Ancient Egypt was the seat of early civilization. It is steeped in rich history that dates back to 3150 BC when Egypt became a unified state. Ancient Egyptian civilization developed around the river Nile . The fertile soil of the Nile belt was very favorable for the flourishing of early Egyptian civilization.
Ancient Egyptian history can be divided into the following chronological order:
- Predynastic Period which began before 3100 BC
- Protodynastic Period that lasted from 3100 - 3000 BC
- Early Dynastic Period includes the 1 st and 2 nd dynasties
- Old Kingdom includes 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th and 6 th dynasties
- First Intermediate Period extends from the 7 th to the 11 th dynasties
- Middle Kingdom spans over 12 th and 13 th dynasties
- Second Intermediate Period includes the 14 th , 15 th , 16 th and 17 th dynasties
- New Kingdom is the rule of the 18 th , 19 th and 20 th dynasties
- Third Intermediate Period lies between 21 st and 25 th dynasties
- Late Period has the last dynasties from 26 th to 31 st dynasties
Ancient Egypt was ruled by several dynasties of rulers. The
important pharaohs who had ruled over ancient Egypt are as follows:
- Pharaoh Djoser (2668 BC to 2649 BC) who commissioned the building of the Step Pyramid. The pyramid was designed by Imhotep.
- Pharaoh Sneferu ruled from 2613 BC to 2589 BC. He built the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid.
- Pharaoh Khufu ruled from 2589 BC to 2566 BC. His tomb, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the biggest of all Egyptian pyramids.
- Pharaoh Khafra ruled between the years 2558 BC and 2532 BC.
The ancient Egyptians were very religious minded. Gods and goddesses was part of everyday life of
ancient Egyptians . They had their gods and goddesses on whom they had unflinching faith. Religious practices of
ancient Egypt were linked to movements of celestial bodies such as constellations, the sun, the moon, and the planets. Some of the most revered deities of
ancient Egyptians are as follows:
- Amun-Re was the sun god, whom the ancient Egyptians considered king of the gods. He is represented as a man with the head of a falcon and a sun.
- Osiris is the god of agriculture and ruler of the dead. She wears the White Crown of Upper Egypt and holds the flail and the crook.
- Isis is the protector of children. She is gifted with magical powers. She is represented as wearing cow's horns and on her head there is the solar disc and in her hand is an ankh symbol.
Ancient Egypt was highly advanced in their architectural skills. Modern world can witness the craftsmanship of ancient Egyptians in the monuments and relics that scatter across Egypt . There is the Great Pyramid complex in Giza , the Great Sphinx that are splendid examples of ancient Egypt 's glorious past.
An interesting practice of ancient Egypt was to mummify their dead. Ancient Egyptians believed in after-life. So they wrapped their dead in cloth bandage, embalming the bodies with special chemicals that preserved the bodies forever. This was done to ensure the safe passage of the body to the afterlife.
Ancient Egypt still remains in the form of relics and monuments. These witnesses of Egypt 's glorious past have helped archeologists and historians to study the past. They are now a part of the country's rich heritage.
