ANCIENT EGYPT

Egypt is a land of striking contrast. Most of the country is barren dessert through which the mighty River Nile flows. In ancient times, towns flourished along the river and Egypt was one of the richest countries in the world.

Egypt could never have grown rich and powerful without the Nile. Each year the floods bring water to the land which does not have a lot of rain. The floods also bring fertile soil on which crops are grown.

Some 7000 years ago the annual flood attracted settlers from far and wide. These farmers grew rich and laid the foundation to one of the earliest an richest civilisation.

The ancient farmers grew onions, peas, lettuces and cucumbers. Flax for making cloth, wheat for bread and barley for beer.

They kept oxen, cows, sheep, goats and pigs, fished the river and hunted for wildfowl and animals along the river.

Small settlements started to flourish along the Nile. Around 4000 BC there were two powerful Egyptian States. The Lower Egypt occupied around the Nile Delta. Upper Egypt lay to the south. It took till 3100 BC for King Menes from Upper Egypt to conquered Lower Egypt and united the country.

Menes and the following kings were known as pharaohs. The name derived from the great palaces called in Egyptian languages per-ao. Memes made his capital at Memphis, near Caro. He founded the first of 30 dynasties that ruled the country for 3000 years.

Every picture tells a story

The Egyptians made pictures to tell words but this hieroglyphic script was difficult to master. Only  a special class of Royal servants, called scribes, learned to write. Starting at nine years old, a pupil had to train hard for five years and was whipped if he did not study well. A qualified scribe paid no taxes and was exempt from military service which was compulsory.

Many scribes were also artists. They painted pictures on and in  houses, monuments and palaces. The pictures show of Egyptians hunting for birds, dining on wines, cakes and dates, relaxing by a pool and dancing to the music of flutes and harps. Also about their daily life.

Therefore, we have a great knowledge today about Egyptians' live.

The fashion of fashion

Egyptian men and women were very fashion conscious. They adorned themselves with jewellery, scented flowers and colourful cosmetics. Both men and women worn green eye paint made from powered malachite, a copper ore, rouge and lipstick.

On excavation there were found many items proving that how much appearance mattered to the Egyptians. items like ivory combs, tweezers, hair curlers, pots of face cream made from goose fat, polished bronze mirrors and wigs made from human hairs inserted into beeswax.

Jewellery was very important. Gold from mines along the Red Sea was used to make necklaces, ear studs, bracelets, rings and hair ornaments.

People were very superstitious  and worn gold charms and amulets to ward off danger and bring good luck. A little gold fish saves from drowning, and a gold cowrie seashells were worn by people wanting children.

Life after death

The Egyptians were very religious. Their gods played an active part in their lives and they believed that there was life after death.

They believed that the dead person made a journey to the next world and lived the same sort of life there. Therefore they were buried with everything they might need, including food and drink.

Wealthy people were embalmed and more efforts was made to ensure that kings would live in splendour ever after.

In 2630 BC the first pyramid was built as the burial place of a pharaoh.