The Middle EastThe Middle East

Southwest Asia and North Southwest Asia and North AfricaAfrica

This period can be best characterized by This period can be best characterized by the evolutionary nature of the hunter-the evolutionary nature of the hunter-gatherers departing from the Neolithic togatherers departing from the Neolithic to form a variant of an form a variant of an agricultural/farming agricultural/farming society. society.

The Predynastic Period (7000 - The Predynastic Period (7000 - 4950)4950)

Old Old KingdomKingdom

Third Dynasty2686-2613 B.C.E.

Zoser builds the Step Pyramid at Sakkara.

2650-2134 B.C.E.2650-2134 B.C.E.(All dates are B.C.E. - "Before Common Era")

The most prominent The most prominent ancient ruin at ancient ruin at Sakkarah is the step Sakkarah is the step pyramid of Zoser, pyramid of Zoser, the pharaoh who the pharaoh who founded the IIIrd founded the IIIrd dynasty. Zoser was dynasty. Zoser was the first pharaoh to the first pharaoh to envision a more envision a more grandiose burial grandiose burial complex. The Great complex. The Great Pyramid at Giza is Pyramid at Giza is presumed to have presumed to have been completed in been completed in 2570 B.C.E.

GizaThe Great Pyramids at The Great Pyramids at Giza

The SphinxThe Sphinx

Hieroglyphics on Coffin Panel Wood, painted, 70 3/8 in. (circa 2008–1875 B.C. )

The Middle KingdomThe Middle Kingdom (2125 B.C.E. to 1550 B.C.E.)

The Middle KingdomThe Middle Kingdom (2125 B.C.E. to 1550 B.C.E.)(2125 B.C.E. to 1550 B.C.E.)

Writing began Writing began during the Middle during the Middle Kingdom which Kingdom which lasted from the lasted from the 11th dynasty to the 11th dynasty to the 17th dynasty, 17th dynasty, During the During the exigence of the exigence of the Middle Kingdom Middle Kingdom writing beganwriting began

The most famous The most famous of all the kings of all the kings found in the found in the Valley of the Valley of the Kings was Kings was Tutankhamun, Tutankhamun, also known as also known as King Tut. He died King Tut. He died in 1343 B.C.E. It in 1343 B.C.E. It is thought that he is thought that he was murdered by was murdered by an official an official because his skull because his skull was bashed in was bashed in and only a person and only a person of great of great importance could importance could get near enough get near enough to harm him. to harm him.

King TutKing Tut

Computer reconstructionComputer reconstruction

Tut’s ChamberTut’s Chamber

Museum of AntiquitiesMuseum of AntiquitiesCairo, EgyptCairo, Egypt

New Kingdom

((1279 B.C.E. to1213 B.C.E.)

Ramsses the Ramsses the Great, the third Great, the third ruler of Egypt's ruler of Egypt's 19th Dynasty 19th Dynasty during the during the prosperous prosperous New Kingdom.New Kingdom.

Four colossal Four colossal 20 meter 20 meter statues of the statues of the pharaoh with pharaoh with the double the double crown of Upper crown of Upper and Lower and Lower Egypt decorate Egypt decorate the facade of the facade of the temple the temple which is 35 which is 35 meters wide meters wide and is topped and is topped by a frieze by a frieze with 22 with 22 baboons baboons flanking the flanking the entrance.entrance.

Ramsses Ramsses IIII

The most important and famous consort of Ramesses . This wall painting decoration is generally regarded as one of the greatest achievements of ancient Egyptian art.

NefertariNefertari

Submerged Submerged TempleTemple

The cost of the The cost of the Aswan dam Aswan dam includes the loss of includes the loss of ancient historical ancient historical sitessites

LinksLinks

• http://www.kingtut.org/home• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/

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