istoryworld
Events relating to north africa
The Sahara, damp enough for the hippopotamus, supports neolithic communities until it begins to dry up in about 3000 BC
The first evidence of a loom comes from this period in Egypt, but some simple method of holding the warp must be as old as weaving
A simple hand-held plough is in use in Egypt and Mesopotamia, at least 1000 years before a heavier version is pulled by oxen
Upper and Lower Egypt are unified into a single kingdom, inaugurating the first Egyptian dynasty
The Egyptians paint murals on the walls of tombs, designed to help the occupants in the next world
The Egyptian hieroglyphic script develops at much the same time as the Sumerian cuneiform
The invention of writing marks the transition, in academic terms, from prehistory to history
The pharaoh Narmer celebrates a victory with a sculpted relief showing his personal dominance over the enemy
An easily portable writing surface is developed, from the papyrus plant of the Nile
The lever is in use in both Mesopotamia and Egypt
Oxen are given the heavy work of pulling the plough, previously done by men
The ass, until now roaming wild from northeast Africa to Mesopotamia, is domesticated in Egypt
The earliest known currency, consisting of gold bars, is in use in Egypt and Mespotamia
The world's earliest known board game, senet, is played in Egypt
Sirius rises in this year on the first day of the first Egyptian month - a rare event which possibly launches the Egyptian calendar system
Imhotep creates the first pyramid - the 'step pyramid' at Saqqara - as a tomb for the pharaoh Djoser
Egypt enters the period known as the Old Kingdom, its first era of monumental architecture
The first and largest of the three great pyramids at Giza is built for the pharaoh Khufu, later known to the Greeks as Cheops
A boat of cedar planks, some 44 metres long, is buried at Giza
The largest sculpture of the ancient world, a sphinx with the face of the pharaoh Khufu, is carved in situ at Giza
To preserve bodies in perpetuity, the Egyptian ruling class develops the elaborate and lengthy process of mummifying an eviscerated corpse
It is not known when cats are first domesticated, but from the start of Egyptian civilization they are sacred animals in temples
To ensure continued comfort in the afterlife, rich Egyptians have models placed in their tombs of the necessary servants and utensils
Mentuhotep II wins control of all Egypt, establishing the period known as the Middle Kingdom
The centre of power in Egypt moves to the interior, with the capital at Thebes rather than Memphis
