All of these statements about life-expectancy in ancient Egypt are accurate. At birth, life expectancy was around twenty, but those that survived infancy could expect to live into at least their thirties. It was even common for Pharaohs and noblemen to survive well into old age. Women had a much lower life-expectancy than men, however, primarily due to the inherent dangers of childbirth and the infant mortality rate was roughly fifty percent — meaning half of all children did not survive.

Most archaeologists estimate the population of ancient Egypt during the height of the Old Kingdom (during the fourth and fifth dynasties) to have been around two million.

Mery is believed to be the first person to be convicted of tax evasion in Ancient Egypt. He was forced to withstand 100 blows as his punishment. Pharaoh Kety advised that beatings were better than killings for crimes like these. Many scholars believe that Egyptians were the first to sew wounds closed, a fact that perhaps helped Mery at the time.

The Egyptians believed that their land consisted of two, distinct regions — Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt — which had been united by King Menes. The rulers of Lower Egypt typically wore a red crown to represent their dominion over Lower Egypt; and the rulers of Upper Egypt typically wore a white crown to represent their dominion over Upper Egypt. Many Pharaohs, of course, wore a red and white crown to represent their dominion over unified Egypt.

The Pyramid Texts (Old Kingdom), Coffin Texts (Middle Kingdom), and the Egyptian Book of the Dead (New Kingdom) were all important aspects of Egyptian funerary literature. The Egyptians believed that the afterlife was incredibly complex and dangerous, and that any individual who died with an insufficient understanding of the underworld would not be able to proceed to heaven. The Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead were all designed to educate Egyptians about the afterlife and provide protection on their journey through the underworld.

Throughout ancient Egyptian history, Egyptian people wore amulets that were dedicated to various Gods so that those Gods might offer them protection and good fortune. The Egyptians believed that these amulets were important both on Earth and in the afterlife, and so tended to bury rulers with amulets designed to ensure the favor of the Gods and to ward off evil spirits.

The Battle of Megiddo was fought during the fifteenth century BCE between the forces of Egypt, led by Thutmose III, and an alliance of Canaanite and Asiatic city-states (including the influential Mittani). It ended in victory for the Egyptian forces and was an important battle in the territorial expansion of Thutmose III’s reign.

Most archaeologists estimate the population of ancient Egypt during the height of the Old Kingdom (during the fourth and fifth dynasties) to have been around two million.

The Satire of the Trades was written during the Middle Kingdom period. Its primary purpose was to teach scribes to venerate their own profession above all others. This is achieved by describing all the various failings and frailties of other professions in ancient Egyptian society.

A wadi is a dry river-bed. They can be found in countless locations, alongside major rivers, in the Middle East. They were particularly important in ancient times because they often contained lucrative mineral deposits.