Time Traveler Project: Egypt

The Nile Settlers

3500 BCE

Nomadic people had started to settle around the Nile river where they had started to create their own civilization and later was called Egypt.
This event is significant because it was the beginning of the Egyptian civilization.

The Beginning of the Egyptian Civilization

3100 BCE

Egypt was divided into two civilizations, Lower and Upper Egypt. Until the Archaic Period, King Menes united Upper and Lower Egypt and founded its capital known as White Walls. Due to this event, it led to the start of the Old Kingdom.
With the occurrence of this event, it has led to the significance of architecture, arts, farming and religion to this day.

Writing System

3000 BCE

The Nile River Valley people developed a writing system known as hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics contained 600 signs or pictures that represented words or sounds. These hieroglyphics were first carved into clay tablets but then later written on papyrus or paper which were reeds found at the banks of the Nile River.
This is important because, without the development of a writing system, Egyptian history couldn't have been known.

Old Kingdom

2700 BCE

This time period was one of the most important times in the advancement of art, as well as architecture. The Old Kingdom, was in fact the only time period where the Egyptians built pyramids, or burial tombs for pharaohs. Although, civil war ended this period when nobles came in higher power than the pharaohs.
This is an important period due to their massive monuments and extensive history of the pyramids that still live on today.

King Djoser and his Pyramid

2650 BCE

Imohotep, who was a priest, architect and chief constructed the first step pyramid for King Djoser including a life-sized statue of him. During this time the introduction of the 365 day calendar also occurred.
With this event, it has led archaeologists identify how the ancient Egyptians were able to keep track of days and how the creation of pyramids could of started out as by looking at the step pyramid.

Egypt's First Intermediate Period

2181 BCE

As the Old Kingdom was being put to an end, central government started to dissolve and conflict between two kingdoms emerged. Civil wars between provincial governors also began. But in 2055 B.C. a Theban prince Mentuhotep managed to reunite Egypt once again, beginning the 11th dynasty.
This was a significant time period because it led to the colonization and expansion of territory in the Middle Kingdom.

Middle Kingdom

2055 BCE

The Middle Kingdom flourished and their dynasty kings had a smooth succession. Their foreign policy was harsh and they began to colonize Nubia at the south and built forts to protect the region. This Kingdom ended with the superior reign of the Hyskos.
This started the decline in pharaohs and the start of foreign power and reformation.

Second Intermediate Period

1786 BCE

A line of foreign rulers known as the Hykos took advantage of Egypt's instability and took over. During the 15th dynasty of the Hykos, they started to continue the culture and rituals of Egypt. Conflict between Theban rulers and Hykos drove them into a war. The war later resulted to the Hyskos leaving Egypt and decline in Egyptian rituals and adaptation of foreign celebration.

New Kingdom

1567 BCE

Central control returned to Egypt and once again regained power of Nubia and military groups. This was also the start of empires where one ruler ruled over people and other territories.The construction of pyramids was neglected and the start of stone tombs began. The first female rulers also began, one was known as Hatshepsut, and reigned with her son Thutmose III. After their reign, Amenhotep IV tried to convert Egypt into monotheism, but soon after went back to polytheism.

The Reign of King Tutankhamen

1336 BCE

King Tut was one of the most youngest kings to ever reign, and ruled for 10 years until he died at the age of 19. He was the grandson of Amenhotep II and the son of Akhenaten who changed Egypt to worship the sun god, Aten. After two kings briefly ruled & King Tut reigned, he quickly reformed Egypt and revived the worship of god Amun. And in which returned Thebes into being a religious center. King Tut's tomb was one of the very view that was left untouched until Howard Carter found it.

The reign of Ramses II brings Egypt to the height of its power

1279 BCE

Ramses II, is one of the most talked about pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Ramses II reigned for 67 years, lived to an incredible age of almost 100 years. In the tradition of the warrior pharaohs, Ramses II is known for his military campaigns. Ramses II built a new capital east of the Nile delta called Pi-Ramesses. From this capital, Ramses built war equipment, and was within striking distance of Syria, where he had many battles, the most famous being the Battle of Kadesh.

The Decline of the New Kingdom

1150 BCE

Revolts and riots from Nubia destroyed the empire, also low floods damaged crops which declined economy. Its borders were destroyed which led to the age of the pharaohs to an end, & a long succession of Persian, Macedonian, Roman, Arab, Turkish, and British powers would rule it for the next 2400 years
This event is important, because foreign powers flooded Egypt and there were no longer pharaohs.

Egypt is Conquered by Alexander the Great

332 BCE

In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. He had captured Gaza and led his forces towards Pelusium. Advancing to expel the Persians from Egypt, he met no resistance either from the Egyptians or from the Persian garrison at the frontier. He entered Egypt easily and soon afterwards took his forces across the Nile to arrive at Memphis. Alexander was welcomed by the Egyptians as a triumphant deliverer.
Was significant because it led to the Greek Period and reformed Egypt.

Cleopatra

30 BCE

Cleopatra VII Philopator, known to history simply as Cleopatra, was the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, briefly survived as pharaoh by her son Caesarion. After her reign, Egypt became a province of the recently established Roman Empire. She was the one pharaoh that was very flirtatious and fell in love with Antony.
Cleopatra's reign is important because it shows the events leading up to the decline in pharaohs and the reign of foreigners.

Discovery of the Rosetta Stone

Jul 19, 1799

The Rosetta Stone was discovered during Napoleon Bonaparte’s Egyptian campaign, a French soldier discovers a black basalt slab inscribed with ancient writing near the town of Rosetta. The irregularly shaped stone contained fragments of passages written in three different scripts: Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphics and Egyptian demotic. The passages were nearly the same and led to the key of hieroglyphics. Without it, we could have never read about Egypt's history.