Egypt explained to kids

Egypt is a country located in North Africa. The Nile River runs through Egypt and provides water for the people and crops. The Sahara desert covers a large part of Egypt. The Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs and their families. The most famous pyramids are the Pyramids of Giza, which were built about 4,500 years ago. The Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses. The most important god was Ra, the sun god. The Egyptians also believed in life after death. They thought that if they mummified their pharaohs' bodies, the pharaohs would live forever. The Egyptians were very good at art and crafts. They made beautiful paintings and sculptures. They also invented the first paper. The first Egyptians settled in the Nile River valley about 5,000 years ago. The Egyptian civilization was one of the most advanced civilizations of its time. The Egyptians had their own writing system, called hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics were pictures that represented words and sounds. The Egyptians were ruled by pharaohs. The pharaohs were considered to be gods. They had absolute power over the people. The Egyptian civilization came to an end about 3,000 years ago. Egypt was conquered by other civilizations, such as the Persians, Greeks, and Romans. In modern times, Egypt is an important country in the Arab world. Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is the largest city in Africa.