1203db+Ancient+Civ Report

Many people may think that Ancient Egyptian culture is all about Egyptian Pharaohs and hieroglyphics with people in weird poses, but they are wrong. The culture is much more complex than that. The origin of the word Egypt is Kemet, or Black Land, named because of the rich soil from the annual flooding of the Nile. The Ancient Egyptians lived in the Northeastern part of Africa, with the Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus to the north; the Red Sea, Palestine, and Syria to the east; Nubia to the south; and the Sahara and Western Deserts to the West.This culture lasted from 3500 A.D. until the time the culture was believed to end, 30 A.D. or when Cleopatra died.When the ancient culture ended, it became part of the modern day culture known as Egypt. Egypt’s legacy still lasts in the 12-Month and 365-Day Calendar.

A very important part of Ancient Egyptian culture was its games. Competitions and contests were important to the Egyptians because it was their way to exercise and enjoy themselves. We can learn more about this cultural aspect by looking at the Egyptian’s indoor games, sports, and children’s games.

In their spare time, the Egyptians played board games such as senet. The game of senet was played in the point of view of someone who is trying to make it to the next world while good and evil are battling. The players move their pieces depending on how the throwing stick landed. Their throwing stick is kind of like our dice. The game of senet is similar to a lot of board games we play today. They have the same general goal: get to the end, and get there first. So as you can see, the Ancient Egyptians did a lot more than just build tombs and rule dynasties.

When the Ancient Egyptians played sports, they played some sports that we play today. Also, the Ancient Egyptians made lots of rules and regulations for the sports we play today. Some of the sports they played were wrestling, weightlifting, long jumping, and swimming. Others were rowing, shooting, fishing, and athletics, as well as several ball games. Most Ancient Egyptian Phara ohs and their families encouraged the sports, and provided people with the equipment to play them at events. A lot of the Ancient Egyptians were fit.

The children played lots of less organized games. The games that the kids played were similar to the ones that the adults played. They played games that involved things like balancing, racing, wrestling, and tug of war. Lots of kids, particularly girls, also liked to dance. So as you can see, kids did a lot more than just spectate the adults.

After a long period of the Ancient Egyptian rule, they were conquered by the Romans, whose empire empire was flourishing at the time. Eventually, after hundreds of years, the old area once known as Ancient Egypt, became our modern-day Egypt. Some of Ancient Egypt’s legacy that was passed on through generations were their games. We still play tug of war, people still wrestle, and we still race and dance. I feel that this civilization taught us, even though there is a lot of work to be done in life, we can find some time to enjoy ourselves along the way.



Glossary
 * 1) adjacent (adj): next to
 * 2) complex (adj): complicated, confusing
 * 3) regulations (noun): rule or law

Bibliography
 * 1)  "Ancient Egyptian Timeline." [|__Menu__] . N.p., n.d. __Web__. 14 May 2014. ( Website )
 * 2)  Steedman, [|__Scott__] . The __Egyptian News__. __Cambridge__, MA: Candlewick, 2009. [|__Print__] . (Book)
 * 3)  "__Tour Egypt__ :: Egypt: Ancient Egyptian Sports." Egypt: Ancient Egyptian Sports. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2014. (Website)
 * 4)  "Tour Egypt :: Egypt: [|__Games__] of the Ancient Egyptians." Egypt: __Games__ of the Ancient Egyptians. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 June 2014. ( Website)
 * 5)  "Tour Egypt :: Egypt: The Origin of the Name, Egypt." Egypt: The Origin of the Name, Egypt. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2014. (Website)
 * 6)  __Walker__, Jane. 100 Things You Should Know about __Ancient Egypt__. __New York__: Barnes & Noble, 2006. __Print__. (Book)
 * 7)  Yomtov, __Nelson__. Ancient Egypt. New York: Children's, 2012. Print. (Book)

Exhilarating Egyptians: Competitions and Contests of Ancient Egyptians

Dimitri Bola

Grade 6 English Language Arts Periods 1-2 Mr. Schoch June 3, 2014