Ancient Egypt

First Thoughts When you think about Egypt, things like the Great Pyramid at Giza, the largest human-made structure ever built, or King Tut’s tomb, filled with priceless treasures of gold and jewels, probably come to mind.

For thousands of years, Egypt was one of the most powerful and advanced civilizations in the ancient world. Many of the monuments that the Egyptian pharaohs built to glorify themselves and their gods still stand majestically in the desert. Today millions of tourists come to marvel at these wonders of the world.

Some also take a ride on a camel Some also take a ride on a camel. These “ships of the desert” have carried people and goods across the sands of the Sahara for centuries.

The Mighty Nile The Nile River made the ancient Egyptian civilization possible. Besides bringing life giving water, the river’s annual floods created the fertile land along its banks. The Nile region is now one of the most densely populated places in the world.

Early History Egypt was once two lands: Upper and Lower Egypt. Upper Egypt was located in the south while Lower Egypt was located in the north. This was because the Nile River flowed from south to north.

Egypt United In 3100 BC King Menes united the two Egypts into one and combined the crowns of the two lands.

The Three Kingdoms The history of united Egypt is divided into three periods: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom.

Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC) The first pyramid, called a step pyramid was built. The largest pyramids were built. Memphis was the first capital of this kingdom.

Middle Kingdom (2000-1800 BC) The Egyptians learned to build ocean-going ships made of cedar. Egypt was controlled for a time by the Hyksos.

Middle Kingdom Amenemhet ruled. Trade between Egypt and Palestine started.

New Kingdom (1550-331 BC) The peak of Egypt’s power. Queen Hatshepsut ruled. Alexander the Great conquered Egypt.

New Kingdom King Tutankhamen (Tut) was pharaoh. Ramses II ruled.

Monuments of Egypt The Egyptians built many lasting monuments such as the Sphinx and pyramids.

Pyramids Pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs of Egypt.

Hieroglyphs Hieroglyphs are picture symbols the ancient Egyptians used for writing. Egypt was one of the first civilizations to make paper from the reed like papyrus plant.

The Rosetta Stone In July 1799 French troops under Napoleon found a curious stone with three types of writing on it. This stone turned out to be the key to deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Three writings: hieroglyphs, demotic (cursive Egyptian) and Greek were on the stone.

Discovery of Riches In 1922 a young Egyptologist named Howard Carter discovered the tomb of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamen.

King Tut This discovery opened up a world-wide interest in ancient Egypt.

What you should have learned: The Nile River made the Egyptian civilization possible. Egyptian history is divided into 3 kingdoms. Lasting monuments like the Sphinx and the pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs or leaders of ancient Egypt. Rosetta Stone made hieroglyph decipherment possible. Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tut