The Civilization of Aincient Egypt

"A civilization is a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements." In my opinion, the Egyptians were the first culture to utilize this concept to help them grow into one of the most recognized civilizations in history. Their significant technological advances and positive outlook on life gave them a great understanding of the world, unlike any other culture before them.

The Nile River is one of the major assets that gave Egyptians an advance on other cultures. The Nile, being the largest river in the world, provided the Egyptians with an immense amount of fertile land. Once a year, the river overflowed and deposited silt which enriched the soil. Contrary to other cultures like Mesopotamia, Egyptians were able to calculate when the floods were coming. This advance allowed them to prepare for it, and utilize the floods to their own advantage. The fertile river valley allowed them to produce a surplus of food grown by the farmers. In addition to the fertile farmland, the Nile provided Egyptians with a useful way of transportation and communication. Due to the excess of crops grown by the farmers, the Nile enhanced their ability to trade, which in return provided Egypt with a great extent of wealth. Aside from the Egyptians skill to utilize the Nile to its full extent, they made major technological advances as well.

First of all, they invented hieroglyphics, which is a name given later by the Greeks, meaning "priest-carvings" or "sacred writings". Hieroglyphics is a form of literature used during the Egyptian era, which is made up of symbols and pictures that hold sacred value. Initially, hieroglyphics were carved into stone, but eventually the Egyptians invented paper from papyrus reed which grew along the Nile. After this advance, they began writing on paper and wooden tablets. Unfortunately, due to the fact that over a long period of time much of this paper has been decayed, we're left with many questions about Egyptian history.

Secondly, the Egyptian concepts of architecture, astronomy, and math seem to be well ahead of their time, with outstanding structures such as the pyramids. Pyramids were tombs built for the pharaoh, his immediate family, nobles, and officials. Pyramids ranged in size, mainly depending on the wealth of the King. Around 2540 B.C., King Khufu had the most astounding pyramid to date built for him; the legendary