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Ancient Egypt
Old Kingdom
• Government:
– Pharaoh ruled they had absolute power and
organized a strong centralized state; were
considered to be related to the gods
– Vizier chief minister; supervised the
everyday business of gov’t (taxes, farming,
irrigation, etc)
• Accomplishments:
– Called the “Pyramid Age” because the great
pyramids at Giza were built then
– Pyramids rise to a point aiming at the
heavens, where the ruler’s soul will take its
place among the immortal stars.
Pyramids
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Eastern side faces the rising sun
Inside the pyramid was a burial chamber
Outside were two temples
Amount of Stone: 2.3 million blocks of
stone, mostly limestone, some granite
blocks
• Estimated time need for construction 2025 years
Great Sphinx
• Body of a crouching lion and head of
Khafra
• Carved out of natural limestone
• At one time was colored and had a beard.
Construction Controversy
• How were they built?
• Probably quarried the stone from the Nile and brought it
downstream
• Theories of using stone blocks along lubricated runway
or ramp might have been sufficient
• Ramps and levers probably used to lift the stones
• Built by 20,000-35,000 they would need to be fed,
housed and provided other amenities to keep them
healthy
• Probably had a permanent crew of specialized workmen
- reaped rewards in afterlife
• Reason for Decline:
– Power struggles, crop failures, and the cost of
building the pyramids (cost in food and in
human lives)
– Pepi II was in power for 94 years, may have
made it weak, unable to keep a tight grasp on
national affairs
– Famine, drop in rainfall may have been
factors
The Middle Kingdom
*Government:
• Pharaoh
• Accomplishments:
– Rulers organized a drainage project that
created more arable (farmable) land.
– Occupied Nubia (to the south)Nubia had a
lot of gold
– Traders had more contact with Middle East
and Mediterranean island of Crete
• Reason for Decline:
– About 1700 B.C. the Hyksos invaded and
conquered Egypt’s delta region—they had
horse drawn war chariots and the Egyptians
had never seen them before. The Hyksos
dominated Egypt for 100+ years. they were so
impressed with Egyptian culture that they adapted to many Egyptian
customs
The New Kingdom
• Government:
– Pharaoh
– Queen Hatshepsut
– Ramses II
• Accomplishments:
– Drove out the Hyksos
– Extended Egyptian empire to the Euphrates
River—this brought Egypt into contact with the
Middle East and increased trade.
– Wealthiest and most powerful Kingdom
Queen Hatshepsut
– Queen Hatshepsut took over as pharaoh
when her son was too young to rule.
– Led an expedition to Punt. She encouraged
trade.
– Made outstanding achievements that made
Egypt more prosperous.
Ramses the Great
• Ramses made the first peace treaty in
history with the Hittite Empire
• Favorite wife
• Made HUGE statues
• Reason for Decline:
– After Ramses II died, Egyptian power
declined and invaders conquered
– About 750 B.C., Nubia conquered Egypt and
ruled for 100+ years. The Nubians did not
destroy Egypt, they wanted to resore its
former glory. They ruled as the Egyptians had
and respected Egyptian culture.