Timeline of Egypt from 3500 BC - 47 BC Holly Romeo and Meghan Maquet 3500 BC First evidence of papyrus being made from papyrus reeds 3200 BC Earliest record of sails. Used to transport materials up and down the Nile, aiding in the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt through the trade of materials: In Lower Egypt (on the Mediterranean Delta) agriculture was successful from regular flooding of the Nile therefore traded crops and papyrus. Upper Egypt was rich in resources such as stones, gold, ivory, exotic animals, scented woods and oils Predynastic kings unify Egypt - 1st Dynasty The Narmer Palette depicting King Narmer was created to document the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt The Narmer Palette was used for the application of dark eyeliner (similar to eye black used by athletes), which was essential in the sun-drenched region for eye protection Narmer founds Memphis as the capital of united Egypt First evidence of hieroglyphics - mostly syllables and religious content Construction of basins to contain flood water from Nile River Evidence of plough used for covering seeds 2900 BC Officials become a social class - 2nd Dynasty 2800 BC Evidence of oil being used 2750 BC Evidence that Egyptians were aware of tin Produced copper Officials had gardens containing trees, vines, and basins 2700 BC The 3rd Dynasty begins - The Old Kingdom 2650 BC Imhotep first noted architect Built first step pyramid made completely out of stone Introduction of 365 day calendar 2600 BC 4th Dynasty Evidence of the oldest bronze - 9 parts copper, 1 apart tin 2550 BC The Chefren Pyramid and Great Sphinx at Giza are built
2500 BC 5th Dynasty The Precepts of Ptahhotep is one of the oldest literary texts Hieratic script develops from the Hieroglyphic First mummies System of dikes, canals, and gates/devices that control the flow of water (sluices) are utilized, making Egyptian agricultural pursuits more efficient 2320 BC 6th Dynasty 2280 BC First mention of a House of Life - a place for priests to learn how to read and write, where scribe school would be held, and where children of the rich and elite would come to learn sciences 2180 BC First Intermediate Period Drought and widespread famine leads to civil disorder Literature of the time is noted for its skeptical outlook; early philosophy evident in literature that questions the meaning of life 2050 BC 11th Dynasty Domesticated cats introduced Tombs built with two floors with ramp in the middle leading to the upper floor 2000 BC 12th Dynasty Well developed calligraphy, papyrus, reed pens and ink Trade relations with Syria and Palestine Evidence of ovens for baking bread and the use of olive oil 1925 BC Evidence of cultural exchanges between Egypt and Mesopotamia 1850 BC Symmetrical and geometric shapes are prefered in relief carvings 1800 BC Granite block statue merges the human body with the geometrical cube form 1770 BC Second Intermediate Period 1750 BC Social unrest - culture becomes less religious and more secular
1700 BC Hyksos invaded Egypt - take over the North while South still under Egyptian control Hyksos introduce the horse and chariot from Mesopotamia 1555 BC The 18th Dynasty - Beginning of The New Kingdom The development of naturalistic art is evidence of more attentive observations of the world, and the desire to record images realistically 1490 BC Pyramids are no longer being built Rock tombs are being built instead and are guarded against grave robbers Ships are up to 50 meters long including cabins, bow, stern and 30 rowers 1450 BC Egyptian empire includes Palestine and Syria 1420 BC Peaceful and extensive trade with the Near East 1385 BC Plaster masks made by the sculptor Thutmose had a realistic style 1370 BC Archive of clay tablets at Amarna depicting royal relations with foreign rulers 1333 BC King Tut 1293 BC The 19th Dynasty Ramsses I Menpehtyre 1279 BC Style of reliefs becomes more idealistic and ornamental Monuments constructed with rooms and columns, for example Mortuary Temple of Seti I at Abydos 1200 BC The 20th Dynasty Beginning of the Iron Age - iron slowly replaces bronze 1230 BC Egyptian culture showing signs of aging 1140 BC Collapse of the corn crop 1090 BC The 21st Dynasty
715 BC 25th Dynasty- Ethiopians conquer Egypt Renaissance of traditional art forms 671 BC Assyrians conquer Egypt Egyptians settle in Assyria and influence their culture 529 BC Persians conquer Egypt 525 BC Destruction of temples by the Persians (according to Herodotus, a traveler that wrote books and histories about the countries he visited) 517 BC Completion of canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea 405 BC Egypt regains its independence with a successful revolt against the Persians 332 BC The Ptolemaic Period Alexander the Great takes control without resistance Foundation of Alexandria: Planned city, streets cross at right angles, main avenues 323 BC Death of Alexander the Great Alexandria becomes the cultural center of the Eastern Mediterranean 286 BC Library founded at Alexandria Scientists receive currency from the state 238 BC The solar year is calculated as 365 ¼ days long and it was determined that a leap day would be added every 4 years 220 BC Serapion of Alexandria- co-founder of the empirical school of thought and medicine 200 BC Appolonius of Alexandria calculates pi, merges geocentric and heliocentric world views Erastothenes calculates the Earth s circumference from the sun s altitude at Alexandria 197 BC The Rosetta stone: written in two languages Egyptian and Greek. The Egyptian portion is written in hieroglyphics and demotic. Allowed for the deciphering of Egyptian in 1822. 47 BC The Library of Alexandria is burned by the Romans - millions of books are lost
Citation Ancient Egypt Ancient Mediterranean Arts and humanities. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/egypt-art Montgomery, S. L., & Kumar, A. (2015). A History of Science in World Cultures: Voices of Knowledge. London: Routledge. (n.d.). Retrieved February, from https://www.cemml.colostate.edu/cultural/09476/egypt02-01enl.html