Ancient Egypt: A Civilization of Great Achievements

The Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted for over 3,000 years, becoming one of the most powerful and iconic civilizations in history. At its height, Ancient Egypt’s empire stretched from modern-day Syria to Sudan.

Early History and City-States

Ancient Egypt was initially a series of small, independent city-states that bloomed along the Nile River in North Africa. These city-states were divided into two regions: Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north. By around 3100 BC, the two halves united, creating one Egyptian state that lasted for millennia.

Periods of Prosperity and Instability

The reign of the civilization can be divided into three major periods of prosperity: the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, with two periods of instability in between, known as the First and Second Intermediate Periods. A succession of around 300 rulers, often referred to as pharaohs, guided the Egyptian people.

Pharaohs and Their Role

Pharaohs were considered protectors of the people and served as divine liaisons between humanity and the hundreds of gods they worshipped. After passing away, pharaohs were believed to become gods, and to prepare for their journey into the afterlife, they constructed elaborate tombs, including the Great Pyramids at Giza.

Mathematics and Written Language

Ancient Egyptians made significant innovations in mathematics and written language. They developed a new form of measurement called the qubit, which was used to design massive structures like the Great Pyramid with remarkable geometrical precision. They also established a 24-hour division of the day and created a solar calendar, the first dating system in history to feature 365 days in one year.

Civil Engineering and Agriculture

The Egyptians developed methods to measure and survey land around the Nile River, making way for the construction of dams, canals, and irrigation systems that helped farming and agriculture flourish in the Nile Valley.

Written Languages

Ancient Egyptians created written languages, including hieroglyphic writing, which was developed around 3150 BC and has over 700 pictorial characters. Another form of writing, hieratic, developed out of the hieroglyphic system and was written in ink, serving a more functional purpose.

Papyrus and Communication

The Egyptians also innovated papyrus, a type of paper derived from the papyrus plant, which gave them a new avenue of communication and record-keeping. This allowed their civilization’s administrative skills to grow, and their culture to spread for thousands of years.

Decline and Legacy

Ancient Egypt eventually came to an end, conquered after a series of invasions, including those by the Persian Empire and the Roman Empire. Despite its decline, Ancient Egypt’s vast cultural contributions, linguistic and mathematical innovations, and extensive political and military might set a high standard for all civilizations that followed.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Pharaoh	A ruler of Ancient Egypt considered to be a divine liaison between humanity and the gods.	The pharaoh was believed to have been chosen by the gods to rule over Ancient Egypt.
Hieroglyphic writing	A form of written language developed by the Ancient Egyptians, consisting of pictorial characters.	The hieroglyphic writing system was used to record important events and stories in Ancient Egyptian history.
Qubit	A unit of measurement developed by the Ancient Egyptians, used to design and construct massive structures like the Great Pyramid.	The qubit was used to ensure the precise construction of the Great Pyramid, one of the most impressive architectural achievements in history.
Papyrus	A type of paper derived from the papyrus plant, used by the Ancient Egyptians for writing and record-keeping.	The invention of papyrus allowed the Ancient Egyptians to record their history, literature, and administrative documents with greater ease.
Upper Egypt	The southern region of Ancient Egypt, which united with Lower Egypt to form a single state around 3100 BC.	Upper Egypt was known for its fertile soil and was the site of many important Ancient Egyptian cities and temples.
Lower Egypt	The northern region of Ancient Egypt, which united with Upper Egypt to form a single state around 3100 BC.	Lower Egypt was an important center of trade and commerce in Ancient Egypt, with its capital city located in the delta region of the Nile River.
Old Kingdom	The first period of prosperity in Ancient Egyptian history, characterized by the construction of the Great Pyramids and the development of a strong centralized government.	The Old Kingdom was a time of great cultural and architectural achievement in Ancient Egypt, marked by the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Middle Kingdom	The second period of prosperity in Ancient Egyptian history, characterized by a resurgence of Egyptian power and culture after a period of instability.	The Middle Kingdom saw a renewed focus on the arts, literature, and architecture in Ancient Egypt, with the construction of many important temples and monuments.
New Kingdom	The third period of prosperity in Ancient Egyptian history, characterized by the expansion of Egyptian power and influence into neighboring regions.	The New Kingdom was a time of great military conquest and cultural achievement in Ancient Egypt, marked by the reign of powerful pharaohs like Hatshepsut and Ramses II.
Intermediate Periods	Periods of instability and decline in Ancient Egyptian history, which occurred between the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.	The Intermediate Periods were marked by the fragmentation of Egyptian power, the rise of regional dynasties, and the invasion of foreign powers.
Hieratic writing	A form of written language developed from hieroglyphic writing, used for more practical and administrative purposes.	Hieratic writing was used for everyday documents, such as letters, contracts, and business records, and was more cursive and efficient than hieroglyphic writing.

Watch The Video

Ancient Egypt 101 | National Geographic

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which term refers to the rulers of Ancient Egypt who were considered divine liaisons between humanity and the gods?

A) Phoenicians
B) City-State Leaders
C) Pharaohs
D) Egyptian Nobles

2. What was the name of the written language developed by Ancient Egyptians around 3150 BC, which has over 700 pictorial characters?

A) Hieratic
B) Demotic
C) Hieroglyphic writing
D) Ancient Sumerian

3. What was the purpose of the elaborate tombs constructed by pharaohs, including the Great Pyramids at Giza?

A) To serve as centers of trade and commerce
B) To prepare for their journey into the afterlife
C) To showcase their military power
D) To store grain and food supplies

4. What innovation did Ancient Egyptians develop to design massive structures like the Great Pyramid with remarkable geometrical precision?

A) The calendar system
B) The qubit, a new form of measurement
C) The concept of pi
D) The water clock

5. What was the name of the type of paper derived from the papyrus plant, which allowed the Ancient Egyptians to have a new avenue of communication and record-keeping?

A) Vellum
B) Parchment
C) Papyrus
D) Silk

Answer Key:

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. C

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” + the past participle of the main verb. In the context of the Ancient Egyptian civilization, the past perfect tense can be used to describe events that happened before other significant events. For example, “By the time the pharaohs became gods, they had constructed elaborate tombs.” This sentence implies that the construction of the tombs happened before the pharaohs became gods. Another example is, “After the city-states had united, Ancient Egypt became a powerful empire.” This sentence shows that the unification of the city-states occurred before Ancient Egypt became a powerful empire.

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time the Ancient Egyptian civilization ______, it had already made significant contributions to mathematics and written language.

was conquered by the Roman Empire
had been conquered by the Roman Empire
conquered the Persian Empire
became one of the most powerful civilizations in history

2. The pharaohs ______ elaborate tombs, including the Great Pyramids at Giza, before they passed away.

constructed
were constructing
had constructed
would construct

3. The Ancient Egyptians ______ a new form of measurement called the qubit before they designed the Great Pyramid.

developed
had developed
were developing
would develop

4. By the time the city-states ______, Ancient Egypt had become a unified state.

united
had united
were uniting
would unite

5. The Egyptians ______ papyrus before they used it for communication and record-keeping.

innovated
had innovated
were innovating
would innovate

Answer Key:

1. had been conquered by the Roman Empire

2. had constructed

3. had developed

4. had united

5. had innovated