Egypt Essay, Research Paper

Pharoah Djoseer’s step pyramid

in Saqquara, the first pyramid in

ancient Egypt, was built in about

2650 B.C.

The 3 Great Pyramids of Giza were constructed

about 2600 B.C. Ancient Egyptions developed

one of the earliest civilizations on earth.

The Great Sphix at Giza is located near the 3 great

Pyramids.The Great Sphinx’s head is six stories high,

and its lion’s body is four -fifths as long as a

football field.The Sphinx has been badly damaged

by wind, sand storms, rain, and pollution. Its

nose is completely gone. Workers are

now giving it a “facelift”by restoring crumbling stones.

Tutankhamen’s, gold mask was found in his tomb.

King Tut ruled in the 1300’s B.C. He died when

he was about 18 years old.

Hatsshpsut was the daughter of Thumose I

and the wife of Thutmose II. When her husband

died, his son and successor,Thutmose III, was

still a child. Hatshepsut was expected to rule in the

boy’s place until he grew up, but she wanted more.

She had herself crowed as the pharaoh and ruled

for twenty-two years.

The temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel features

four immense statues of the pharaoh.

ANCIENT EGYPT

Muhammad Hosni Mubarak became president of

Egypt after the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981.

In Cairo today, high-rise buildings flank the Nile.

Cairo is Africa’s largest city and the largest Arab

city in the world. More than 15 million people

live in the Cairo metropolitan area.

Irrigation allows Egyptian farmers to grow crops

throughout the year.The shadoof, or watersweep, is

a 4,000-year-old method of drawing water from a

river. Along pole with a weight on one end is mounted

on the bank. At the other end is a goatskin bag or bucket,

which is lowered into the water, then swung onto the shore.

Residents of the village Deirel-Gharbi display their jugs

made of Western Desert clay.

Egyptian workers sort through dates by hand.

Egypt is the world’s top producer of dates.

Fishing on the Nile is a culture of its own. Fishing

families live and work on their boats.

Wild cats were first domesticated, or tamed as pets,

in Egypt. The cat was a sacred animal in ancient Egypt.

Ibex are wild mountain goats found on the

rocky slopes in the Sinai.

A camel Caravan cross the desert of Egypt carrying

Goods to be sold at bazaars.Camels can go for days

or week without water.

The beautiful water hyacinth grows quickly and

Obstructs canals.

Pigeon Houses

Scattered around Egypt’s countryside are tall,

rounded, earthen towers full of holes. These

strange structures are pigeon always return to

nest in the place where they hatched. When a pigeon

house’s holes are filled with nesting birds, villagers

are assured of a steady supply of tasty pigeon meat,

year after year. Also, the pigeon droppings make

good fertilizer for crops.

EGYPT TODAY

PLANTS AND ANIMALS

There are many styles of Muslim dress. These

Muslim girls are wearing long colorful dresses

and head scarves of colorful material.

EGYPT

Capital: Cairo

Area: 386,662 square miles, as large as Texas and New Mexico

Population: 62 million

Religions: Islam is the official religion. Its followers are Muslim.

6% are Coptic Christians, 1% are other Christian denominations.

Languages: Official language is Arabic.

Government: Republic with one legislative house.

Chief of State: President

Head of Government: Prime Minister

Products: The principal imports of Egypt are machinery and transportation equipment, iron, steel, and paper, cereals and chemicals. The exports are petroleum products, textile yarn and fabrics, vegetables and fruits, clothing and accessories, and alum-

inum products.

Physical Features: Western Desert and Eastern Desert, Nile River and Delta, 5 important oases, Lake Nasser, Sinai Peninsula, and Qattara Depression

Major Cities: Cairo (6,800,000), Alexandria (3,380,000), Giza (22,144,000),Shoubra al-Kheima (834,000), and Port Said (460,000).

Monetary Unit: One Egyptian pound ( ) equals 100 piasters. Exchange rate: US$1= 3.33.

Major attractions: The Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, Luxor Temple and Museum, Temple of Karnak, Valley of Kings at Luxor, Aswan High Dam, Lake Nasser at Aswan, Temple of Ramses II, Suez Canal and beaches at Port Said, Ismailia.

Culture: The Egyptian Museum in Cairo contains displays from prehistoric times to the sixth century. There are many other museums in Egypt, including a post office museum, a railroad museum, a cotton museum, and religious museums. Cairo’s Opera House presents music and dance by Arabic artists and the Orchestra for Arabic Music often performs there. The nation has thirteen major universities and dozens of teachers’ colleges.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cross, Wilbur. Enchantment of the World: Egypt. Chicago: Childrens

Press, 1982.

“Egypt.” Encarta. 1997.

Feinstein, Stephen C. Egypt in Pictures. New York: Lerner

Publications Co., 1988.

Heinrichs, Ann. Enchantment of the World: Egypt. New York:

Grolier Publications, 1997.

Miller, Peter. “Riddle of the Pyramid Boats.” National Geographic,

Vol. 173 No. 4:April, 1988.

Mirepoix, Camille. Egypt in Pictures. NewYork: Sterling Publish-

ing Co., 1974.

Theroux, Peter. “Clamorous Heart of Egypt.” National Geographic,

Vol. 183 No. 4: April, 1993.

Weeks, Kent R. “Valley of the Kings.” National Geographic, Vol.194

No. 3: September, 1998.