Egypt Research Topics
The following research topics involve two parts. The first is a subtopic that is part of studying
Ancient Egypt. This is the topic you will need to search for information. The second part of the
assignment involves applying critical thinking and creativity to the information gathered in your
research. This is not a standard research report on the topic chosen. Be sure to carefully
read the criteria for the written report. Everything in the description must be included.
1. Egyptian Pharaoh, King or Queen
Explain what leadership qualities the pharaohs, kings, or queens had that would be
desirable in a present-day leader and support your ideas with details. Select one of the
Pharaohs and compare this leader to a present-day leader. Include how this ancient
Egyptian leader would feel about the opening of a King’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings
and why. Also, show how a “Woman’s Rights” activist would feel about the ancient
Egyptian leader’s life.
2. Daily Life
How does the lifestyle of an ancient Egyptian peasant compare to the lifestyle of a
present-day Egyptian peasant? Also, show how a peasant might feel about spending so
much of his/her lifetime building a great pyramid for a king to be buried in when he/she
will be buried in a much simpler grave. Show how an ancient Egyptian home and the
daily life of a child your age compare to your daily life and home.
3. Scarabs
How have scarabs been used in the past, how are they used now, and how might they be
used in the future? Explain how charms are used today. Show how a scientist of today
would explain the use of a dung beetle as the basis of the scarab and why. Show the life
cycle of a dung beetle and why the ancient Egyptians might have chosen it for the basis
of their scarabs. Compare the dung beetle to other types of beetles.
4. Rosetta Stone
Explain how the writing on the Rosetta Stone compares to messages written in a presentday code. Show other coded message systems and how and why they have been used
throughout history. Also tell how the Rosetta Stone has impacted our knowledge of
ancient Egyptian civilization.
5. Writing: Hieroglyphics, Scribes, and Papyrus
How do Hieroglyphic symbols and writing compare to present-day symbols and writing
used by you and Egyptians of today? Tell about the advantages and disadvantages of
each. Explain why the position of a scribe was such a desired position and what position
in our society is similar to an ancient Egyptian scribe. Also, write a news story of an
important event of ancient Egypt in Hieroglyphics. Tell what writing elements and tools
used today might have evolved from the ancient Egyptians.
6. Pyramids
How are the pyramids similar and different from present-day buildings and building
methods in Egypt? Explain how the Egyptians could have reduced friction while
transporting the huge limestone blocks to build the great pyramids. Using the technology
available during that time period, design an original machine (drawing or model) that
would have lifted the huge limestone blocks Also, explain how the methods used by the
Egyptians to build the great pyramids compare to the methods used by ants when
building their great structures.
7. Mummification, Death, Afterlife
What objects would the following present-day people want buried with them and why?
Suppose each believed as the Egyptians did in an afterlife: doctor, lawyer, author,
teacher, athlete, young girl, young boy, engineer, artist and you. Compare mummification
to the methods used today for tending to our dead. Explain the advantage and
disadvantage of each. What elements of today’s burial processes might have evolved
from the ancient Egyptians?
8. King Tut and His Tomb
How would the present-day professional explain the numerous premature deaths
associated with the excavation of King Tut’s tomb: physician, historian, philosopher,
detective, archeologist, chemist, geologist, paleontologist, and you? Describe what it
would be like to be the mummy of an ancient Egyptian leader buried in a great pyramid,
include all five senses, emotional feeling, and thought, along with the causes of these.
Start with the beginning of the mummification process, through three days after the
closing of the tomb. Explain how tombs of today might have evolved from the ancient
Egyptians.
9. Valley of the Kings
As a news reporter, write a report about the opening of a tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
How would an archeologist report the day-to-day events of opening a tomb in the Valley
of the Kings? How would an artist depict the event? How would a leader tell about the
opening of his tomb in the Valley of the Kings? Include numerous descriptive details in
each account.
10. Mathematics: Counting Time-Telling Systems
Explain how the Egyptian counting system compares to the Roman Numeral System and
our present-day counting system. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
How does the ancient Egyptian time-telling system compare to our present-day timetelling system and what elements of our present-day counting and time-telling systems
might have evolved from the ancient Egyptians? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of each? Create some math problems in each system with the answers
hidden, (but included).
11. Weapons and Tools
Compare the weapons and tools used by the ancient Egyptians with those used today.
Include what they were made of, how they were constructed, and how they were used.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of weapons and tools from each time period.
Also, explain which weapons and tools from ancient Egyptian times evolved into
weapons and tools used today.
12. Government, Crime, and Punishment
Describe the government, crimes and methods of punishment used by the ancient
Egyptians. How do these compare to present-day government in Egypt? Show the
advantages and disadvantages of each. Explain how methods from ancient Egyptian times
may have evolved into methods used today in our country.
13. Economy, Trade and Transportation
Explain the economic system of the ancient Egyptians and their methods of trade and
transportation. Compare these to Egypt’s present-day economic system and methods of
trade and transportation. Show the advantages and disadvantages of each. Explain how
the economic, trade, and transportation systems of ancient Egypt may have evolved into
the systems used today in our country.
14. Science: Medicine and Astronomy
Explain the beliefs and methods used relative to medicine and astronomy in ancient
Egypt. Compare these to beliefs and methods used in present-day Egypt and in our
country. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each. Which beliefs and methods
might have evolved from the ancient Egyptians?
15. Religion, Gods, and Goddesses
Explain the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Egyptians. Compare these to
your religion and the following other religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. Tell why different religions developed.
16. Great Sphinx
How was the great Sphinx built and why? Compare the Great Sphinx to five monuments
of today, include the methods and materials used, time needed for completion, their
locations, and why they were built. What building methods and materials might have
evolved from the ancient Egyptians?
Complete the following outline for your topic. Outlines must be checked by Ms. Ragatz
by Aug. 22.
Topic: _________________________________________________________________
1. Introduction: Include what your paper is about, why you chose the topic, and an
interesting hook to get the reader interested.
2. General Background information about the topic.
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________________
e. __________________________________________________________________
Paragraphs 3-7 give the specific information required for your individual topic. Look at the
paragraph and decide how to organize the information. Fill in the outline form. If you need
more space, you may add to it.
3. ________________________________________________________________________
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________________
e. __________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________________
e. __________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________________
e. __________________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________________________
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________________
e. __________________________________________________________________
7. ________________________________________________________________________
a. __________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________________
e. __________________________________________________________________
8. Conclusion: Summarization what you discussed in the paper. Close with a good ending
comment.