Lesson 7.4: Egypt - Systems, cont.

Systems: Writing

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  • Like Mesopotamia, Egypt developed an early system of writing called hieroglyphics
  • The ancient Egyptians left behind lots of hieroglyphics on artifacts, both carved and painted. 
  • Hieroglyphics looked like this:

Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics

Links to an external site.Hieroglyphics Links to an external site.

  • For many years, archaeologist and historians could not read these hieroglyphics. 
  • Then, in 1799, some French soldiers found the Rosetta Stone in Egypt. It was originally made in 196 BC!
  • The Rosetta Stone had two other languages besides hieroglyphics. Scholars were able to compare the other languages and decipher ancient hieroglyphicsThe Rosetta Stone 2