Egypt History
Egypt was the home of one of the world's first great civilizations. An advanced culture developed
around 4,000 years ago, and lasted for over 2,000 years.
It is worth remembering that Christopher Columbus
discovered America in 1492, so that modern American history, in contrast, is still only 500 years old.
This ancient Egyptian
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civilization developed the world's first national government. Their inventions
include a paper like material called papyrus, a form of writing that used pictures, and a 365 day calendar.
Egyptians were also noted mathematicians, poets, doctors, and soldiers.
Most of all, however, the ancient Egyptians are remembered for their building achievements, and many of
their magnificent temples and pyramids still survive today.
The Start of Egyptian History
Around 5,000 years ago, small villages and communities started to develop along the Nile Valley. The soil
here was wonderfully fertile and people abandoned the old hunting way of life to become farmers. At the
same time, the desert protected them from invaders, and the area prospered. The population grew and the
villages grouped together until they formed two strong kingdoms.
The Kingdom of Upper Egypt was established in the Nile Valley, and the Kingdom of Lower Egypt was centered
in the Delta.
Popular tradition holds that a powerful chieftain called Menes ("MEH--nez") united the two kingdoms
and founded the first dynasty around 3100 B.C. He established his capital at Memphis, which is very close
to the site of modern day Cairo. We are not really sure how he achieved this, but a stone palette in the
Cairo Museum shows the king ruthlessly slaying his enemies.
The Old Kingdom
By the start of the third dynasty, around 2686 B.C., Egypt was firmly established as a nation under a
strong central government. It was this third dynasty that was to build the greatest monuments the world
had ever seen the pyramids of Egypt.
The first of the pyramids was built to house the body of King Zoser ("zois-AIR"). It started off as
just a large tomb, but was redesigned several times to create a towering pyramid that climbed nearly
200 feet, in six giant steps. This Step Pyramid was the masterpiece of Imhotep ("EM-oh-taip"), chief
advisor to the King, and one of the most remarkable men of the age. Apart from being an architect,
Imhotep was a priest, scientist, doctor, and writer. His achievements were so remarkable that later
generations worshiped him as a god.
Each pharaoh now tried to outdo his predecessors with the size and grandeur of his pyramid.
Snefru ("snef-ROW"), the first king of the fourth dynasty, actually built two pyramids. The first is
known as the Bent Pyramid because it angles into a gentle slope about halfway up. Snefru's second tomb
was the first true pyramid. It is called the Red Pyramid because of the pink limestone used in
construction, and it can still be seen standing on the edge of the desert.
The Red Pyramid was a wonderful achievement, but shortly afterwards it was eclipsed by an even bigger
pyramid that was constructed a few miles to the north, on the Giza plateau. This was the Great Pyramid
of Khufu. It stood 481 feet high and the base covered 13 acres. It is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that has survived until today.
The Old Kingdom was also a time for great exploration. Nubia to the south was conquered, mining
expeditions were sent to the Sinai, and fleets of ships sailed to the Phoenician coast to bring back
the highly prized cedar wood.
After the fifth dynasty there appears to have been a power struggle between the pharaohs and
high officials. We see the tombs of rich lords becoming more elaborate, while the workmanship on
the pharaohs' pyramids declined. By the end of the sixth dynasty, the monarchy collapsed altogether,
and the Old's Kingdom came to an end.
The Middle Kingdom
For nearly a hundred years Egypt entered a dark age. No mining took place, no new temples were
constructed, and the country lacked a central government.
It was Mentuhotep II ("MEH-tu-oh-taip") who seized control of the country and established the 11th dynasty.
Under his rule, and that of other strong kings who followed, Egypt's power and wealth were restored.
The badly neglected irrigation system was repaired, and many new projects undertaken. Nubia was reconquered,
and Senwosret III ("san-WAS-rit") built a string of forts to secure Egypt's southern border. A large
Egyptian army was sent into Palestine, most likely to protect Egypt's increasingly important trade links
with the region. During the Middle Kingdom, Egyptian ships even reached places as far away as Syria,
Crete, and Greece.
It was a golden period for art and literature, with many new ideas being introduced. Beautiful royal
sculpture was produced, and wonderful wooden models of soldiers, houses, and animals were placed in
tombs. The pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom continued to build pyramids almost as large as the Great
Pyramids of the Old's Kingdom, although less expensive building materials were used.
By 1640 B.C., Egypt was again facing serious problems with which weaker kings proved unable to cope.
Immigrants who had been settling in the Delta started to become a powerful political force. They had
more advanced weapons than the Egyptians, including horse drawn chariots. As a result of this military
superiority, their leaders, known as the Hyksos Kings, were able to seize control of the Delta. For
nearly a century they ruled a large section of Egypt.
The New Kingdom
In time the Egyptians were able to acquire the same weapons as the Hyksos tribes. This enabled
Ahmose ("AY-moss"), the king of southern Egypt, to drive the invaders out of the Delta. Ahmose
retained his capital at Thebes, which now became the most important city in Egypt.
During the New Kingdom, Egypt kept a large permanent army. Under a series of warrior kings, they soon
became the dominant force throughout the near east. Kings from as far away as Syria paid homage to the
great pharaoh in Egypt. With gold, copper, ivory, ebony, and slaves pouring into the land, Egypt became
richer than ever before. During this period, the 18th dynasty rulers pioneered a new style of royal burial,
abandoning the pyramids in favor of less conspicuous tombs in "The Valley of the Kings."
The reign of Amenhotep IV ("ay-MEHN-oh-taip") threw Egypt into religious turmoil. He believed in a
single god called Aten ('`AH-ten"), who was represented by the disk of the sun. He changed his name to
Akhenaten ("AHK-nah-ten") and built a new capital city.
This was a wonderful period for artists, architects, and poets, who were all given freedom to experiment.
However, rivalry between Akhenaten and the priests of the old religion soon brought civil unrest to the
country. Egypt's domestic problems plus Akhenaten's hatred of war in turn led to the loss of its
Asian empire.
The new religion quickly died out after Akhenaten's death. His successor, King Tutankhamen, was forced
by the priests to return to the worship of the old religion.
During the late New's Kingdom, Seti I ("SEH-tee") and Ramses II ("RAHM-sez") tried to regain Egypt's
lost influence in Asia, but by now new forces had risen in the area. Ramses assembled the biggest
army Egypt had ever seen, but was lucky to avoid a shattering defeat at the hands of the Hittites,
a mixed group of people whose capital was in central Turkey. Egypt had lost its position as the one
great superpower in the world.
Extract from “Cultures Of The World Egypt”, Written by Robert Pateman. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1996.
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