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The Land of the Pharaohs
Chapter 4
The Dynasties
Pre-Dynastic Egypt
Egypt was divided into upper and lower
until 3100BCE
King Menes unites all of Egypt under one
crown and rules from Memphis
Builds the temple of Ptah
Hieroglyphics and irrigation are developed
at this time in Egypt.
The Old Kingdom
King Djoser establishes strong central rule
He Builds the Step Pyramid of Saqqara
(60m)
This symbolizes the power and hold Djoser
would have over his people
The Pyramid Builders
3rd to 6th dynasties the pharaoh’s were seen
as living gods.
4th Dynasty the Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops),
his son Chephren and brother Mycernius
build the Great Pyramids of Giza.
These pharaohs divided their Kingdom into
provinces making it easier to control
The potters wheel is introduced from
Mesopotamia and trade expands to Syria
and Crete.
The Fall of the Old Kingdom
A series of Famines and weak flood cripple
Egypt during the 5th and 6th dynasties.
Pepi II is the last to rule (94 years). Egypt
would have a succession of weak kings and
would fall into civil war and division once
again.
This is known as the first Intermediate
period and would last for 100 years.
The Middle Kingdom
2040 BCE Egypt is united again under
Mentuhotep of the 11th Dynasty from Thebes.
Nobles were very powerful b/c they controlled the
armies.
After the assassination of Amenehat I pharaohs
began to build their own armies and body guards.
13th Dynasty witnessed the short reign of
numerous pharaohs. Foreigners who moved into
the Nile Delta took over. They were known as the
Hyskos.
Hyskos
They came from Syria and Palestine.
They introduce technologies such as the
horse drawn chariot, the scimitar, and the
compound bow, copper arrowheads and
daggers.
The Hyskos are eventually overthrown with
the same technology they introduced.
The New Kingdom
1550 bce saw the age of conquering pharaohs.
Thotmoses I, and III would conquer Mesopotamia
and Nubia.
Hatshesput would disguise herself as a man and
reign as pharaoh for 22 years. She would build the
temple Dier El-Bahri
Amenhotep IV would change the Egyptian
religion to a monotheistic religion called the
Amarana Revolution. They could only worship the
Sun god Aton.
Horemheb would reverse what Akenaton did and
try to erase any evidence of his reign as king.
Including hiding the Tomb of his son, King TUT.
Thutmose I and Thutmose III
Temples of Ramses
Dier El-Bahri
Amenhotep IV
King Tut’s Treasure
Decline of the New Kingdom
Amenhotep IV was so preoccupied with his
religious changes that he never saw the Hittites
moving in on him.
Ramses II would spend his days fighting the
Hittites. His kingdom came crashing to an end
when Egypt was hit with hard times and the Jews
were free to leave.
728 bce Piy from Nubia conquers Egypt. After his
reign Ashurbanipal and the Assyrians take over
until the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great
takes over.
The Greek Period
332bce to 31bce
It begins with the domination of Alexander the
Great. He builds the great city and library of
Alexandria.
Ptolemy, who was a general in Alexander's army,
was given control of Egypt.
Cleopatra VII would be a direct descendent of him
The Greek language and culture would dominate
Egypt.
Alexander the Great
Cleopatra VI
The Roman Period
31bce Cleopatra and Mark Antony are defeated by
Octavius Caesar (Augustus).
Egypt becomes a province of Rome ruled by a
Prefect.
Romans introduce iron tools, Roman law, and
oxen drawn water wheels and threshing machines.
The Roman period would end with the coming of
the Muslims in the 7th century CE. Egypt remains
a Muslim country today.