Download Chapter 3 Section 2

Chapter 3 Section 2
The Rulers of Egypt
I. Egyptian Kingship
A. Egypt had 31 dynasties from about 3100 BC
to 332 BC
B. A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same
family or ethnic group
C. The title used by those kings was Pharaoh
D. The first dynasty began when Menes united
Upper and Lower Egypt
1. built the capital city of Memphis near the
Nile
2. Wore a double crown to signify unification
of Egypt
3. Beginning of one of the most stable
civilizations in history
•The throne passed on to
eldest son of Principal Queen
who was usual the eldest
daughter of the previous king
therefore the king’s sister
E. Pharaoh had absolute power
1. whatever they decided became law
2. they were religious leaders
3. considered to be gods (earthly
embodiment of Horus)
4. People followed their orders because
they believed they were from god
5. Pharaoh owned everything
II. Three kingdoms
A. Historians group Egypt’s dynasties into 3
major time periods
1. Old Kingdom-noted for its well run system
of government
a. began when Menes united Egypt
b. kept peace and traded with Nubia.
Very few wars
c. Egypt’s unity crumbled and the
dynasties grew weak by the end of the
Old Kingdom
2. Middle Kingdom –began when Egypt was
reunited
a. Pharaohs used Egypt’s money on
public works and trade instead of on wars
or defense
b. weak rulers allowed control of Egypt to
be taken by a group of foreigners called
the Hyksos who ruled for 100 years
3. New kingdom-built large armies to keep
out invaders
a. began in 1567 BC –Ahmose led
Egyptians to defeat the Hyksos
b. created armies of foot soldiers ,
mounted warriors and charioteers
III Rulers of the New kingdom
A. King Tutankhamen-became ruler of Egypt
as a child (age 8) and ruled until age 18
when he died. (tomb shows wealth of Egypt)
B. Hatshepsut-ruled for 15 years
a. originally ruled as regent for her
stepson-would not give up power when he
was old enough to rule
b. time of peace and economic success
c. encouraged trade with faraway places
most famous was a year long trip to Punt
King Tut
Akhenaten
Hatshepsut
Thutmose III
C. Thutmose III
a. inherited throne 1479 BC, but was
unable to rule until after stepmother’s death
b. led armies to conquer more land
c. treated those he conquered with mercy
D.Cleopatra VII
a. 51 BC- she was the last Macedonian to
rule Egypt
b. became part of the Roman Empire in 31
BC
c. Egypt would not rule itself again for
almost 2,000 years
Cleopatra VII