Without the Nile, the rise of Egypt as one of the oldest civilization would not be possible. Travellers to Egypt would be surprise to find the desert is never very far from the Nile. The predictable cycle of flooding of the Nile was a blessing, a major factor to enable civilization to put down its roots in Egypt. This presentation can only give you a briefest of all introductions. It touches upon the deep rooted origin of the Egyptian civilization, it sketches all the important monuments and marks major turning points in their history for its 3000 years of existence. After centuries later, its people disappeared. It civilization forgotten. Though the ruins of their monument and in particular their writing, we began to rediscover their world again, their people, their culture, their religion and their history. We know a lot about their ancient Egypt, perhaps more than others civilization of the time, because they left us with a lot of records in writing. What we have found are fascinations, a human ascend in our long journey to civilization

1. First created 8 May 2016. Version 2.0 - 30 Mar 2021. Daperro. London.
Ancient Egypt
3000 years of pharaoh rule
Pyramid at Giza, Egypt.

2. 13,000 old war grave by the Nile
The photo shows us the
human activities along
the River Nile dated
back a very long time,
in Egypt.

3. Predynastic
Period
6000-3100 BC

4. Development of Early Egypt to Unification
The above traces continuous development along the River Nile from Neolithic Jebel Sahaba
warfare to the beginning of farming, trade, religion and finally the unification of Upper and
Lower Egypt. The above timeline is recreated, based on the information displayed at the
British Museum.

5. Predynastic
pottery – c 3600
BC
Even at this early stage of Egyptian history their pottery can still be attractive. The Amratian
vase (right) is estimated to be before 3600 BC. British Museum. 10 Jun 2016

6. Predynastic Mummy – c 3500 BC
The Gebelein Man B is one of six natural mummies discovered in 1890s in a cemetery in
Upper Egypt. It is estimated that the mummy died c 3500 BC, at an age of 20 – 35 year old.
A recent CT scan shows the Internal organs the brain and the lung are still inside the mummy.
The reconstructed grave included some of the black top red pottery of Upper Egypt. The
mummy is permanent on show at the British Museum.

7. The earliest settlement in Egypt can be
traced back all the way to about 8000
years ago.
Egyptian Pre-dynastic Period – Before 3150 BC
By about 3600 BC Neolithic Egyptian societies
along the Nile River based their culture on the
raising of crops and the domestication of
animals. Shortly after 3600 BC, Egyptian society
began to grow and advance rapidly toward
refined civilization. The Gebel el-Arak knife, now
the Louvre, dated from this period c3450 BC.
The Master of Animals
motif common in
Mesopotamia showing
its influence on Egypt.
Handle made from ivory.
17 such ceremonial
knives are known.

8. Hieroglyphics – c 3200 BC Writing is a key part of any civilization.
Hieroglyphics writing was invented around
3100 BC. Writing made it possible to
communicate across space and time.
Writing makes it possible to form large
and complex social organisations. All high
officials, nobility and royalty in ancient
Egypt were literate.
Paint limestone statue c2400 BC is belived to represent a
provincial governor of the 5th Dynasty..
Hieroglyph was used for the formal
inscriptions on wall of temples and tombs.
A simplified writing called hieratic script
was invented for daily usage. The hieratic
script is thought to date back to the same
time as the Hieroglyphics.
A papyrus written in hieratic script on medical treatment.
about 1700 BC

9. Unification of Egypt At the end of the Pre-dynastic Period (6000 BC –
3100 BC), Egypt was divided into two kingdoms,
the Lower Kingdom (the Nile delta in the south)
and the Upper Kingdom (the Nile valley in the
North. Around 3150 BC. (in conventional
chronology) Upper and Lower Egypt was united
under the rule of the first pharaoh Narmer (also
known as Menes). The event was recorded on the
Narmer Palette (see next slide). This marks the
beginning of the Early Dynastic Period or the
Protodynastic period, which lasted until 2686 BC,
to the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The Bronze
Age arrived in Egypt around about this time..
Predynastic Egypt was in the
stone age. Their pottery is called
‘black top redware’ (right). From
their pottery, archaeologists
believe that Upper Egypt had the
technological edge over Lower
Egypt in the north.
The Unification of Egypt, show Narmer using
his maze delivering a blow to the enemy.

