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By 3250 BC writing using hieroglyphic signs develops. The ancient Egyptians use hieroglyphs for over 3,600 years to record important information.
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In 3100 BC Narmer is among the first Egyptian kings to conquer and rule over both Upper and Lower Egypt.
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in 2700 BC Artificial preservation of bodies, which may have begun in earlier periods, continues to be developed. The Egyptians advance mummification by removing organs and drying the body using natron as well as applying oils and wrappings.
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in 2700 BC Hieratic script (cursive hieroglyphic signs) is now fully developed so that everyday information can be written more quickly and easily.
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2600-2500 BC three large stone pyramids are built at Giza (near present-day Cairo). The pyramid built for the king Khafre is guarded by a huge stone sphinx with the body of a lion and the king's head.
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In about 2200 BC the government in Egypt collapses and Upper and Lower Egypt have different rulers. Around 2055 BC, Mentuhotep II becomes king of Upper Egypt. He later takes control of all of Egypt.
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in 2100 BC Coffin texts are first used. These spells help the dead person travel through the underworld to the afterlife. They are written on the coffins of wealthy ancient Egyptians.
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in 2055 During the Middle Kingdom, wealthy people have wooden models of people preparing food or sailing on a boat put in their tombs to ensure good meals and safe travel in the afterlife.
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in 1860 BC Senusret III rules as king. He expands the territory controlled by Egypt and, during his 39-year reign, ancient Egypt is wealthy and powerful.
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in 1550 BC Ahmose rules as king. In about 1550, Ahmose defeats the foreign Hyksos rulers, who control Lower Egypt, and becomes king of all Egypt.
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in 1500 BC Some ancient Egyptians have small figures called shabtis placed in their tombs to magically work for them in the afterlife. From about 1500 BC onwards, the number of shabtis in royal tombs increases. By 1000 BC, many wealthy people are buried with hundreds of them.
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in 1352-1336 BC Akhenaten is king. He believes that the sun disc, Aten, should be worshipped as the only Egyptian god, and he discourages the worship of other gods and goddesses – particularly Amun. Many people do not agree and, after Akhenaten dies, his monuments are destroyed, his name is removed from statues, and the original religion is restored.
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1336-1327 BC Tutankhamun becomes king at the tender age of nine years. In 1922, the archaeologist Howard Carter discovers Tutankhamun's nearly intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
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in 1279-1213 BC Ramses II rules for 66 years. He builds temples everywhere and has many statues of himself put up within Egypt and in conquered lands.
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after 1000 BC The mummification process changes and instead of placing the internal organs into special canopic jars, the organs are put back into the body after being dried. However, the ancient Egyptians continue to put empty or solid 'model' canopic jars in tombs.
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in 728 BC Kings from a region to the south called Kush conquer Egypt. Kushite kings rule Egypt until about 664 BC. The last Kushite king of Egypt is called Tantamani.
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in 673-332 BC Egypt is controlled by rulers from other countries. The Assyrians invaded Egypt in 673 BC and controlled local Egyptian kings. The Persians directly rule Egypt from 525 to 404 BC and again from 343 to 332 BC.
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332-30 BC After King Alexander of Macedon conquers Egypt, the country is ruled by his general, who becomes King Ptolemy I. His descendants continue to rule for 300 years. Greek becomes the main government language, and official documents are now written in Greek as well as Egyptian.
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in 196 BC The Rosetta Stone is a broken monumental slab recording an agreement between Egyptian priests and King Ptolemy V. It is inscribed in three different scripts: hieroglyphs and demotic (both Egyptian), and Greek.
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by 11,000 BC people began to settle in the nile valley. At first they hunt and gather food. Later, they begin to grow crops, keep animals and build homes on the banks of the river Nile.
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in about 1473-1458 BC Hatshepsut rules Egypt, initially because her stepson Thutmose III is too young to rule. Her most famous monument is a funerary temple opposite Thebes (present day Luxor).
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by 3,400 BC Early Egyptian burials take the form of a grave dug in the ground with the body placed in a curled-up position, with jars and baskets for food and drink for the afterlife.