Ancient Egypt on the Timeline
Place ancient Egypt on a timeline spanning over 3,000 years, from around 3100 BCE (unification under the first pharaoh) to 30 BCE (Roman conquest), understanding that this civilisation lasted longer than the time between the Romans and today, and was divided into major periods: the Old Kingdom (pyramid age), Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom (empire age)
What a learner can do afterwards
- Place ancient Egypt on a timeline showing it lasted over 3,000 years
- Name the three main periods (Old, Middle, New Kingdom) and associate one fact with each
- Compare the length of ancient Egyptian civilisation with another time period the child knows
1 · Read
Ancient Egypt has one of the longest stories in history. It began around 3100 BCE, when the first pharaoh joined Upper and Lower Egypt into one kingdom. It lasted until 30 BCE, when the Romans took control. That is more than 3,000 years, all from one civilisation.
Historians split this long story into three big periods. The Old Kingdom came first. This was the age of the great pyramids at Giza. The Middle Kingdom came next, a calmer time when Egypt rebuilt itself and traded with other lands. The New Kingdom came last. This was Egypt's empire age, when Egypt grew rich and powerful, and pharaohs like Tutankhamun ruled.
A good way to remember the order is to think of Egypt growing up: the Old Kingdom is Egypt's early years, the Middle Kingdom is the steady middle, and the New Kingdom is when Egypt reaches its biggest and strongest.
Ancient Egypt's story stretched over 3,000 years, split into three big chapters: Old, Middle, and New Kingdom.
More to read
3.3 Ancient Egypt
Long ago, the land of Egypt was two lands. Upper Egypt was in the south. Lower Egypt was in the north. Then a king brought them together into one country. This happened around 3100 BCE. That was over 5,000 years ago.
Egypt grew along the Nile River. Every year the river flooded and left soft, dark soil behind. Farmers grew lots of food in that soil. With plenty of food, towns grew bigger, and people had time to build and make art.
The kings of Egypt were called pharaohs. People believed the gods had chosen them.
One early time was called the Old Kingdom. This was the pyramid age. Pharaohs built huge stone pyramids as their tombs. The most famous one is the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Later came the Middle Kingdom. Life in Egypt changed. Pharaohs ruled in new ways, and Egypt grew stronger.
Egypt's story went on for more than 3,000 years. That is longer than the time from the Romans all the way to today.
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2 · Watch
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Where it sits
Learn first
Optional connections
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.