1. Timeline of Ancient Egypt

2. First Egyptian Settlers 7500 BCE
The first settlers arrived in the Nile Valley around 7500 BCE. The climate was much wetter and the valley was green. The settlers survived by eating wild plants and animals. As the climate became drier an the area turned to desert, the settlers moved closer to the River Nile to farm along the banks

3. Hieroglyphic Writing 3200 BCE
The first Egyptian kings increased trade and distributed food throughout Egypt. They needed to communicate and keep records so they used hieroglyphs – language of symbols
Ancient Egyptians were able to pass on their knowledge, history and beliefs by writing on tomb walls and special scrolls made from papyrus plants

4. The Egyptian State 3000 BCE
King Narmer, or warrior-king Menes as he was also known, was the first Egyptian pharaoh to rule a united Upper and Lower Egypt from 2950 BCE
He built the city of Memphis and began the era of dynasties

5. The First Pyramid 2600 BCE
The first pyramid to be built was the Step Pyramid in Saqqara. It was built from sandstone encased in limestone for Pharaoh Djoser – it still stands over 70 meters tall
Egyptians believed that if they mummified the pharaoh’s body and protected it in a pyramid he would live forever in the afterlife

6. The Giza Pyramids 2500 BCE
The Giza Pyramids were built around BCE for the kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. They are in the dry desert across from the River Nile from Egypts huge current capital city, Cairo
The largest (Great Pyramid) was built between for Pharaoh Khufu and stands 146 meters tall and 200 meters in length!

7. Pyramid Texts 2300 BCE
Magical spells were discovered written on the walls of the pyramid of King Unas at Saqqara. They are thought to protect the dead king from danger.
They are also some of the oldest known writings in the world

8. Valley of the Kings 1500 BCE
From , Egyptian kings decided to build their tombs in the Valley of the Kings
Riches were buried with the kings because they could take them with them to the afterlife.
So far, 63 tombs have been discovered. Tourists can visit Ramesses II and Tutankhamen here

9. Hatchepsut 1473 BCE
Queen Hatshepsut was one of the few female pharaohs. She ruled from
Her husband was also her half brother.

10. Tutankhamen 1350 BCE
Probably the most famous pharaoh of our time because his tomb was discovered in 1922 by a team of British archaeologists – with mummy, sarcophagus and treasure intact!
Probably died when he was only 18 years old

11. Ramesses II 1350 BCE
Thirty years old when he became the king of Egypt and he reigned for 67 years!
Known as “Ramesses the Great” because he brought great peace to the country
Had many wives and 111 sons and 51 daughters.

12. Alexander and Ptolemy 350 BCE
In 332BCE Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and was hailed as a pharaoh and a god by the Egyptian people.
After he died, his close friend General Ptolemy became king and his family ruled for 300 years

13. Rosetta Stone 196 BCE
A slab of stone that provided the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Carved in 196BCE and displays three different forms of writings – Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphs and a cursive form of Egyptian called Demotic.
Found in 1977

14. Cleopatra 50 BCE Cleopatra VII was the last pharaoh of Egypt
She had a child with Julius Caesar (Roman).