10. Red Crown
White
Crown
Goddess
Hathor
Priest
Decapitated
enemies
King as bull
demolish city wall
Entwined neck
symbolised
unification
Narmer Palette
God
Horus
Dead
enemies
Sandal
-bearer
King striking
a bow to the
foe with his
maze
King’s Name
Narmer

11. Early Dynastic
Period
3100-2686 BC

12. First Dynasty kings were buried in large cedar shrines, which were
essentially boxes. Some were decorated to emulate shrines and
became the prototypes for later coffins. Grave goods expressed
status by their quantity, rather than their quality. In rich tombs
numerous storage chambers were added to hold all the goods.
(Right).
First Dynasty – 3100 - 2890 BC
First Dynasty was based at Abydos.
Much of what we know about them
comes from their tombs. These
early kings ruled an increasing
urban society spread over a large
geographical area. They effectively
created the first national state using
religion, administration and brute
force.
(Above) – Limestone breccia jar like
this one began to appear. A huge
amount of effort was needed, to
shape and to polish such object,
suggesting Egyptian society was
making great progress.

13. Second Dynasty – Khasekhemwy’s Tomb c2650 BC
Statue of Khasehem, 2770-2649 BC, who might
have changed his name to Khasekhemwy, after his
victory against the rebel.
Egyptian Museum, Cairo (Above).
Below is the Khasehemwy’s
tomb, Second Dynasty at
Abydos Upper Egypt. On the
right a dolomite urn found in
his tomb, with sheet of gold
tied on with fine gold wire and
secured with a clay seal. British
Museum.

14. Dating ancient Egyptian history is a
problem. In particularly during the
early dynasties. The difference
between chronologies (e.g. by
Breasted and by Shaw, see wikipedia)
during the Old Kingdom vary about 300
years, while in the later dynasties in the
New Kingdom narrows within a few
decades.
One Egyptologist, who popularise this
problem is David Rohl, in his book ‘A
Test of Time’ and ‘Legend’. He
suggested some of the dynasties were
running parallel with each rather than
one following another, in particular
around the 20th dynasty to 26th dynasty.
He was able to present evidences to
support his view. He called his
chronology, the New Chronology.
Using his chronology, he also
compares it against the Israeli’s and
the Mesopotamian chronology. So
treat the early dates with some
cautions.
Chronology - The problem of dating Egyptian history.

15. Old
Kingdom
2686-2181 BC

16. Development of the Pyramid
The most outstanding achievements of the Old Kingdom is mastery of the techniques
necessary to build monumental structures in stone (like the pyramid and the sphinx).
Sculptors also began to create life-size portraits of individuals.

17. Meidum Pyramid c 2630 BC
The Meidum Pyramid is a step pyramid constructed in the Third Dynasty (2686-2613 BC). It is thought to
be started by the pharaoh Huni but finished by the pharaoh Sneferu. It was converted into a true
pyramid with sloping triangles. But the coverings of the pyramid collapsed due to faulty construction.

18. The Great Pyramid – Interior and plan

19. The Great Pyramid Giza 2566 BC
The royal Capital was moved to the Lower Egypt during the Old Kingdom. The Great
Pyramid of Giza is the most visible symbol of its achievements of the Old Kingdom. It is
the only one of the 7 wonders which is still standing. It was built about 2500 BC.

20. The Great Sphinx Giza c 2590 BC
The Great Sphinx, Giza, 4th Dynasty. Limestone. L 73.5m, H 20m. It is believed it represents pharaoh Khafra

21. The statue of Menkaure, 4th Dynasty.
Reign 2490-2472 BC. Cairo Egyptian Museum.
Egyptian sculptors created the first life-sized
statues and fine reliefs in stone, copper and
wood. They perfected the art of carving
intricate relief decoration and produced
detailed images of animals, plants and even
landscape.
There was a rapid development of the stylistic
conventions that characterized Egyptian art
throughout its history.
Old Kingdom sculpture
The Old Kingdom lasted for about 500 years.
The central government collapsed, leading to
famine and small scale civil wars.
Egyptologists named this era as the First
Intermediate Period (2181-1991 BC).
In time two main powers emerged, one in
Lower Egypt and one in Upper Egypt with its
centre of power at Thebes. Eventually, the
Theban forces triumphed, reuniting the Two
Lands.

