Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was one of the world's earliest and longest-lasting civilizations, flourishing for thousands of years along the lower reaches of the Nile in north-eastern Africa. The river was the foundation of Egyptian life: its yearly flood spread fertile silt across the surrounding land, allowing farming to thrive in an otherwise desert region. This dependable agriculture supported a large, organised society and freed people for crafts, building and administration.

Egypt was ruled by kings later known as pharaohs, regarded as divine or semi-divine figures who held religious as well as political authority. Historians divide the long span of Egyptian history into a series of dynasties and broader periods, beginning before unification in the pre-dynastic era and continuing through the great ages of pyramid building and empire. The civilization developed a complex religion with many gods, elaborate burial customs aimed at securing an afterlife, and monumental architecture that still stands today.

Among the most famous achievements of ancient Egypt are the pyramids, including those on the Giza plateau built as royal tombs, and the temples and statues raised in honour of gods and kings. The Egyptians wrote using hieroglyphs, a script combining picture-signs and sound-signs, recorded on stone monuments and on papyrus made from a reed that grew along the Nile. Their knowledge of building, medicine, astronomy and mathematics, together with their art and writing, left a lasting mark on later cultures and continues to be studied through the remains they left behind.

Frequently asked questions

Why was the Nile so important to ancient Egypt?

Its yearly flood deposited fertile silt that made farming possible in a desert region, supporting a large and organised civilization.

What were the pyramids built for?

The great pyramids, such as those at Giza, were built as monumental tombs for kings, reflecting Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.

What were hieroglyphs?

Hieroglyphs were the Egyptian writing system, combining picture-signs and sound-signs, inscribed on monuments and written on papyrus.