Download Timeline of Ancient Egypt - Lorenz Educational Press

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Timeline of Ancient Egypt
During the PREDYNASTIC PERIOD (5000–3100 B.C.E.)
Egyptian society changed from nomadic hunter-gatherers to agricultural.
about 4000 B.C.E.
Sails first used on Egyptian ships.
about 3100 B.C.E.
King Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt and became
first pharaoh; Capital—Memphis.
about 3000 B.C.E.
Hieroglyphic writing invented.
3100–2649 B.C.E.
Trade established with Palestine and Nubia.
The OLD KINGDOM (2649–2143 B.C.E.) was known as the Age of Pyramids.
2630–2611 B.C.E.
Reign of Zoser; First step pyramids built.
around 2500 B.C.E.
Mummification process developed.
around 2134 B.C.E.
Egypt divided into smaller kingdoms.
MIDDLE KINGDOM (2040–1786 B.C.E.)
2040 B.C.E.
Mentuhotep II reunited Egypt; Capital—Thebes.
around 1640 B.C.E.
Egypt invaded by Hyksos from Palestine; Horse-drawn
chariots and iron working introduced.
The NEW KINGDOM (1500–1070 B.C.E.)
represented the peak of Egyptian power and influence.
1504–1492 B.C.E.
Thutmes I expanded Egyptian empire; Conquered parts of
Nubia, Palestine and Syria.
1473–1458 B.C.E.
Queen Hatshepsut expanded Egyptian trade and influence.
1479–1425 B.C.E.
Reign of Thutmes III.
1367–1350 B.C.E.
Reign of Akhnaton III and Queen Nefertiti.
They promoted worship of one god: Aton.
1347–1339 B.C.E.
Tutankhamen became pharaoh; Capitol—Memphis.
1290–1224 B.C.E.
Ramses II began vast building program of temples.
The LATE PERIOD (1070–30 B.C.E.)
represents the decline of Egypt as a major power.
770–712 B.C.E.
Nubians conquered Egypt.
332 B.C.E.
Alexander the Great conquered Egypt.
30 B.C.E.
Queen Cleopatra died. Egypt became part of the
Roman Empire.
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MP4818
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Prehistoric Egypt
The first people to live in Egypt were probably nomadic hunters who arrived in the area about 25,000
B.C.E. Scientists believe most of the people who first lived in Egypt came from North Africa.
For thousands of years before the rise of Egypt as a
major civilization, the people in Egypt lived as hunters
and gatherers. They kept some domesticated animals
including cows, sheep, and goats. They grew flax,
barley, and a type of wheat called emmer.
At first the land around the Nile River was mostly
swampland. Gradually the climate changed and
became drier. Less rainfall slowly caused the level of
the Nile River to fall. The land along the banks of the
river was rich, fertile soil rather than swamp. Areas
farther from the Nile River also became drier until
eventually the land was mostly desert.
Few people lived in the harsh desert areas, but many
settled in the area along the Nile River. From these
people, the great civilization of ancient Egypt arose.
1. Trace the Nile River in blue.
2. Outline the continent of Africa in red.
3. Outline the country of Egypt in green.
4. Where did the first people who settled in Egypt come from?
A. North America
B. Nile River Valley
C. North Africa
5. How was the area around the Nile River different thousands of years ago?
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6. What is emmer? _____________________________________________________________________
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Did You Know?
The driest inhabited region in the
world is Aswan, Egypt which
averages only .02 inches of rain
per year.
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MP4818
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The Gift of the Nile
“The Black Land” of Egypt referred to the strip of rich, fertile land along the Nile River. On both sides
of the river were the “Red Lands,” the harsh deserts where no one lived and few traveled. The Red
Lands cover more than 90% of Egypt.
The Nile River is unusual in many ways. Not only is it the longest river in the world (4,160 miles), it
is one of only a few major rivers that flows from south to north. The Nile provided two important
advantages to Egypt: transportation and fertile land.
Without the Black Land along the Nile and the Red Lands surrounding it, civilization may never have
reached the heights it did in Egypt. Because of the difficulty of crossing the deserts with a large army,
the country was rarely invaded. The Black Land provided plentiful crops and a place for a large, stable
population to grow and develop.
Egypt has also been called “the Gift of the Nile.” Each year the area surrounding the Nile River flooded,
bringing a deposit of rich silt. When the flood waters receded, farmers sowed their crops, providing
plenty of food for the people. Other than wells, the Nile River is the only source of water for Egypt.
The Nile River was also a major highway for transportation of goods and people. The wealthy sailed
the Nile in pleasure boats. The first boats were built of bundles of papyrus reeds tied together. Larger,
sturdier boats were later built of wood.
Circle T for true or F for false.
1. T F
Most of Egypt consists of desert.
2. T F
Without the annual flooding of the Nile River, the great civilization of Egypt may
not have developed.
3. T F
The Nile River protected Egypt from invaders because it was so wide.
4. T F
The parts of Egypt called the “Red Lands” were named because of the reddish soil
in that area.
5. Write or draw a picture on another sheet of paper comparing and contrasting the Nile River
to a major highway in the U.S. today.
Did You Know?
The best example of an early Egyptian boat was
discovered in a pit near the Great Pyramid of Giza,
built for King Khufu. Over 130 feet long, the boat
was probably intended to enable the king to travel
easily through the underworld.
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Predynastic Period (5000–3100 B.C.E.)
Early Egyptian history is called the Predynastic
Period—the time before the great dynasties
(ruling families) of Egypt.
Archaeology is a Greek word meaning the study
of ancient things. Archaeologists study the
remains of people, buildings, objects, paintings,
sculptures, and writing to learn about the past.
People who study ancient Egyptian history and
artifacts are called Egyptologists.
People in Predynastic Egypt lived in small villages
which joined to form two kingdoms—Upper Egypt
in the south and Lower Egypt in the north. Upper
and Lower Egypt were separate lands with their
own rulers, customs, gods, and ways of life.
About 3100 B.C.E. the two countries were united under King Narmer (his name meant “catfish”), a
king of Upper Egypt. He built a new capital city at Memphis on the border between the two lands and
established the first Egyptian dynasty.
By the end of the Predynastic Period, the Egyptians had learned to make cloth, pottery, and items of
gold and copper. They had invented a form of picture writing.
The dry climate of Egypt has helped preserve many ancient artifacts. For example, wood buried in hot,
dry sand does not rot. Archaeologists have found ancient wooden plows and other farming
implements perfectly preserved.
1. How long did the Predynastic Period of Egyptian history last? _____________________________
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2. Why was it called Predynastic? ________________________________________________________
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3. How many years ago did the Predynastic Period begin? ___________________________________
4. How do archaeologists learn about the past? ____________________________________________
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5. The dry desert climate of Egypt has preserved many artifacts. How do you think the wind and
sand have made work for archaeologists difficult?
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Copyright © 2002 Milliken Publishing Co.
MP4818