2006 Egypt

Diary: 16 December 2006 through 13 January 2007

Exchange rate: R1 = 81 piastres ie 0.81 Egyptian Pounds (written LE). Our daily budget was LE500 (620 South African Rand).
Note: Unless otherwise stated all prices are for both ie total.
Note: Several of the “fact” sections are taken virtually verbatim from the internet.

ANCIENT HISTORY IN BRIEF

• Predynastic, 5500-3000 BC
• Climatic change about 7,000 years ago turns most of Egypt – except for along the Nile – to desert. Farming begins and communities form along the river, with important population centres at Buto, Naqada, and Hierakonpolis. Egypt remains divided into Upper and Lower (southern and northern) Egypt.
• Early Dynastic, (Dynasties 1-3), 2950-2575 BC
• Consolidation of Upper and Lower Egypt and founding of Memphis, the first capital. Calendar and hieroglyphic writing created. Royal necropolis located at Abydos; vast cemeteries at Saqqara and other sites.
• Old Kingdom, (Dynasties 4-8), 2575-2150 BC
• Age of pyramids reaches zenith at Giza; cult of the sun god Re centred at Heliopolis. Cultural flowering; trade with Mediterranean region and brief occupation of Lower Nubia.
• First Intermediate Period, (Dynasties 9-11), 2125-1975 BC
• Political chaos as Egypt splits into two regions with separate dynasties.
• Middle Kingdom, (Dynasties 11-14), 1975-1640 BC
• Reunification by Theban kings. Dynasty XII kings win control of Lower Nubia; royal burials shift north to near Memphis. Major irrigation projects. Classical literary period.
• Second Intermediate Period, (Dynasties 15-17), 1630-1520 BC
• Asiatic Hyksos settlers rule the north, introducing the horse and chariot; Thebans rule the south.
• New Kingdom, (Dynasties 18-20), 1539-1075 BC
• Thebans expel the Hyksos and reunite Egypt. In this “age of empire,” warrior kings conquer parts of Syria, Palestine, and Lower Nubia.
• Third Intermediate Period, (Dynasties 21-24), 1075-715 BC
• Egypt is once again divided. The high priests of Amun control Thebes; ethnic Libyans rule elsewhere.
• Late Period, (Dynasties 25-30), 715-332 BC
• Nubians from Kush conquer Egypt; Egypt reunited under Saite dynasty. Persia rules in fifth century BC. Egypt independent from 404 to 343 BC.
• Greco-Roman Period, 332 BC-AD 395
• Ptolemies rule after the death of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Dramatic growth of population and agricultural output. Roman emperors build many temples, depicting themselves in the Egyptian style.