Ancient History: Egypt

Explore the rich and fascinating history of ancient Egypt, from its pharaohs and pyramids to its cultural and religious practices.

Advanced Topics

Hieroglyphs and Writing

Picture Writing

Egyptians used a writing system called hieroglyphs, made up of hundreds of symbols that stood for sounds, words, or ideas. Hieroglyphs were carved on temples, tombs, and written on papyrus scrolls.

Scribes: The Ancient Record-Keepers

Only a few people could read and write, making scribes vital for running the government, keeping records, and preserving stories.

The Rosetta Stone

The discovery of the Rosetta Stone, which had the same message in three scripts, helped modern scholars finally unlock the secrets of hieroglyphs.

Real-World Connection

Deciphering hieroglyphs opened the door to understanding ancient Egyptian history, just as learning new languages helps us uncover the past today.

Examples

  • A scribe writing on a papyrus scroll for a pharaoh.

  • Modern archaeologists using the Rosetta Stone to translate hieroglyphs.

In a Nutshell

Hieroglyphs were a complex writing system that recorded Egypt's history and culture.

Key Terms

Hieroglyph
A character of the ancient Egyptian writing system.
Papyrus
A plant used to make paper in ancient Egypt.