This was an essay I had to write for school; it's meant to be an expository essay.

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Egyptian Pharaohs and Queens

The first dynasties of Egyptian pharaohs and queens were during 2920 BC. Most rulers were men; only a few women became pharaohs like Cleopatra VII. The ancient Egyptian world is most famous for their magnificent pyramids, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Ancient Egyptian beliefs consisted of the concept of afterlife; the belief of when one died, their spirit would make a journey through the underworld to a great god, who would make the decision if the person was good enough to become something more than a crow in the next life.

Because of the hot climate in Egypt, most clothing was made from plant fibres, cotton and rare silks. The custom for Egyptian queens and pharaohs was to shave their hair off, and wear a headdress, complete with hair for the women and
false beards for the men.

A pharaoh would begin the day by bathing, dressing and preparing for the audience session. Visiting ambassadors came to present gifts of fine valuables, or commanding officers gave the latest updates from the military bases during this time. Afterwards, the pharaoh would carry out the daily ritual of going to pay homage to the gods in the temple.

Upon returning home from this necessary, but tedious expedition, the pharaoh would have his midday meal. Afterwards he might go for a tour of the kingdom on his magnificent horse-drawn chariot, or he might watch slaves swelter in the hot sun, constructing his pyramid.

The later evening would be filled with entertainment. Dancing girls, a banquet feast, talented musicians, or perhaps simply strolling around the quiet palace gardens with a trusted adviser.

Egyptians were the first people to create a way of communicating other than with the mouth. Their first form of writing is known as the hieroglyphs, a collection of symbols scratched onto a clay tablet with a stick, or sometimes penned with a special reed dipped in paint or ink. The Egyptians later invented the first paper made out of papyrus; a certain plant that grew along the Nile River.

The ancient world of Egypt was one of the first cultures to advance the world in written communication. And its history has left behind some of the most wonderfully constructed masterpieces, the famous pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.