Any student of world history knows that the global community is greatly indebted to the technology and civilization of Ancient Egypt. The land of the Pharaohs was one of the first to develop a written language, and it was the home for many centuries to the Hebrews, whose gift to the world of the books of Exodus and the other literature in the Bible continues to shape lives all over the world. Home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Pyramids - Egypt has captured the imagination of people for centuries as a center of learning and progress. Today, the country is a popular tourist destination, with many flights available to Egypt as well as travel insurance policies and guided tours. Chronologically, the history of ancient Egypt for our purposes spans a period from about 3100 to 331 BC. There is some controversy as to whether Narmer and Menes I were the same person, but the unification of Egypt occurred under the rule of one or both of these men. Narmer is often regarded as the first pharaoh of Egypt (circa 3100 BC), if he is indeed distinct from Menes I. Highlights of ancient Egyptian history include the construction of the first pyramid in 2700 BC, the exodus of the Israelites under Moses during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in about 1250 BC, and Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt in 332 BC, which paved the way for the later Roman and Islamic conquests. Basin Irrigation During the rise and fall of empires in the ancient Mediterranean world, the land of Egypt served as the breadbasket for the citizens of many of these civilizations. This was due in no small measure to ancient Egyptian irrigation methods. In the otherwise arid climates of North Africa, the mighty Nile River gave the Egyptians access to water and nutrients for the growing of wheat and other crops. The annual flooding of the Nile would saturate its basin with nutrient-rich silt from the river, giving farmers a great soil from which they could produce food. To capture this water, the ancient Egyptians would dig large, flat basins alongside the river that were connected one to another by a series of canals. When the river overflowed water could be caught in these basins and then diverted to others further away from the river through a series of gates. As such, the land could produce more food than would otherwise be possible. This ability to grow much food contributed to the growth of the population was one of the central reasons why peoples for centuries conquered Egypt. Egyptian and the Afro-Asiatic Languages As noted, the ancient Egyptians were among the first to put their language into writing, and Egyptian is one of the many languages in the Afro-Asiatic language family. This group of languages, which also includes Semitic languages like Hebrew and Arabic, has exerted a wide influence on humanity because of their use in the Bible and the Qur'an. Many words from these languages were also adopted into Latin, the later Romance languages, and English. Ancient Egypt is perhaps most known for its use of hieroglyphics for communication. Hieroglyphics were a series of pictures that represented words or sounds. They could be carved onto stone or written on sheets of papyrus. Through the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799, linguists were able to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics and gain a better understanding of the way that they communicated. Women in Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt is also notable for its stance on women's rights and the existence of female literacy. In its context, Egypt afforded its women many rights not available in other cultures, including the possibility of learning to read and write. Generally speaking, ancient Egyptian women and men enjoyed the same legal and economic rights in areas such as the ownership of property and slaves, adoption, and marriage. Full equality of all peoples was not enjoyed in ancient Egypt, for those in the lower classes were afforded fewer rights than the upper class. But upper class men and women both enjoyed the same freedoms, which was unique in that even upper class women in other ancient cultures had virtually no legal rights at all. Traveling to Egypt, if possible, is especially recommended for learning about this important culture, and many inexpensive traveling methods are available to people, especially students. Further study of ancient Egypt is recommended to all who want to better understand history and culture today. Egyptology Resources * Ancient Egyptian Study Resources - links to resources for the study of ancient Egypt * Exploring Ancient World cultures - good introduction to ancient Egyptian culture * Ancient Egypt - brief history of ancient Egypt * Traveling to Egypt - US State Department website on traveling to Egypt, including entry and exit requirements and more. * Hieroglyphics - A dictionary of hieroglyphics sounds, meanings and images. 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