Ancient Egypt facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Four colossal statues of Ramesses II flank the entrance of his temple Abu Simbel

Pharaoh Akhenaten

Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Alexander the Great as Pharaoh, Greco-Egyptian, c. 300 BC

Ancient Egypt, or the Egyptian Empire, was a society that began about 3150 BC, and lasted until 20 BC when it was invaded by the Roman Empire. It grew along the River Nile and was at its most powerful in the second millennium BC. Its land went from the Nile delta to Nubia, a kingdom which today is mostly in Sudan.

For most of its history, Egypt was prosperous due to the water from the Nile ensuring good crops. Crops were grown after the Nile flood water went down.

The Egyptians created a way of writing using hieroglyphs, built huge temples and tombs, traded with other areas, and had a powerful army. Their religion had many gods, and its priests were powerful and rich. Their rulers, called Pharaohs, were thought to be close to the gods.

The many achievements of the ancient Egyptians include the quarrying, surveying and construction techniques that supported the building of monumental pyramids, temples, and obelisks; a system of mathematics, a practical and effective system of medicine, irrigation systems and agricultural production techniques and the first known planked boats.

Also the Egyptian faience and glass technology, new forms of literature, and the earliest known peace treaty, made with the Hittites.

Ancient Egypt has left a lasting legacy. Its art and architecture were widely copied, and its antiquities carried off to far corners of the world. Its monumental ruins have inspired the imaginations of travelers and writers for centuries.

A new-found respect for antiquities and excavations in the early modern period by Europeans and Egyptians led to the scientific investigation of Egyptian civilization and a greater appreciation of its cultural legacy.

History

Example of Ancient Egypt as shown at Plassenburg Zinnfiguren Museum Germany

Archaeologists, who study objects left by ancient people, have found that people have lived along the Nile for a very long time. The fertile flood plains of the Nile allowed people to begin farming.

By the 10th millennium BC, the people in Egypt had begun growing cereal grains like wheat and barley. Because they were farming, they stayed in one place, and because they were settled, their society became more complex. This was an important step in the history of human civilization. This period in Egyptian history is called predynastic, as it happened before the large dynastic kingdoms were formed.

By about 5500 BC, small tribes living in the Nile valley had developed into a series of cultures. Each had begun farming crops and animals. Each had their own types of pottery and personal items, such as combs, bracelets, and beads.

In Upper Egypt, the south part of the country, the Badarian was one of the earliest cultures. It is known for its high quality pottery, stone tools, and its use of copper. They were followed by the Amratian and Gerzian cultures.

The different periods of ancient Egyptian history are:

Jar with Zigzag Panels - Predynastic Period

Predynastic Period (5500 – 3000 BC)
Early Dynastic Period (1st & 2nd Dynasties, 3000 – 2700 BC)
Old Kingdom (3rd to 6th Dynasties, 2700 – 2180 BC)
First Intermediate Period (7th to 11th Dynasties, 2180 – 2050 BC)
Middle Kingdom (11th to 14th Dynasties, 2080 – 1640 BC)
Second Intermediate Period (15th to 17th Dynasties, 1640 – 1560 BC; the Hyksos)
New Kingdom (18th to 20th Dynasties, 1560 – 1070 BC)
Third Intermediate Period (21st to 25th Dynasties, 1070 – 664 BC)
Late Period (26th to 31st Dynasties, 664 – 323 BC; the Persians)
Graeco-Roman Egypt (323 – 30 BC; Ptolemaic to Roman)

The Intermediate periods included times when the traditional system broke down, the country was split, or invaded by foreign rulers, they had some periods when their government was challenged and sometimes overthrown.

Government

An Egyptian scribe

Ancient Egypt was split up into many different districts called sepats. The first divisions were created during the Predynastic Period, but then, they were small city-states that ruled themselves. When the first pharaoh came to power, the sepats remained and were much like the counties in many countries today.

They stayed basically the same for a long time – there were 42 of them, and each was ruled by a governor chosen by the pharaoh. In later years the districts were called nomes and the governor was called a nomarch.

Ancient Egypt had a lot of different taxes, but there was no real money, so people paid each other with goods or work. The person who watched the tax collection was a scribe, and every tax collector in Egypt had to tell him every day how many taxes they had collected.

