<aside> ☝ From this lesson, you must know…
Historians have estimated that Ancient Egypt coalesced around 3100 BCE, marking the beginning of an era of great cultural, artistic, and technological achievements that would leave a lasting impact on the world. As the centuries passed, Ancient Egypt saw the rise and fall of various dynasties, and experienced periods of great prosperity as well as decline. However, the civilization remained a dominant force in the region until the rule of Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, in 30 BCE.
Egyptian civilization emerged in the northeast corner of Africa, along the Nile River. The Nile River was the lifeblood of the civilization, providing water, fertile soil for farming, and transportation. On both sides of the Nile, there was desert terrain that acted as a natural barrier, providing protection against outside conquest and influence.
The Nile River's annual floods were one of the most significant factors that allowed the civilization to flourish. These floods were predictable and consistent, and the Egyptians used this knowledge to develop their agricultural practices. They developed an irrigation system that allowed them to control the water flow, creating an abundance of food for their people. The Egyptians even created their calendar around the Nile River's flooding patterns, highlighting the importance of this natural phenomenon in their daily lives.
Cities developed along the Nile River in ancient Egypt, which was divided into two regions: “Upper Egypt” and “Lower Egypt.” These regions were united by Menes, who founded the city of Memphis in 2925 BCE. Memphis became a major city with impressive pyramids and temples dedicated to the gods of ancient Egypt.
Another important city was Thebes, which became the capital around 1700 BC. The Pharaohs built huge palaces and temples in Thebes, and nearby is the famous Valley of the Kings. Here, many Pharaohs were buried in elaborate tombs with intricate decorations and treasures that were meant to accompany them into the afterlife.
In ancient Egypt, the hierarchy of society was similar to those of other civilizations we have previously covered. The Pharaoh and Priests held the most power and influence, while farmers and unskilled workers occupied the lower rungs of society.
Pharaohs were revered as dynastic "king-gods" who were believed to possess control over nature. This belief system was reinforced by the fact that the Egyptians were polytheistic, with one notable exception. The gods were thought to govern every aspect of life, including fertility, harvest, and death.
What made Egypt unique was their explicit belief that the pharaoh was a god in human form. This religious and political system is known as a theocracy, where the political and religious leaders are the same. Therefore, the Pharaoh held immense power and influence over all aspects of Egyptian life, from the divine to the mundane.
Egyptian hieroglyphics was a writing system used by the ancient Egyptians. It is considered to be one of the oldest forms of writing in the world, dating back to around 3000 BCE. The hieroglyphics were both pictograms, which represented objects or ideas, and a phonetic alphabet, which represented sounds. The writing system was complex and could be read from left to right, right to left, or top to bottom. It was used for important documents and inscriptions on tombs, temples, and monuments.
The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele inscribed with three versions of a decree issued in Ancient Egypt, namely, in hieroglyphic scripts, Demotic script, and Ancient Greek. It was a discovery that proved to be a key artifact to enable scholars to decipher the Egyptian scripts. The Rosetta Stone's importance in the study of Ancient Egypt cannot be overstated, as it has provided valuable insights into the language, culture, and history of this ancient civilization.