Early Egyptian Civilisation
Chapter – 5
- Prior to the discovery of Sumerian civilization in the early 20th century, Egyptian civilization was considered the oldest due to its continuous existence for almost three thousand years.
- Egyptian civilization endured for a long time, with many of its features lasting into the periods of the Greeks and Romans, who adopted several Egyptian traditions.
- Judaic, Christian, and Islamic religious texts contain numerous references to Egypt and its pharaohs.
- The monumental remains of Egypt, such as the pyramids, greatly impacted popular imagination and kept the memory of its civilization alive.
- The study of Egyptian history became more systematic in modern times after the discovery of Sumerian civilization.
- The Neolithic period in Egypt developed later than in Sumeria, but the transition to civilization occurred relatively quickly, with Egypt being politically unified around 5000 years ago.
- The King Lists of Egypt trace back to around 3100 BC.
- The archaeological record of the transition to civilization in Egypt is not as extensive as that of Mesopotamia, leaving some aspects of this period unclear.
- Geography of Egypt: most of the country is dry and arid with minimal rainfall.
- The Western Desert merges with the Sahara, while the Eastern Desert extends from the Red Sea to the Nile and contains low hills.
- The Nile is Egypt’s lifeline, flowing from south to north and emptying into the Mediterranean Sea.
- The Nile Valley is the most fertile region of Egypt, with annual flooding providing irrigation in the otherwise arid land.
- The Nile Delta in the north is called Lower Egypt, and the southern region is Upper Egypt.
- In Upper Egypt, the Nile flows through a rift surrounded by rocks, and the country is divided into three main regions: Western Desert, Nile Valley, and Eastern Desert.
- During historical periods, the majority of Egypt’s population was concentrated in the Nile Valley, which is split into Lower Egypt (Delta) and Upper Egypt.
- The land south of Egypt was known as Nubia.