Each person paid different taxes based on the work that they did: craftsmen paid in goods, hunters and fishermen paid with food, and every single household in the country had to pay a labor tax every year by helping with work for the country, like mining or for canals. A lot of rich Egyptians paid poorer people to do this for them.

Language and writing

Language

The Rosetta stone (ca 196 BC) enabled linguists to begin the process of hieroglyph deciphering. British Museum

The language can be divided into six time periods:

Archaic Egyptian (before 3000 BC). This language was found on carvings on pottery.
Old Egyptian (3000 BC to 2000 BC). This language was used during the Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period. It was found in pyramids, or Egyptian tombs, and was the first version of the language that had plural tense, which shows that there was more than one object being talked about.
Middle Egyptian (2000 BC to 1300 BC). This language is called Classic Egyptian. It is found all over objects and tombs in Egypt, including Egyptian coffins. Books on science and society were written during this time, and a lot of the things we know about religion of the time are written in Classic Egyptian. Even after people stopped speaking this kind of Egyptian, writers still used it when they wrote books.
Late Egyptian (1300 BC to 700 BC). This is the language of the New Kingdom, which was the best time in Egypt's history. There was a lot of knowledge being shared during this time, so we have a lot of very old books that were written in Late Egyptian. Many people believe that this version of the language was much like what Egyptians spoke.
Demotic Egyptian (700 BC to 400 AD)
Coptic Egyptian (300 AD to 1700 AD)

Writing

Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics

Egypt had writing called hieroglyphics, which is one of the two oldest written languages (the other is Sumerian cuneiform). Hieroglyphic writing dates to c. 3200 BC, and is composed of some 500 symbols. A hieroglyph can represent a word or a sound. The same symbol can serve different purposes in different contexts. Hieroglyphs were for public purposes, used on stone monuments and in tombs. It was art, and often it was political propaganda.

Hieratic script

Oldest example of hieratic script used for a surgical document, dated c. 1600 BC

The script used by priests for everyday writing on papyrus, wood or cloth. In day-to-day writing, scribes used a cursive form of writing, called hieratic, which was quicker and easier. While formal hieroglyphs may be read in rows or columns in either direction (though typically written from right to left), hieratic was always written from right to left, usually in horizontal rows.

Demotic script on the Rosetta Stone

Coptic inscription

Demotic script

The script used by ordinary people. A new form of writing, Demotic, became the main writing style. It is this form of writing – and formal hieroglyphs – which accompanies the Greek text on the Rosetta Stone.

Coptic script

The Coptic script is a modified Greek alphabet. The Coptic language is the last stage of the Egyptian language (modern Egyptians speak a dialect of Arabic).

Religion

Bastet, a feline goddess of ancient Egyptian religion who was worshiped at least since the Second Dynasty

Religion was very important to Ancient Egyptians. To Egyptians, animals were holy and were worshiped. Because of this, Egyptians domesticated, or made pets of, animals very early and took very good care of them.

The center of any Egyptian town was the temple, and this building was used for everything from the town hall to a university in addition to its religious services.

Because they were so religious, Egyptians created a lot of art of their gods. This art shows all different kinds of divine, or holy, creatures including the pharaoh, who was thought to be a god.

The afterlife was also very important to Egyptians and they are known for mummifying their dead. These mummies are important to scientists today because they tell them about how the Egyptians lived.

All the gods were important but some were more important than others.

Agriculture

A tomb relief shows workers plowing the fields, harvesting the crops, and threshing the grain under the direction of an overseer

The rich fertile soil came from annual inundations of the Nile River. The ancient Egyptians were thus able to produce an abundance of food, allowing the population to devote more time and resources to cultural, technological, and artistic pursuits. In ancient Egypt taxes were assessed based on the amount of land a person owned.

Farming in Egypt was dependent on the cycle of the Nile River.The Egyptians recognized three seasons: Akhet (flooding), Peret (planting), and Shemu (harvesting). The flooding season lasted from June to September, depositing on the river's banks a layer of mineral-rich silt ideal for growing crops. After the floodwaters had receded, the growing season lasted from October to February. Farmers plowed and planted seeds in the fields, which were irrigated with ditches and canals.

Egypt received little rainfall, so farmers relied on the Nile to water their crops. From March to May, farmers used sickles to harvest their crops, which were then threshed with a flail to separate the straw from the grain. Winnowing removed the chaff from the grain, and the grain was then ground into flour, brewed to make beer, or stored for later use.

