Ancient Egypt was unified around 3,000 BC.
Specifically, under the reign of the pharaohs, this area was unified from two kingdoms: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. Upper Egypt is the agricultural land located along the banks of the upper Nile River, while Lower Egypt encompasses the land around the Nile River’s delta.
Since its unification, Ancient Egypt experienced three periods of prosperity, including: The Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC), The Middle Kingdom (2134-1690 BC), and The New Kingdom (1549-1069 BC). Between these periods, Ancient Egypt underwent wars and natural disasters that weakened the nation.
The Great Pyramid, also known as Pyramid of Khufu or Pyramid of Cheops, was built by Pharaoh Khufu during the Old Kingdom. The Great Pyramid is the only remaining structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is one of the largest architectural feats ever constructed on Earth. This structure was completed in 2560 BC, standing 139 meters tall and 230 meters wide on each side, serving as the tomb for Pharaoh Khufu.
The daily wage of workers during this period was equivalent to 10 loaves of bread.
Workers in Ancient Egypt were paid in bread, while some sources suggest they were compensated with beer. If they wanted to be paid with more valuable items, workers had to prove their capabilities justified such wages. Typically, the daily wage for workers during this time was equivalent to 10 loaves of bread.
Ancient Egypt was surrounded by desert, so the lives of its people depended entirely on the Nile River. Specifically, during the annual flood season in June (known as Akhet), the Nile would overflow, inundating the agricultural lands on both banks. The floodwaters carried silt from the highlands. The people would dig ditches and build embankments to retain this silt for agricultural purposes. The planting season began in November, known as Peret (the season of retreating waters). By April of the following year, the people would start harvesting grains and vegetables.
The writing system of the ancient Egyptians is known as hieroglyphics. Each symbol represents a sound, a word, or an action. The people believed that writing was a gift from the god Thoth, the deity of wisdom. Only priests and scribes were allowed to learn how to use this script. Paper had not yet been invented during this period; ancient Egyptians wrote on clay, stone, pottery, or used papyrus, a type of reed that was pressed flat for writing.
