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A Brief Look at Ancient Egyptian History
CHW 3M
Predynastic Period (to 3100 BCE)• Prior to 3100 BCE, Egypt was probably a
collection of unorganized societies• Developed into two monarchies• Lower Egypt, or the Delta Kingdom, was ruled by
a monarchy symbolized by the red crown• The white crown represented the power of Upper
Egypt
Early Dynastic Period (3100 – 2650 BCE)
• About 3100 BCE, the King of Upper Egypt, King Menes, unified the country
• King Menes wore the double crown symbolizing the unity of the two kingdoms
• King Menes founded capital of Memphis• Began first Egyptian dynasty – the first succession of
rulers who claimed their descent from a common ancestor
• for over 400 years, kings faced considerable opposition as they tried to secure their power
• Between 3100 BCE and 2700 BCE, Menes and his heirs were able to consolidate their power and achieve absolute rule in Egypt
The Old Kingdom “The Age of the Pyramids” (2650 -
2150 BCE)• Powerful king finally created a central
government strong enough to command the country
• This king was Djoser• By the time of the Old Kingdom, the king was
ruler of all of Egypt • Kings came to be known as Pharaohs• Pharoah was seen as divine, or godlike• The Chief advisor to the Pharaoh was the Vizier• He was the supreme ruler of all affairs, secular
and religious
Pharaoh Djoser• During his rule, he
ordered his people to build him an enormous Step Pyramid at Saqqara
• This pyramid was the first monumental stone building ever constructed in the world
• Height of 200 feet• Designed by Imhotep
Step Pyramid of King Djoser
Imhotep: An Egyptian Genius• Seldom lives and accomplishments of
individuals other than Pharaohs recorded by Egyptians
• Imhotep an exception• Was essentially deified by Egyptians• Rose to serve as the right hand man of
Djoser• Imhotep’s learning included medicine,
astronomy, theology and mathematics• Architect who designed the “Step
Pyramid”
Statuette of Imhotep in the Louvre
Height of Old Kingdom
• Old Kingdom Egypt reached its height in the Fourth Dynasty, the period during which the great pyramids of Giza were built
• These were true pyramids, which have become timelss symbols of Egyptian civilization
The Great Pyramid• The Great Pyramid, built for the pharaoh Khufu (or
Cheops in Greek), was originally 481 feet high and 756 feet along each side of its base, constructed from more than 2.3 million limestone blocks
• Two massive, but slightly smaller pyramids at the site were built for Khufu’s successors Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus)
• Historians often describe the Old Kingdom as “the age of the pyramids” because these monumental structures are one of the greatest achievements of the period
Old Kingdom know as Pyramid Age• most of Egyptian pyramids built during this time period
• transitioned from step pyramid to true pyramids
Collapse of Old Kingdom• Nile had a series of poor floods famine and high death rate• Egyptian government fell apart country splintered into many chiefdoms, each chief claiming to be the true pharaoh
Other Achievements of the Old Kingdom
• Trade become more regulated and spread throughout the Mediterranean region, enriching Egypt with new inventions and goods, including the potter’s wheel from Mesopotamia, timber from Syria, wine and oil from Crete
• Foundations of organized government laid when the rulers divided the state into provinces or districts, each with its own governor appointed by the pharaoh
Decline of the Old Kingdom• By the fifth dynasty, the authority of the king had
weakened• The pyramids of the kings of the Fifth and Sixth
Dynasties are markedley smaller, reflecting the general impoverishment of Egypt
• High priests and government officials vied for power• Local and provincial officials became increasingly
powerful• By the end of the Sixth dynasty, the climate and the
Nile River combined to bring about the end of the old monarchy
• Low rainfall and series of weak floods from the Nile, Egypt suffered famines
The First Intermediate Period (2150 – 2050 BCE)
• Civil wars thrust Egypt into about 100 years of anarchy
• Egypt again separated into two distinct parts
• Without a king strong enough to control the entire territory, the country entered a time of general disorder called the First Intermediate Period
The Middle Kingdom (2050 – 1700 BCE)
• Egypt was reunited under Theban kings who would rule for the next 250 years
• These monarchs initially rules at Thebes and eventually moved their capital to Memphis
• Theban supremacy reflected in rise to national prominence of god Amon
• Amon had been a local Theban deity and merged with the Sun god Re to become Amon-Re, an Egyptian national god
Middle Kingdom Accomplishments
• Period of expansion: Economic and political bounderies of Egypt were expanded
• Egypt experienced two centuries of peace and stability during which the nation prospered
Second Intermediate Period (1700 – 1550 BCE)
• Invasion of the Hyksos, a warlike people, most likely from what is now Syria and Palestine
• Egyptian army leagged behind technologically, copper weapons no match
• Hyksos had horse-drawn chariots, improved bows, bronze weapons
• Hyksos ruled Egypt for 150 years• In the end, Egyptians came to master the new
weapons introduced by Hyksos and drove Hyksos out of Egypt
The New Kingdom (1550 - 1070 BCE)
• Egyptian civilization reached its apex during the New Kingdom
• It was during these 5 centuries that Egypt experienced its Golden Age, building an empire and producing fine works of art
• The New Kingdom was also a period dominated by several larger-than-life characters