hard to determine clothing patterns as most of the paintings were of upper classes but these people wore straight linen dresses with should bands. Later these became fuller. Men wore kilts with their upper bodies bare. Jewelry was wore by both men and women. Footware, when wore, was made of woven rushes or leather.

Temple were the homes of the gods. Each one housed a specific god, who was enshrined in the sanctuary. On orders of the pharaohs, these temples were build on the East Bank of the Nile, one temple often taking many years to complete. One pharaoh might start the building and another continue and maybe finish it. Added to the original structure maybe gateways, courtyards, large halls with many columns. The Temple of Luxor at Karnak was built in this way by Amenhotep III and Ramese II.

Priest, or overseers, collected taxes, tended to the daily feeding and clothing of the god - statues, and supervised the god's lands and crops. They determined the amount of taxes to be paid by measuring the depth of the Nile. The theory was that if the water level was high more crops would grow therefore the taxes should be high. If low, less crops and less taxes.

These priest demanded vast quantities of land, goods and treasure. The pharaohs and their nobles conceded to these demands which eventually decreased their power and status. The priests grew wealthy and achieved tremendous power, enjoying a comfortable family life.

The Egyptians revered their gods and spent a great deal of time making offerings and praying to their favorites. Festival time was an exciting opportunity for the Egyptian people to view the god-statues to whom they prayed every day. Temples were sacred and, therefore, off limits to the peasants. During festivals, priests carried god-statues through the streets, up and down the Nile in barges, and staged great feasts and merriment.

Once a year the statue Isis, in the Temple of the goddess Hathor at Dendera, left its small sanctuary to be taken upstream to the Temple of Seti I at Abydos. Here she was spiritually reunited with her husband Osiris. His head was reputed to be buried at Abydos, making the Temple a shrine to which Egyptian pilgrims traveled yearly.