22. Middle
Kingdom
Middle Kingdom 2134-1690 BC

23. In the beginning of the Middle
Kingdom, the first departure
away from the pyramid
architecture in favour of the
terraced temple began. The
grand funerary temple of
Mentuhotep II, 2020 BC, at
western Thebes was the most
significant of the period.
Middle Kingdom Mortuary architecture

24. The weakening power of the pharaoh at the end of the Old Kingdom meant that the
idea of gods on earth needed to be modified. The idea of human were responsible for
life on Earth, while gods belong to the heaven was gaining acceptance.
Partnership between Pharaoh & Gods, Middle Kingdom 1971-1926 BC.

25. Second Intermediate Period c1650-1550 BC
The Middle Kingdom lasted for
about 450 years. Around 1785 BC,
the Canaanite Hyksos (“foreign
rulers”), a Western Asian people,
living on the Eastern Delta seized of
Lower Egypt, forcing the central
government retreated back to
Thebes.
At the same time, the Kushites, in
Nubian, south of Egypt also raised
against the Egyptian. Egyptology
named this period as the Second
Intermediate Period (1674-1549
BC).
Eventually after about a hundreds
years later the Hyksos and the
Kushites were defeated. The New
Kingdom was established, borders
secured, diplomatic ties
strengthened, leading to a period of
unprecedented prosperity. The
New Kingdom is also known as the
Egyptian Empire.
Hippopotamus from the Second Intermediate Period, Egyptian
Museum, Cairo. Hippo appears in Egyptian art and literature
as far back as the Predynastic Period. They are frequently
found in tombs but disappeared abruptly at the end of 17th
Dynasty.

26. New
Kingdom
First Empire – Egyptian Empire c1550-1077 BC

27. During the reign of Tuthrmosis I
(1504-1492 BC), early in the New
Kingdom, the Egyptian Empire
reached its largest extent. It stretched
from the Euphrates in the north to the
fourth cataract of the Nile in the south,
deep into today’s Sudan.
First Empire – Egyptian Empire c1550-1077 BC
Prince Ipshemuabi of Byblos’ pendant 2000-1500 BC
Department of Antiquities, Beirut, Lebanon.
Tuthmosis I. Mortuary Temple of
Hatshepsut. Deir el-Bahari. Thebes.

28. Hatshepsut reign 1479-1458 BC
Hatshepsut, daughter of Tuthmosis I, ruled over Egypt after the death of her half-brother
husband, first as a Regent and later as co-ruler with Tuthmosis III. Under her reign Egypt was
at the zenith her power. She promoted peace and restored trade routes, as well as expanding
to new regions. Dec 2003
Head of Hatshepsut at the
Temple of Hatshepsut.
Deir-el-Bahri, Thebes.

29. Hatshepsut Temple, Thebes
On the right is the Temple of Hatshepsut, next to it on the right is the Mortuary Terrace Temple of Mentuhotep II of
the Middle Kingdom. Deir-el-Bahri, Thebes. Behind the ridge is the Valley of the Kings, the royal cemetery.

30. Hatshepsut Temple, Thebes
On the right is the Temple of Hatshepsut. Next to it is the Temple of Thutmosis III, co-ruler with Hatshepsut. On
the far right is the Middle Kingdom, Mortuary Terrace Temple of Mentuhotep II. Deir-el-Bahri, Thebes.

31. Hatshepsut Temple, Thebes
The upper terrace façade of the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Western Thebes. A row of statues
depicting the pharaoh Hatshepsut lined the entrance to the temple. Dec 2003

32. Hatshepsut’s trade mission to Punt
One of Hatshepsut’s greatest achievement was to develop trade route to the Indian ocean, to the land of Punt,
which is thought to be either the coastal Horn of Africa or the coastal Arabian Peninsula facing the Indian Ocean.
Right. a frieze showing Egyptian transported the 31 myrrh trees back to Egypt. Left. A reconstruction scene of
Hatshepsut receiving the returning expedition from Punt.

33. Temple architecture
The above showed a typical architectural plan of a New Kingdom temple. Temples were houses for
the gods or kings to whom they are dedicated. In the New Kingdom temples grew larger and more
elaborate. Higher-ranking priestly roles became permanent rather than rotational. Once again
priests controlled a large portion of Egyptian wealth.

