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