DISCOVERING ANCIENT EGYPT assive pyramids famous mum mies and mysterious tombs these are just a few of the fasci nating elements of one of the most celebrated civilizations in history ancient Egypt This civilization was established along the banks of the Nile River about 5 000 years ago Early Egyptians were nomads who found that the river valley offered everything they needed to prosper They built communities and as the people flourished so did their civilization From writing to religion the ancient Egyptians left a legacy for future civiliza tions to admire and copy Egypt is credited with making paper creating the first known solar calendar refining scientific mathemat ical and agricultural techniques developing irrigation systems and establishing a gov ernment that lasted for more than 3 000 years Ancient Egypt was the superpower of its time Nonetheless like other giants of the ancient world it eventually perished Climate corruption and foreign invaders all played a part in the demise of this nota ble society However ancient Egypt s legacy and achievements continue to capture our imaginations and inspire the arts and sci ences to this day 6
INTRODUCTION Carved about 2500 BCE the Great Sphinx stands before the pyramid complex in Giza Egypt and is one of the most recognizable symbols of ancient Egypt It measures 172 feet 52 4 meters in length and 66 feet 20 meters in height In what follows we will explore the early settlement of ancient Egypt We'll discover how they built their society and set standards in every aspect of civilization We'll also visit the most exciting moments of Egyptian history and touch on its most famous pharaohs Finally we'll look at the immeasurable mark ancient Egypt has left on our culture
CHAPTER ONE SETTLEMENT OF THE NILE VALLEY or more than 10 000 years hunters and gather ers roamed the Nile valley in northeastern Africa A swampy plateau overgrown with trees rushes and papyrus the narrow valley was home to the world's longest river the Nile As the climate became hot and dry harsh desert conditions developed on either side of the 4 132 mile long 6 650 kilometer river The Nile became the only oasis for drinking water food and transportation Eventually it became what the ancient Egyptians believed to be the gateway to the afterlife This dependency on the Nile both physical and spiritual is reflected in the first verses of the ancient Hymn to the Nile Hail to thee O Nile Who manifests thyself over this land and comes to give life to Egypt The formerly nomadic Egyptians estab lished villages and towns along its riverbanks The time of this settlement is known as the Predynastic
inst SMSP Known for being the longest river in the world the Nile rises just south of the equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa Its waters drain into the Mediterranean Sea Era 5th millennium BCE c 2925 BCE It would be the origins of one of antiquity's most important civilizations ancient Egypt Agriculture and Dietary Habits In order to control the Nile the ancient Egyptians invented a year round irrigation system It sent river water along short canals to nearby fields With an ongoing watering system farmers could plant seeds and grains They developed a measuring system that allowed them to plant such crops as wheat