Sennedjem plows his fields with a pair of oxen, used as beasts of burden and a source of food

Flax plants were grown for the fibers of their stems. These fibers were split along their length and spun into thread, which was used to weave sheets of linen and to make clothing. Papyrus growing on the banks of the Nile River was used to make paper.

Vegetables and fruits were grown in garden plots, close to habitations and on higher ground, and had to be watered by hand. Vegetables included leeks, garlic, melons, squashes, pulses, lettuce, and other crops, in addition to grapes that were made into wine.

Animals

Cattle in Ancient Egypt

The Egyptians believed that a balanced relationship between people and animals was an essential element of the cosmic order; thus humans, animals and plants were believed to be members of a single whole.

Cattle were the most important livestock; livestock were taxed. In addition to cattle, the ancient Egyptians kept sheep, goats, and pigs. Poultry such as ducks, geese, and pigeons were captured in nets and bred on farms.

The Nile provided a plentiful source of fish. Bees were also domesticated from at least the Old Kingdom, and they provided both honey and wax.

Relief of Men Presenting Oxen, ca. 2500-2350 B.C.E.

The ancient Egyptians used donkeys and oxen as working animals. They plowed the fields and trampled seed into the soil. Horses were introduced in the Second Intermediate Period, and the camel, although known from the New Kingdom, was not used until the Late Period. There is also evidence to suggest that elephants were briefly used in the Late Period, but largely abandoned due to lack of grazing land.

Dogs, cats and monkeys were common family pets, while more exotic pets imported from the heart of Africa, such as lions, were reserved for royalty. Herodotus observed that the Egyptians were the only people to keep their animals with them in their houses.

During the Predynastic and Late periods, the worship of the gods in their animal form was extremely popular, such as the cat goddess Bastet and the ibis god Thoth.

Medicine

Edwin Smith Papyrus

Ancient Egyptians had some advanced medical knowledge for their time. They performed surgery, set broken bones and even knew about medicines. Not only did they have medicinal values, they also are believed to have been used the Gods to ward off evil spirits and demons.

To see how good they were at medicine one can look at the medical papyri which have survived to the present day. The Edwin Smith papyrus is the world's oldest surviving surgical document, from about 1600 B.C. The text describes anatomy, and the examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of 48 types of medical problems in detail.

Pyramids

Great Pyramid of Giza

Ancient Egyptian pyramids are shaped stone masonry structures. They are the best known pyramid structures, and are some of the largest ever buildings. Over 130 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. Most were built on the western side of the River Nile in desert areas.

Egyptian pyramids are often contain chambers and passages. The pyramids were built as the burial places of the Egyptian kings before the start of the old kingdom until the end of the middle kingdom. Because the Egyptians kept written records, we know about the building of some pyramids.

The Great Pyramid at Giza is the largest and most famous pyramid. It was built for Pharaoh Khufu. It is over 140 meters high and took 20 years to build. It is listed as one of the seven wonders of the world.

The step pyramid at Saqqara is the earliest pyramid which is still standing today. This was built in 2630 BC. It was a burial place of the Pharaoh Djoser. The architect of the step pyramid was Imhotep.

Egyptian Gold Collar (19th dynasty)

Other achievements

Engineering was an important activity in Egypt. Engineers were able to measure and survey the distance between two points. They designed and made the pyramids, which are nearly perfect geometrically. They could make cement, and developed large irrigation networks.

Science was also important. Mathematics was used in Egypt, and the golden ratio was used in the construction of the Pyramids.

Another ability of the Egyptians was glass making. Archaeologists have found many pieces of beads, jars, figures and ornaments in tombs across the nation.

In 2005, the remains of an ancient glass-making factory was found.

