Ancient Egypt was one of the world’s most significant empires. Its power and influence was far reaching. This civilisation was based along the Nile River, which not only provided water and a means of transport, but was also revered as a god by many of the local inhabitants.
Egypt was ruled by pharaohs, who acted as the political and religious leader of the nation. The first pharaoh ruled around 3150 BCE (Before our Common Era) over a unified state that included the whole of the Egyptian society. During the rule of the pharaohs, Egypt remained a strong empire, a major political force with which to deal.
The Nile River Valley has always been known for its environmental changes and fluctuations in terms of water supply. Flooding happened regularly, and the ancient Egyptians learnt how to prepare for this and use it to their advantage. Advanced irrigation systems were developed so that the fertile land could be cultivated optimally. This led to the social development of the nation as its financial prosperity increased and its ties with external buyers strengthened.
The development of a writing system was another major leap forward for this civilisation. This writing system used a combination of images and letters, called hieroglyphics, on papyrus or wood. The remains of such documentation have revealed much in terms of the ancient culture, religion, social traditions and lives of the Egyptian culture.
The ancient Egyptians are probably best known for their incredible building and design, specifically with reference to the pyramids. These structures remain a mystery to the modern world as we examine blocks of stone weighing several tons being hauled and positioned accurately without the machinery we would require to accomplish this feat today. They also constructed obelisks, temples and the world-renowned sphinx. This required complex mathematical equations, which also played an important part in the development of a medicinal system.
Most ancient Egyptians busied themselves with farming and agriculture. Homes were built of mud bricks, and organised into communities called villages. Families grew the produce they needed to survive. What they could not grow, they purchased in the markets.
The pharaoh-headed type of rule ended in 31 BCE, when the Romans conquered this nation and subdued them. This led to the demise of a culturally and religiously influential civilisation. led to the demise of a culturally and religiously influential civilisation.