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The Predynastic age (approximately the fifth and fourth millenniums BCE) is the period in Egyptian history before the unification of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt. The main archaeological cultures of this period are called Badari and Naqada.
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From the late Predynastic Period onward, the Egyptians used painted, incised, and polished pottery in life and as burial accessories for both the rich and the poor. The abundance of funerary pottery found in early Egyptian pit graves indicates trade along the Nile River with Near Eastern cultures and other African cultures to the south. These vessels held both local and foreign appeal, displaying characteristics found in both regions. -
High heels date back to around 3500 BCE in ancient Egypt, where they were worn by both men and women of the upper class as a symbol of privilege. Lower-class people viewed them as a sign of status. Heels were also used for practical purposes, like by butchers to walk across blood. While less comfortable than modern heels, they served both ceremonial and functional roles. -
Egyptian hieroglyphs, dating from around 3300 BC, are among the oldest forms of writing. While their writing evolved, Egyptians preserved the original hieroglyphic pictures. They used papyrus, stones, and wood for writing, with black ink made from vegetable gum and beeswax. Papyrus was widely exported across the Mediterranean. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 was crucial for deciphering these ancient hieroglyphs. -
It explicitly identifies the king as the earthly son of Horus -
Around 3000 B.C.E., Egyptians advanced medical practices, treating wounds, setting bones, and performing surgeries. They used opium for pain relief and valued foods like onions for their health benefits. They also invented the toothbrush and toothpaste, emphasizing dental care. By 2700 B.C.E., they were performing complex surgeries with bronze tools, earning their doctors fame across the Mediterranean.. -
We owe the invention of paper to the ancient Egyptians who, as early as 3000 BCE, had developed a technique of making paper from the papyrus plant that is commonly found along the banks of Nile. The pith of the plant was taken out and cut into long strips. -
The Early Dynastic Period In Egypt is the beginning of the historical era of the country during which the regions of Upper Egypt (south) and Lower Egypt (north) were united as one country under a centralized government.
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The Old Kingdom was an incredibly dynamic period of Egyptian history. While the origin of many concepts, practices, and monuments can be traced to earlier periods, it was during the Old Kingdom that they developed into the forms that would characterize and influence the rest of pharaonic history.
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- Built by Pharaoh Khufu.
- The Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the seven remaining intact marvels of the ancient world, was built by paid workers as the ultimate resting place for the pharaohs.
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The Step Pyramid of Djoser, designed by Imhotep around the 26th century BCE, is Egypt's oldest major stone structure. Built for King Djoser near Memphis, it stands about 200 feet tall with six tiers and was originally covered in white limestone. The pyramid is part of a large mortuary complex with 400 underground rooms, ceremonial buildings, tombs, and a wall over a mile long, creating a "vast city of the dead." -
Nikauhor was a judge and a priest of Userkaf's sun temple and mortuary cult. His wife, Sekhemhathor, was a priestess of Hathor and Neith. The false door niche on the left, flanked by figures of Nikauhor, belongs to him; that on the right, flanked by figures of the couple, belongs to his wife. -
The First Intermediate Period of Egypt was a period of political competition that separated the Old Kingdom from the Middle Kingdom. It started when the pharaoh Pepi II outlived most of his heirs, sparking a succession crisis, and lasted about 140 years until Mentuhotep II reunited all of Egypt.
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The plow was likely first used by the Egyptians around 4000 BC but was initially inefficient. By 2000 BC, they improved it by attaching it to oxen, making farming much easier and quicker. Early designs attached the plow to the oxen's horns, which caused breathing issues. Later, the plow was strapped to the oxen's bodies, greatly improving efficiency. This innovation revolutionized ancient Egyptian farming. -
The Middle Kingdom was a time of increasing stability and prestige for Ancient Egypt. There was great political stability as Upper and Lower Egypt were unified, and a distinct culture began to develop in the form of literature and art, especially block statues and carved temples.
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Stable eras of Egyptian history are referred to as 'kingdoms' while eras of political strife or instability are known as 'intermediate periods. ' This period has long been labeled a 'dark age' when the central government of the Old Kingdom, which had been built on the model of the Early Dynastic Period in Egypt
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The New Kingdom was most characterized by wartime. This kingdom was ruled by "warrior pharaohs", mainly because the Egyptian borders in the desert regions did not offer protection from invasion any longer, as seen by the devastating earlier invasions by the Hyksos.
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The ancient Egyptians invented two timekeeping devices: the sundial and the water clock. The sundial, often in the form of an obelisk, used shadows to divide the day and determine the longest and shortest days of the year. The water clock, developed around 1417 BCE, was a stone vessel with slanting walls and a small hole for water to drip through. It had markings that indicated the passage of time based on the water level. -
The Third Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt began with the death of Pharaoh Ramesses XI in 1070 BCE. The period was one of decline and political instability. It coincided with the Late Bronze Age collapse of civilizations in the ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean (including the Greek Dark Ages).
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As early as 1000 BCE, the Egyptians were aware of the dangers of unsafe sexual intercourse. Thus, they invented the first condoms, which were made of linen. -
This amulet was probably made for a necklace worn by one of the Kushite kings. Representations show these pharaohs wearing a ram's-head amulet tied around the neck on a thick cord, the ends of which fall forward over the shoulders. Sometimes a smaller ram's head is attached to each end. Rams were associated with the god Amun, particularly in Nubia, where he was especially revered. -
Even though Egypt was largely unified for most of Dynasties 25, 26 and 28–30, the era referred to as the Late Period was volatile and endured successive invasions and occupations by the Assyrians and the Persians. Eventually, Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great of Macedon in 332 B.C.E.
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The Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC - 395 AD) began with Alexander the Great defeating the Persians and founding Alexandria in Egypt. After Alexander’s death, his general Ptolemy established the Ptolemaic dynasty, bringing Greek influence in language, art, and administration. In 30 BC, the Romans conquered Egypt, making it a Roman province and integrating Roman culture into Egyptian life, including depicting emperors as pharaohs.
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Ancient civilizations tracked months using lunar phases, but the Egyptians created a solar calendar with 12 months of 30 days each and 5 extra days. Initially, it didn’t account for the extra fraction of a day, causing inaccuracies. Ptolemy III Euergetes corrected this in 238 BC by adding an extra day every 4 years.