History glossary
hieroglyphics
the formal writing system used in ancient Egypt for sacred, royal, and monumental texts.
- Category
- Writing system
- Region
- Global
- Date range
- Varies
What it means
The formal writing system used in ancient Egypt for sacred, royal, and monumental texts.
Stories using this term
The Indus Valley
From farming villages to great planned cities, the Indus Valley civilisation rose across South Asia and left an enduring legacy despite its many mysteries.
Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World
From Philip II's military reforms to the fall of the last Hellenistic kingdom, this story follows Alexander's conquests, the wars of his successors, and the spread of Greek culture across the ancient Near East.
Ancient Egypt
Follow Ancient Egypt from its unification around 3100 BCE to Cleopatra's defeat in 30 BCE. This story explains how the Nile River, pharaohs, pyramids, gods, temples, hieroglyphics and burial beliefs helped one of history's longest-lasting civilizations endure for more than 3,000 years.
