Egyptian Civilization

By Mutya Abigail P. Baroja
  • Period: 5500 BCE to 2950 BCE

    Pre Dynastic

  • 4500 BCE

    Terracotta Vessel

    Terracotta Vessel
    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.
  • 3500 BCE

    High Heels

    High Heels
    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.
  • 3300 BCE

    Hieroglyphics

    Hieroglyphics
    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.
  • 3100 BCE

    Narmer Palette

    Narmer Palette
    It explicitly identifies the king as the earthly son of Horus
  • 3000 BCE

    Creation of Medicine

    Creation of Medicine
    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..
  • 3000 BCE

    Papyrus

    Papyrus
    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.
  • Period: 2950 BCE to 2649 BCE

    Early Dynastic Period

  • Period: 2649 BCE to 2125 BCE

    Old Kingdom Period

  • 2589 BCE

    Great Pyramid of Giza

    Great Pyramid of Giza
    • 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.
  • 2560 BCE

    Step Pyramid of Zoser/Djoser

    Step Pyramid of Zoser/Djoser
    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."
  • 2465 BCE

    West wall of the chapel of Nikauhor and Sekhemhathor

    West wall of the chapel of Nikauhor and Sekhemhathor
    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.
  • Period: 2125 BCE to 1975 BCE

    First Intermediate Period

  • 2000 BCE

    The Ox-Drawn Plow

    The Ox-Drawn Plow
    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.
  • Period: 1975 BCE to 1630 BCE

    Middle Kingdom Period

  • Period: 1630 BCE to 1539 BCE

    Intermediate Period

  • Period: 1539 BCE to 1075 BCE

    New Kingdom Period

  • 1417 BCE

    Sundial and Water Clock

    Sundial and Water Clock
    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.
  • Period: 1075 BCE to 715 BCE

    Third Intermediate Period

  • 1000 BCE

    Condom

    Condom
    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.
  • 716 BCE

    Ram's-head Amulet

    Ram's-head Amulet
    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.
  • Period: 715 BCE to 322 BCE

    Late Period

  • Period: 322 BCE to 30 BCE

    Greek-Roman Period

  • 237 BCE

    Solar Calendar

    Solar Calendar
    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.