Pyramids and pharaohs, mummies and
magic, picture writing on papyrus—ancient Egypt had all this, and much more.
Rich, powerful, and peace-loving, this North African kingdom was home to a
splendid civilization that lasted 3,000 years, from about 3300 bc to 30 bc.
RED LAND, BLACK LAND
Ancient Egypt was a vast territory,
stretching 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) southward from the Mediterranean Sea.
Most of it was hot, dry, and dusty. The Egyptians called it Deshret (red
land). But the world’s longest river, the Nile, runs through this desert. Every
year, the river flooded the surrounding land. The floods left sticky, smelly mud
covering the land along the riverbanks. Egyptians called the riverside area
Kemet (black land). This land was very fertile. About 5000 bc, the ancient Egyptians built some of
the world’s first farms and villages there.
THE GIFT OF THE NILE
Egypt was sometimes called “the
gift of the Nile.” All Egyptian life depended on the river. Farmers dug ditches
to bring its water to fields of wheat, grapes, and onions. Rich nobles, town
traders, and poor country families all built homes made of sun-dried river mud.
Craftspeople shaped clay from the Nile into pottery, and wove cloth from the
flax plant that grew on its banks. Families caught fish and river birds for
food. Children played in riverside pools, but they had to watch out for killer
crocodiles!
LIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT
Most ancient Egyptian homes had
just two or three rooms, with workspace on the roof. Rich people built larger
houses, with painted walls, fine furniture, gardens, and pools. In poor
families, women wore rough homemade dresses and men wore cloths tied around the
hips. But the rich could afford curled wigs, makeup, colored clothes, and
jewels. They had servants and slaves to work for them.
Rich or poor, all Egyptians valued
family life. They married young and had many children. Families worked together
and played together. Egyptian people liked games, stories, music, dancing, and
holiday feasts and parades.
The ancient Egyptians believed in
magic and many gods. People built little shrines to their favorite gods. They
wore amulets (charms), and recited prayers and spells. They also built
statues representing gods. The most famous is the Great Sphinx of Giza. This
huge statue with the body of a lion and the head of a man still stands
today.
HIEROGLYPHS AND PAPYRUS
The ancient Egyptians had a complex
system of writing known as hieroglyphics. This form of writing looks like
columns of little pictures. These picture-symbols are called hieroglyphs. Not
everyone could read hieroglyphs. Reading and writing was the job of special
scholars called scribes.
Scribes wrote in hieroglyphs on
papyrus, a kind of paper made from reeds. This was some of the world’s first
writing! Pages of poems, songs, stories, math, science, and astronomy have all
been preserved.
POWERFUL PHARAOHS
Egyptian kings were known as
pharaohs. Egyptians said the pharaohs were the children of a god. They were
links between heaven and Earth. Pharaohs were the chief priests, lawmakers, and
army commanders of the kingdom. They gave orders to governors, judges, tax
collectors, and soldiers. They made treaties with foreign rulers and controlled
trade with other countries. All Egyptians had to pay taxes to them or work on
their building projects.
PYRAMID TOMBS AND MUMMIES
Some of the pharaohs had great
pyramids constructed. A pyramid was an enormous stone tomb. Building a pyramid
was a tremendous project. Thousands of people worked for many years to construct
one. Some of the stone blocks that make up the pyramids weigh more than two
elephants!
The ancient Egyptians believed
that their bodies must survive for life after death. They had their bodies made
into mummies. Mummies were preserved, dried, and wrapped in cloth. Egyptians
hoped this would help their spirits survive after they died. Pharaoh mummies
were placed in pyramids or great tombs surrounded by treasures to be used in the
afterlife. Guides to the world of the dead written in hieroglyphs on papyrus
have been found with mummies. Most royal mummies, and the treasures buried with
them, were stolen by grave robbers long ago.
LASTING REMINDERS OF THE PAST
Egypt’s rich civilization
attracted many invaders. But it survived for thousands of years. In 30 bc, Egypt’s last pharaoh—Queen
Cleopatra—killed herself rather than surrender to Roman conquerors. That was
2,000 years ago. But ancient Egypt has not been forgotten. Some mummies were so
well preserved that they are still around. Some of them are in museums. And many
of ancient Egypt’s greatest monuments, including many pyramids, are still
standing. You can visit them! More images after the cut
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