We have all heard of the sophisticated civilisation of the Egyptians.Not only was it one of the first, it also lasted the longest: nearly 3,500 years!

One reason for this was Egypt’s location. It lies in a valley between two deserts, and the great river Nile, almost 1,000 km long, crosses it from top to bottom. Every year, for about 4 months, 
the Nile overflowed and flooded the surrounding fields. As the water slowly receded, it left behind a thick layer of mud. This made the fields very fertile and gave Egypt its ancient name, Kemet, 
which meant ‘black land’.  

The Egyptians were superb engineers, astronomers, accountants, mathematicians and surgeons, and they used mysterious symbols called hieroglyphics to write. 
They built temples dedicated to their Gods and a famous statue, the Sphinx. 
What they are best known for, though, are the pyramids they built. 

How did they build them? No one really knows how they managed to lift the tremendously heavy stone blocks and lay them in place. 
What is even more remarkable is that they had no heavy equipment, such as cranes, to help them; they didn’t even use the wheel until a few centuries later! 
Probably, thousands of men dragged and pulled the blocks up specially made ramps. 
These imposing stone structures were constructed as tombs for their kings and queens, the Pharaohs.

The main role of these tombs was to protect the pharaohs’ body from decay, since the Egyptians firmly believed that after death, their spirits lived on and would need their bodies in the afterlife! 
They preserved the bodies by using salt and various substances to dry them out, after they had removed all the internal organs. 
Afterwards, they wrapped the bodies in linen bandages to become mummies. 
Many things the pharaohs had used while they were alive accompanied them into the tombs: jewellery, furniture, make-up, toys and especially food!

Our fascination with the Egyptians has no end. We will always owe this magnificent civilisation more than we will ever know.