Transcript Timeline of Ancient Egypt

Timeline of
Ancient Egypt
First Egyptian Settlers
7500 BCE
• The first settlers arrived in the Nile Valley around 7500
BCE. The climate was much wetter and the valley was
green. The settlers survived by eating wild plants and
animals. As the climate became drier an the area turned
to desert, the settlers moved closer to the River Nile to
farm along the banks
Hieroglyphic Writing
3200 BCE
• The first Egyptian kings increased trade and distributed food
throughout Egypt. They needed to communicate and keep
records so they used hieroglyphs – language of symbols
• Ancient Egyptians were able to pass on their knowledge,
history and beliefs by writing on tomb walls and special scrolls
made from papyrus plants
The Egyptian State
3000 BCE
• King Narmer, or warrior-king Menes as he was
also known, was the first Egyptian pharaoh to
rule a united Upper and Lower Egypt from
2950 BCE
• He built the city of Memphis and began the
era of dynasties
The First Pyramid
2600 BCE
• The first pyramid to be built was the Step Pyramid in Saqqara.
It was built from sandstone encased in limestone for Pharaoh
Djoser – it still stands over 70 meters tall
• Egyptians believed that if they mummified the pharaoh’s body
and protected it in a pyramid he would live forever in the
afterlife
The Giza Pyramids
2500 BCE
• The Giza Pyramids were built around 2555-2450 BCE for the
kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. They are in the dry
desert across from the River Nile from Egypts huge current
capital city, Cairo
• The largest (Great Pyramid) was built between 2555-2593 for
Pharaoh Khufu and stands 146 meters tall and 200 meters in
length!
Pyramid Texts
2300 BCE
• Magical spells were discovered written on the
walls of the pyramid of King Unas at Saqqara.
They are thought to protect the dead king
from danger.
• They are also some of the oldest known
writings in the world
Valley of the Kings
1500 BCE
• From 1539-1069, Egyptian kings decided to build their tombs
in the Valley of the Kings
• Riches were buried with the kings because they could take
them with them to the afterlife.
• So far, 63 tombs have been discovered. Tourists can visit
Ramesses II and Tutankhamen here
Hatchepsut
1473 BCE
• Queen Hatshepsut was one of the few female
pharaohs. She ruled from 1473-1458
• Her husband was also her half brother.
Tutankhamen
1350 BCE
• Probably the most famous pharaoh of our
time because his tomb was discovered in 1922
by a team of British archaeologists – with
mummy, sarcophagus and treasure intact!
• Probably died when he was only 18 years old
Ramesses II
1350 BCE
• Thirty years old when he became the king of Egypt and he
reigned for 67 years!
• Known as “Ramesses the Great” because he brought great
peace to the country
• Had many wives and 111 sons and 51 daughters.
Alexander and Ptolemy
350 BCE
• In 332BCE Alexander the Great conquered
Egypt and was hailed as a pharaoh and a god
by the Egyptian people.
• After he died, his close friend General Ptolemy
became king and his family ruled for 300 years
Rosetta Stone
196 BCE
• A slab of stone that provided the key to deciphering
ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
• Carved in 196BCE and displays three different forms
of writings – Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphs and a
cursive form of Egyptian called Demotic.
• Found in 1977
Cleopatra
50 BCE
• Cleopatra VII was the last pharaoh of Egypt
• She had a child with Julius Caesar (Roman).