For centuries, the ancient past of Egypt has captivated people from all over the world. This is why it is the focus of a great deal of research. Ancient Egypt is known for its rich and complex ancient history, which continues to challenge archaeologists to this day. The Ancient Egyptian civilization dates back around 5,000 years ago and is still one of the most investigated of the ancient civilizations. Its rise and subsequent decline have been the subject of a number of studies. Ancient Egypt is widely credited for the introduction and utilization of the concept of writing. This includes hieroglyphs, which were developed at around 3000 B.C.E. Archaeologists have long been fascinated with the engineering marvel that is found in the ancient Egyptian pyramids. For centuries, the pyramids have been studied in detail in order to ascertain the builders techniques. It is believed that these monuments, built using sandstone blocks that weighed up to 70 tons, were built well before 2000 B.C.E. Ancient Egyptians are also renowned for their sophisticated irrigation systems, which used a sluice gate and other methods to channel the waters of the Nile River for the purposes of agriculture. This irrigation system dates back to the 6th century and allowed the Ancient Egyptians to feed their growing population. The people of ancient Egypt also contributed to many other fields, including culture, science, health, astronomy, mathematics, and architecture. Ancient Egyptian medical practices have been studied extensively and are known to have been far ahead of its time. The Ancient Egyptians are also said to be the first people to divide the day into 24 hours. Ancient Egypt is among the most studied of ancient civilizations and certainly one of the most intriguing. Its contributions to our modern day culture and knowledge are invaluable and are just beginning to be understood.