Timeline

Predynastic

Egyptian faience beads

3500 BC: Senet, a board game, is invented
3500 BC: Faience, the world's oldest earthenware, or pottery, is created

Dynastic

3300 BC: Bronze works are first created
3200 BC: Hieroglyphs are developed
3100 BC: Decimal system in use
3100 BC: Mining occurs on Mount Sinai
3100 BC: Ships are built in Abydos, an Egyptian city
3000 BC: Trading takes place between Egypt and Palestine
3000 BC: Copper plumbing in use

Stone with hieroglyphs

3000 BC: Papyrus, or ancient paper, is first used
3000 BC: First documented use of medicine
2900 BC: Perhaps the first steel use in the ancient world
2700 BC: First surgery performed
2700 BC: Surveying used by engineers
2700 BC: Hieroglyphs no longer just show little pictures of words, but become based on sounds
2600 BC: The Great Pyramids of Giza created

Statue of Ramesses II in Karnak Temple

2600 BC: Shipping expeditions occur
2600 BC: First use of barges
2600 BC: Pyramid of Djoser created
2600 BC: Menkaure's Pyramid and the Red Pyramid created
2200 BC: Government in Egypt collapsed, meaning many different people tried to become King
1900 BC: Possible Nile to Red Sea canal created
1650 BC: The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus is written, which shows knowledge of geometry, arithmetic and algebra
1600 BC: The Edwin Smith Papyrus is written, which shows knowledge of advanced medical techniques
1550 BC: The Ebers Medical Papyrus is written, the first document on the topic of tumours
1500 BC: Glassmaking
1258 BC: First known peace treaty (Ramesses II)
1160 BC: The Turin Papyrus is written, the first geologic and topographic map

Images for kids

The pyramids of Giza are among the most recognizable symbols of ancient Egypt civilization.
A typical Naqada II jar decorated with gazelles (Predynastic Period)
Early tomb painting from Nekhen, c. 3500 BC, Naqada, possibly Gerzeh, culture
The Narmer Palette depicts the unification of the Two Lands.
Khafre enthroned
Amenemhat III, the last great ruler of the Middle Kingdom
Statues of two pharaohs of Egypt's Twenty-Fifth Dynasty and several other Kushite kings. From left to right: Tantamani, Taharqa (rear), Senkamanisken, again Tantamani (rear), Aspelta, Anlamani, again Senkamanisken. Kerma Museum.
Assyrian siege of an Egyptian fortified city, a scene from the Assyrian conquest of Egypt, probably referring to the capture of Memphis in 667 BC. Sculpted in 645–635 BC, under Ashurbanipal. British Museum.
Portrait of Ptolemy VI Philometor wearing the double crown of Egypt
The Fayum mummy portraits epitomize the meeting of Egyptian and Roman cultures.
Hieroglyphs on stela in Louvre, c. 1321 BC
Ostrakon: hunting a lion with spear and dog
Lower-class occupations
Ruins of Deir el-Medina. A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Bust of Nefertiti, by the sculptor Thutmose, is one of the most famous masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art
The Book of the Dead was a guide to the deceased's journey in the afterlife.
The Ka statue provided a physical place for the Ka to manifest.
Anubis was the ancient Egyptian god associated with mummification and burial rituals; here, he attends to a mummy.
Pharaohs' tombs were provided with vast quantities of wealth, such as the golden mask from the mummy of Tutankhamun.
A chariot
Glassmaking was a highly developed art.
Ancient Egyptian medical instruments depicted in a Ptolemaic period inscription on the temple at Kom Ombo
Astronomical chart in Senemut's tomb, 18th dynasty
Model of a household porch and garden, c. 1981–1975 BC
The Temple of Dendur, completed by 10 BC, made of aeolian sandstone, temple proper: height: 6.4 m, width: 6.4 m; length: 12.5 m, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)
The well preserved Temple of Isis from Philae is an example of Egyptian architecture and architectural sculpture
Illustration of various types of capitals, drawn by the Egyptologist Karl Richard Lepsius
Egyptian tomb models as funerary goods. Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Kneeling portrait statue of Amenemhat holding a stele with an inscription; c. 1500 BC; limestone; Egyptian Museum of Berlin (Germany)
Fresco which depicts Nebamun hunting birds; 1350 BC; paint on plaster; 98 × 83 cm; British Museum (London)
Portrait head of pharaoh Hatshepsut or Thutmose III; 1480–1425 BC; most probably granite; height: 16.5 cm; Egyptian Museum of Berlin
Falcon box with wrapped contents; 332–30 BC; painted and gilded wood, linen, resin and feathers; 58.5 × 24.9 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)
Frontispiece of Description de l'Égypte, published in 38 volumes between 1809 and 1829.
Tourists at the pyramid complex of Khafre near the Great Sphinx of Giza