Ancient Egypt for kids

Ancient Egypt for kids learning in KS2 at Primary School. Homework help on the Egyptians, the history of Egypt, Egyptian Empire, hieroglyphs, pyramids, mummification and pharaohs.

Time: 500BC - 30BC

Who were the Egyptians?

Ancient Egypt was one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating civilisations. It stretched out along the River Nile, the longest river in the world! People first settled there thousands of years ago because the land around the Nile was perfect for farming. Every year, in July, the river would flood when snow melted from mountains far away. After the water went down, it left behind thick, dark soil that was full of nutrients. This soil was so fertile that the Egyptians could grow plenty of food such as onions, garlic, leeks, peas, beans, cucumbers, grapes, melons, pomegranates, figs and dates.

Because food was easier to grow along the Nile, small villages began to appear. Over time, these villages grew bigger and joined together to make two powerful areas called Lower Egypt (in the north, where the river meets the sea) and Upper Egypt (further south, up the river). These two kingdoms didn’t always get along and eventually went to battle. The ruler of Upper Egypt, King Menes, was victorious. He joined the two lands together into one great kingdom and made a new capital city called Memphis, which became the heart of Ancient Egypt.

The British Museum
Ancient Egypt information with artifacts from Egypt, mummies, Pharaohs and more.

Mr Donn - Ancient Egypt
This website is full of interesting facts about the Egyptians covering every topic you can think of.

Duckssters - Ancient Egypt
Learn about their culture, the people and the history of the Egyptians.

What was Egyptian life like?

Life in Ancient Egypt was very different from life today. Most people lived in small mud-brick houses close to the River Nile. These houses were simple and often had flat roofs where families could sit or even sleep on hot nights. The river was at the centre of almost everything – it gave people water to drink, fish to eat, and rich soil to grow crops.

Many Egyptians were farmers. They worked hard in the fields planting and harvesting crops, but other people had different jobs. There were bakers, potters, builders, soldiers, and scribes (people who could read and write). Scribes were very important because not everyone knew how to write, and they helped keep records for the Pharaoh and temples.

Children in Ancient Egypt often played games with balls made from papyrus or with wooden toys, and they learned skills from their parents. Wealthier children sometimes went to school to learn reading, writing, and maths.

Religion was also a big part of daily life. The Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses, and they built beautiful temples to honour them.

Horrible Histories - Awful Egyptians

What are hieroglyphs?

The first Egyptian kings made sure that food and goods were shared and sold all across Egypt. To keep track of what was grown, stored, and traded, they needed a way to record information. That’s when the Ancient Egyptians invented hieroglyphs – a special kind of writing made up of hundreds of different symbols and pictures.

Each symbol could stand for a sound, an object, or even an idea. For example, a picture of a bird might mean the sound of a letter, while a picture of the sun could mean the word “day.” Writing in hieroglyphs wasn’t easy, and it took many years of training to learn it. Only scribes, who were specially trained, could read and write hieroglyphs properly.

The Egyptians carved hieroglyphs onto the walls of temples and tombs so that important stories and prayers could last forever. They also wrote on scrolls made from papyrus, a type of paper created from plants that grew along the Nile River.

Hiero-Writer
Find out what your name would look like in Hieroglyphics.

Why did the Egyptians build pyramids?

The Egyptians built huge pyramids as tombs for their kings, called pharaohs, when they died. They believed the pharaohs would live forever in the afterlife, so the tombs had to be grand and strong enough to last for eternity. Inside, treasures, food, and everyday objects were buried so the pharaoh would have everything needed for the next world.

There are over 30 pyramids in Egypt, but the most famous ones are at Giza, where three pharaohs and their chief wives are buried. The largest pyramid is called the Great Pyramid, built for Pharaoh Khufu. It stands 147 metres high and was built using more than two million stone blocks! Remember, the Ancient Egyptians didn’t have cranes, diggers, or modern machinery, so building a pyramid of this size by hand is truly amazing.

Escape from the Mummy's Tomb
Collect as many objects as you can and avoid the mummy!

How were the pyramids built?

Building a pyramid was a huge job that took thousands of workers many years to complete. The Egyptians cut massive stone blocks from quarries using copper tools. These blocks were then dragged across the desert on sledges and rolled over logs. Workers built long ramps of mudbrick and stone so the blocks could be pulled higher and higher as the pyramid grew taller.

It wasn’t just builders and labourers involved – farmers often helped during the months when the Nile flooded their fields, so pyramid building became a massive team effort for the whole country. Skilled architects and engineers made sure everything was planned carefully so that the pyramid would be strong and perfectly shaped.

What is mummification?

The Ancient Egyptians believed that when someone died, their spirit would live on in the afterlife. But they thought the spirit needed a body to live in, so they tried to stop bodies from decaying. This process was called mummification. By turning the body into a mummy and protecting it in a tomb or pyramid, they believed the person could live forever.

Mummification was a very long and careful process. First, the priests removed the brain (sometimes through the nose!) and took out the internal organs, which were placed in special jars called canopic jars. The heart, however, was usually left inside because it was thought to be the centre of a person’s spirit and intelligence.

Next, the body was dried using a natural salt called natron. This step could take up to 40 days! Once dried, the body was stuffed with linen, sawdust, or even sweet-smelling spices to help keep its shape. Then it was carefully wrapped in hundreds of strips of linen bandages. A painted mask was often placed over the face to make the person look more lifelike.

The finished mummy was placed into two or three human-shaped coffins, one inside the other, like a set of Russian dolls. These coffins were brightly painted with magical spells and pictures to help protect the person on their journey to the afterlife.

