Ancient Egypt

Pre-Dynastic Period (5000 BCE) through Decadent Period

(642 CE)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Vordynastik.png

Pre-Dynastic Egypt5000 - 3100 BCE

• Origins are connected with Agricultural Revolution (5000 BCE)

• Irrigation methods developed

• Beginnings of establishment of provinces or nomes

• Each nome ruled by a nomarch

• Connected by common sets of language/writing

Archaic Period 3100 to 2900 BCE

• Menes considered the great unifier of Egypt

• Joined Upper Kingdom and Lower Kingdom

• Established Capital at Memphis

• Established divine position of Pharaoh

• Possibly known as Narmer

• First of the “tomb builders” (Abydos)

Menes

Symbol of Aha

The Old Kingdom 2650 – 2150 BCE

• Characterized by the “Pyramid Builders”

• Social Classes (Priests, Slaves, Common, and Wealthy) emerged

• Consisted of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Dynasties – Zoser (3rd)– Khufu (4th)– Sahure (5th)– Pepi I and II (6th)

Imhotep

• The Great Architect of Egypt

• Designed the earliest pyramids and is said to be responsible for creating columns

• Founder of Egyptian Medicine

Zoser’s Tomb

Khufu’s Tomb/Great Pyramid

Era of Unrest 2475 – 2160 BCE

• Collapse of Central Government

• Caused by the expanding power of regional rulers

• Trade is undermined by feuding regional nomarchs

The Middle Kingdom2160 – 1788 BCE

• Re-establishment of Central Rule under 11th Dynasty– Amunemhet I

• Moved capital to Thebes (11th 2055- 2004)

• Capital later moved to Crocidodilopolis (12th 1991-1962) after Fayum Development

Egyptian Women

• Primarily attached to household duties

• Could not hold office, attend school, or join bureaucracy

• Could own land, sue for divorce, had equal legal protection in theory

Second Intermediate Period1788 - 1580 BCE

• After Death of Queen Sobekneferu the Kingdom is Split

• Hyskos exploit split to invade and take over Egyptian lands.

• Introduces Chariots, Bronze Weaponry, composite bows, and preservation of ancient Egypt’s history

The New Kingdom 1580 – 1150 BCE

18th Dynasty 1550 - 1292• Ahmose I expels Hyskos • Moves Capital back to Thebes, later moved to

Akhetaten• Period marked by Military expansion and Military

rule• Key Rulers

– Ahmose I– Amenhotep I– Nefertiti– Tutankhamen

The New Kingdom 1580 – 1150 BCE

19th Dynasty 1292 – 1187 BCE

• Ramses I moves Capital to Avaris

• Reclaimed and defended lost territories

• Expanded construction at Valley of the Kings as well as elsewhere in Kingdom

• Merenptah moved the Capital city back to Memphis

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings

-Contains tombs of 63 different Kings

-Important Archeological digs have led to great amounts of Historical Knowledge

The New Kingdom 1580 – 1150 BCE

20th Dynasty 1190-1069 BCE

• Setnakhte moves Capital back to Memphis

• Era marked with War (Hittiites and Libyans), Corruption, Civil Disobedience, Famine, and a general Division of the Empire

• Ramses III (1186-1155 BCE) seen as last great Pharaoh

Amenmesse

• Otherwise known as “Moses”

• Seen as father of Jewish faith

• Established state of Israel

• Led Hyskos out of Egypt (ca 1190 BCE)

Third Intermediate Period1069 – 752 BCE

• Egypt severely weakened by civil wars

• Up to 4 different rulers at any given time

• Vulnerable to outside attack

The Late Kingdom752-343 BCE

• Regions of empire begin breaking away and forming new empires

• Libyans, Kushites, Ethiopians, Assyrians, and Persians all rule at one time or another

• Egyptians briefly regain control of empire (marked by the 28th, 29th, and 30th dynasties)

Ptolemaic Period 332-30 BCE• Egypt conquered by

Alexander the Great• Established great

library at Alexandria• After his death, General

Ptolemy assumed control of Egypt

• His decedents reigned until Cleopatra’s defeat at the hands of Octavian

Architecture of Ptolemy

Decadent Period and Beyond• Roman Rule 146 BCE to 429 CE• Vandals 429 – 435 CE• Byzantine 435-642 CE• Persians• Muslims• Ottomans• French• Ottomans again• British• Egyptian Independence Feb 22, 1922 C.E

Recap• Egyptian Civilization evolved around 8000 years ago• Nile River extremely important• United under Menes around 3100• Have been thirty different ruling dynasties• Pyramid building during the “Old Kingdom” epoch• Complex social system• Deeply concerned with afterlife• Downfall at the hands of Alexander the Great then

Octavian • Important Names: Menes, Khufu, Amunemhet I, Ahmose

I, Tutankhamen • Lasting Impact: Oldest “Empire”, Many remaining

artifacts (Pots, Buildings, Mummies, Jewelry, Statues)

Sources

• Nayanga, Peter, “A Guide to Ancient Egypt”, Given at St Cloud State, Spring 2007

• Shillington, Kevin, History of Africa, St Martin’s Press, New York, New York, 1995

• “Dynastic Periods” Aldokkan, http://www.aldokkan.com/egypt/egypt.html