Ancient Egyptian Culture

Joshua J. Mark

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Definition

Ancient Egyptian culture flourished between c. 6000 BCE with the rise of technology (as evidenced in the glasswork of faience) and 30 BCE with the death of Cleopatra VII, the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. It is famous today for the great monuments which celebrated the triumphs of the rulers and honored the gods of the land.

More about: Ancient Egyptian Culture

Timeline

c. 6000 BCE
Nile River Valley first inhabited.
5500 BCE
Oldest faience workshop in Egypt founded at Abydos.
5000 BCE
Organised farming begins in Egypt.
c. 4000 BCE
Depictions of gods and afterlife on walls of Egyptian tombs.
c. 3200 BCE
Hieroglyphic script developed in Egypt.
3150 BCE - 2613 BCE
Early Dynastic Period in Egypt. First Kings.
2667 BCE - 2648 BCE
Imhotep in Egypt writes medical texts describing diagnosis and treatment of 100 diseases and 48 injuries.
c. 2560 BCE
The Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).
c. 2500 BCE
The Great Sphinx of Giza is built.
1800 BCE
Bronze working introduced to Egypt.
c. 1800 BCE
The Kahun Gynecological Papyrus deals with women's health and contraception.
c. 1600 BCE
Earliest Egyptian water clocks in use.
c. 1550 BCE - 1070 BCE
Composition of the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
1504 BCE - 1492 BCE
The Egyptian Empire reaches greatest extent under Thutmose I.
1479 BCE - 1458 BCE
Queen Hatshepsut rules Egypt.
1279 BCE - 1212 BCE
Reign of Ramesses II (The Great) in Egypt.
1274 BCE
Battle of Kadesh between Pharaoh Ramesses II of Egypt and King Muwatalli II of the Hittites.
c. 1264 BCE - c. 1244 BCE
Probable dates for the construction of Abu Simbel.
1258 BCE
The Treaty of Kadesh between Egyptians and Hittites. The world's first peace treaty.
c. 1244 BCE - c. 1224 BCE
Other probable dates for the construction of Abu Simbel.
750 BCE
Iron working is introduced to Egypt.
196 BCE
The Rosetta Stone was made, a stela carrying a priestly decree from the reign of Ptolemy V in three languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs, demotic and Greek script.