Wealthy Egyptians, especially pharaohs, were buried in grand tombs filled with everything they might need in the next world—food, clothes, jewellery, games, furniture, and even pets! But because these treasures were so valuable, tomb robbers often broke in to steal them. That’s why today archaeologists have found very few tombs that were left untouched.

The Mummy
Read about Basma & Hossam who are visting the Pyramids near Cario in Egypt.

What is the Valley of the Kings?

As time went on, the Egyptians stopped building giant pyramids for their pharaohs. The pyramids were so big and obvious that they were easy targets for robbers. Instead, later pharaohs chose to be buried in secret tombs cut deep into the cliffs of a hidden valley near the city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor). This place is now called the Valley of the Kings.

More than 60 tombs have been discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Each tomb was carefully carved into the rock and decorated with colourful wall paintings showing scenes from the afterlife, gods and goddesses, and magical spells to protect the pharaoh on his journey. The tombs were also filled with treasures, food, clothes, furniture, and anything else the pharaoh might need in the next life.

But even though these tombs were hidden, most of them were eventually found by robbers, and nearly all of their treasures were stolen long ago. Today, archaeologists still explore the Valley of the Kings to learn more about Ancient Egypt.

Who is Tutankhamun?

Tutankhamun, often called “King Tut”, was one of the youngest pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. He became king when he was only about 9 years old. Because he was so young, he probably had advisers and older officials helping him make big decisions.

Even though he ruled for less than 10 years, Tutankhamun played an important role in returning Egypt to its old traditions. Sadly, his reign was cut short. He died when he was still a teenager, around 18 or 19 years old. Historians and scientists still don’t know for sure what caused his death—some believe it may have been an illness like malaria, an accident such as a chariot crash, or even a serious injury.

Today, Tutankhamun is remembered not because of the length of his reign, but because his tomb was discovered almost completely untouched. This gave historians a rare and exciting glimpse into the treasures, art, and beliefs of Ancient Egypt.

The discovers of Tutankhamun's tomb

For thousands of years, Tutankhamun’s tomb lay hidden in the Valley of the Kings. Unlike many other tombs, it escaped the attention of robbers. In 1922, a British archaeologist named Howard Carter finally discovered it. When the tomb was opened, it was almost completely untouched, making it one of the greatest archaeological finds in history.

Inside were more than 5,000 treasures, including golden statues, jewellery, chariots, weapons, clothes, furniture, and even toys. The most famous object of all was Tutankhamun’s breathtaking golden death mask, which has become a symbol of Ancient Egypt around the world.

What is the mummy's curse?

When Tutankhamun’s tomb was opened, some people began to tell stories about a mysterious “mummy’s curse.” According to the legend, anyone who disturbed the pharaoh’s resting place would suffer bad luck or even die. This idea grew because several people connected to the tomb’s discovery died soon after—most famously, Lord Carnarvon, the man who helped pay for the expedition.

However, scientists today believe the “curse” was just a story. Most of the archaeologists, including Howard Carter himself, lived long and healthy lives. Still, the tale of the mummy’s curse adds an extra layer of mystery and excitement to Tutankhamun’s tomb!

Tutankhamun Exhibiton, Dorchester, UK
See a spectacular recration of Tutankhamun's tomb and treasures in Dorchester.

Tutankhamun facts!
Check out our ten fun facts on the famous pharaoh, King Tutankhamun.

The Egyptian Empire

For many years, Egypt was a powerful and rich country, but it wasn’t always safe from invaders. One day, Egypt was attacked by a group of people called the Hyksos. The Hyksos had a big advantage because they used horses and chariots in battle, while the Egyptians only fought on foot. The Hyksos won and ruled parts of Egypt for a while.

The Egyptians, however, were quick learners. They studied the Hyksos’ new weapons and chariots, and before long they were able to fight back. The Egyptians drove the Hyksos out of their land and decided never to be weak again. Instead, they used their new skills to attack nearby countries and grow a mighty empire.

The pharaohs who ruled during this time became warrior kings, leading their armies into many battles. One of the most famous warrior pharaohs was Tuthmosis III, who took his army to war 17 times! Under his rule, Egypt reached its largest size, stretching far into the lands of the Middle East and Africa.

Another powerful ruler was Pharaoh Ramesses II, often called “Ramesses the Great.” He fought Egypt’s biggest enemy, the Hittites, for more than 30 years! These battles were fierce and long, but eventually the two countries made peace. To show their new friendship, Ramesses II even married a Hittite princess. This peace treaty is one of the first recorded peace treaties in history!

Ancient Egypt Information
A huge array of informative topics staring from the orign of Egypt to the every day lives.

DK Find Out - Ancient Egypt
View this Ancient civilization lasting for more than 3,000 years.

What happened to the Egyptians?

The Ancient Egyptian civilisation lasted for thousands of years, but eventually it came to an end. The last strong pharaoh was Ramesses III, and after he died Egypt began to grow weaker. Without powerful rulers to protect it, the country started to break apart. Fighting broke out between the Egyptian people themselves, which is called a civil war.

As Egypt became weaker, it was invaded many times by foreign armies. First, it was taken over by people such as the Assyrians and the Persians, and later by the famous conqueror Alexander the Great, who made Egypt part of his Greek Empire.

Finally, Egypt faced its most powerful enemy of all—the Romans. At that time, Egypt was ruled by Queen Cleopatra VII, one of the most famous queens in history. Cleopatra was clever and tried hard to keep Egypt free, even making alliances with Roman leaders like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. But in the end, the Romans went to war with Egypt. They won, and when Cleopatra realised her kingdom was lost, she took her own life.

After Cleopatra’s death in 30 BCE, Egypt became part of the Roman Empire, and the age of the pharaohs was over forever.

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