34. Temple of Karnak
Karnak is the largest temple complex in ancient Egypt (above), the scale and complexity if overwhelming. It
was started in the 11 dynasty. Successive pharaohs added their monuments to the temple. The temple
reached its height in the New Kingdom, during the 18 dynasty. Thutmomis I, Thutmosis III, Hatshepset,
Rameses I, Rameses II and Ramesses III put down their marks on the temple. At the heart of temple is the
Temple of Amun.

35. Temple of Karnak, a reconstruction
Hypostyple hall Great Court
Lake link to Nile
Pylons VII-X
Sacred lake
Rows of sphinxes
Temple of Ramses III
Great Festival Temple
Precinct of Montu

36. Temple of Karnak, Temple of Ramese III
Temple of Ramses III (1184-1153 BC), built as a bark shrine between Pylon I and II, Inside in the
temple courtyard is lined with Osride statues of the pharaoh.

37. Temple of Karnak, Great
Procession in the Great Court, reconstruction by Mark Millmore. (from discoveringegypt.com).

38. Temple of Karnak, Hopostyle Hall
Massive columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall. All the columns were carved and painted in bright colours, built c
1250 BC. The hall was part of the Temple of Amun. Only important priests and the pharaoh were allowed to
enter the hall, which was used for religious rituals.

39. Temple of Karnak
Artist reconstruction of the
Hypostyle Hall, Karnak.
The painted columns of the Karnak..

40. Temple of Karnak
Nefertari standing at the feet of Ramses II.
Using stones from temple built by Akhenaten on the
Pylon II. Many of the carvings were defaced.

41. Temple of Karnak
Tuthmosis I (left) and Hatshepsut’s obelisk (right), in front of the Pylon IV.

42. Temple of Karnak
The Pylon VII was built by Tuthmosis III (above) Pylon VIII was built by Hatshepsut, linking Karnak
with the Temple of Mut.

43. Social Structure
The social hierarchy and economic structure of Ancient Egypt.

44. Irrigation
The Shaduf was the device by which ancient Egyptian to irrigate their agricultural farmland. The fresco on the
left was found in Western Thebes, Deir el-Medineh, tomb of Ipui, New Kingdom c 1240 BC.
Right. Watering gardens.
Relief found in Saqqara,
tomb of Mereruka. Old
Kingdom, c 2330 BC.

45. Waterwheels like this one were introduced to Egypt during Hellenistic times to irrigation agricultural farmland.
It is waterwheels like this that made Egypt the bread basket of the Roman Empire.
Waterwheel Irrigation

46. Pharaoh Akhenaten
Akhenaten was the most controversial
pharaoh in ancient Egypt. After his death
his image on carvings, statues and
sarcophagus had been defaced. He was
branded a heretic. Even omitted in the
Official list of pharaohs.
In the 17 years of his reign, Akhenaten
dramatically transformed Egyptian art,
culture and religion. He moved the capital
from Thebes to his newly built capital of
Armana.
He promoted the cult of Aten, the god of
the solar disk, as the sole deity. This
upset the powerful Amun religious
priesthood, based at Karnak. Although
there is not documented evidence, many
Egyptologists speculated this was a power
struggle between the monarchy and the
priesthood.
He also appointed his wife Nefertiti as his
co-regent and she took an active role in
the religious and political life of the
kingdom.

47. Akhenaten
Source National Geographic History. Apr 2016
The defaced sarcophagus of
Akhenaten, Cairo Egyptian
Museum.
Aten, the
sun disk
Offerings
Blessed by
Aten
Royal
messengers
Distorted
Bodies

48. The Valley of the King
Tutankhamun
Rest House
Rameses II
Rameses III
Sethos I
Entrance to
the Valley of
the kings
The Valley of the Kings on West Thebes was the Royal Necropolises for many pharaohs.

49. Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun was a son of Akhenaten. He came to the throne about 17 and reigned for 9 years. It was
under his reign that the Amun priesthood in Thebes regained their power. He is famous due to the discovery
of his completely intact tomb, giving us a glimpse into the royal treasure of ancient Egypt.

50. Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC)
Black Granite seated statue of Ramesses II wearing
the war crown. Turin Museum
Ramesses II was an important pharaoh
and ruled for 34 years (1279-1213 BC).
He built more temples than any other
pharaohs,. Some of the monuments
associated with him were the Pi-
Ramesses in eastern Delta, the
enlargement of the Luxor Temple and
the rock temple of Abu Simbel.
He was a war pharaoh. Ramesses II
had led several military campaigns
into the Levant and reasserted
Egyptian control over Canaan
(Lebanon, Syria and the Holy Land).
To the south, he fought the Nubian
and put down rebellions.
His most famous battle was the Battle
of Kadesh 1274 BC, in which he
fought the Hittite, It is the oldest battle
that we knowledge in detail, involving
perhaps 5000-6000 chariots.

51. Luxor Temple (1400 BC)
Two giant seated statues of Ramesses II, at the first pylon of the Luxor Temple entrance.

52. Luxor Temple (1400 BC)
One of the several colossus seated statues of Ramesses II at the temple.

53. Temples Abu Simbel (c 1264 BC)
The Great Temple of Abu Simbel (above). The temple was cut out of solid rock,
located the southern most of present day Egypt. It was a display of Egyptian power
to its Nubian neighbour. It took 20 years to build.

54. Temples Abu Simbel (1264 BC)
The interior of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel (above). The interior is lined with
two rows of Osiris statues and covered with reliefs, leading to the sanctuary
(bottom far right corner).

55. Temples Abu Simbel (1264 BC)
The Temple of Hathor and Nefertari also called the Small Temple, Abu Simbel (above).
Two statues of Ramesses II stood on either side of the entrance, flanked by statues of
the queen and the king. Remarkably, this is the only instance in Egyptian art that the

56. Battle of Kadesh (1274 BC)
The Battle of Kadesh (now in Syria) is the oldest battle which the military tactics are known. It was a battle fought
by Ramesses II, with the rising power of the Hittite (in modern Turkey), with 20,000 Egyptian infantry and perhaps
a total of 3 to 4 thousand chariots. Neither side won a decisive victory. In the end, it was settled by a treaty.
Above is a drawing based on the wall reliefs from the Luxor Temple on the Battle of Kadesh..
Hittite
Infantry
Egyptian
chariot
summon
reinforcement
The arrival of
the Ptah
Division
Hittite
withdraw
back into
Kadesh
The arrival of
Ne’arin
detachment
save the day
Ramesses
charged
single-
handedly in
the Hittite
chariots
Defeated
Hittites

57. Third
Intermediate
Period

58. Third Intermediate Period 1069-664BC
During this time, Egypt was under civil wars. Egypt was split into several segments. Several
of them were Libyan in origin, among them was the 21st Dynasty. Egypt suffered invasions by
the Sea People and the Assyrians (671 BC), who installed a client ruler of the 26th Dynasty.
Egypt lost all its peripheral territories. Israel, Lebanon and Nubia were independent. Lower
Egypt became richer and cities developed for the first time.
Sea Peoples captives with their distinctive head dress.
Sea Peoples warship Egyptian warship
Relief at Medinet Habu, Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III.

59. Late Period to
Ptolemaic
Egypt

60. Late Period to Ptolemy Egypt 664-32 BC
The Third Intermediate Period was ended with Upper and Lower reunited again, with the
capital now moved to Sais (Late Period). This was ended when the rising Persian Empire
conquered Egypt in 525 BC and the 27th Dynasty was established (Achaemenes Egypt). The
Persian period was ended when Alexander the Great defeated the Persia. One of his general
Ptolemy became the pharaoh of Egypt (Ptolemy Egypt). The last pharaoh of Egypt was the
well-known Cleopatra VII.
Cleopatra and son by Julius Caesar on the Temple of
Dendera (above). The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Right).

61. Isis Temple
The earliest Isis temple was built in c 370 BC. The current Temple of Isis was greatly expanded in the reign of
Ptolemy II (285-246 BC), but construction continued during the Ptolemaic period. The Roman emperor Diocletian
(284-305 AD) also contributed to the construction. The temple was modelled on temples of the New Kingdom. It
was finally closed in 535 AD by Emperor Justinian. Some of the rooms were used by the Coptic Christian.

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The End
Music – Sahra by Kemal Sahir Gurel

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