Download 3100-2650 B.C- Early Dynastic Period 2650-2134 B.C

3100-2650 B.C- Early Dynastic Period
2650-2134 B.C- Old Kingdom
2134-2040 B.C- First Intermediate Period
Early Dynastic Period:
The first major event in Egyptian history is the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by King Narmer.
Before unification the boundaries between Upper and Lower Egypt were fluid. Lower Egypt was the
Nile Delta and the area immediately around it, Upper Egypt was everything else.
King Narmer, also known as Menes, united Egypt around 3100 B.C. He did this by conquering Lower
Egypt.
The Narmer Palette was created in honor of his victory. It shows Narmer victorious over Lower Egypt.
Narmer moved the capital of Egypt to Memphis after his victory. Memphis was in between Upper and
Lower Egypt and therefore it was a good place for the new capital.
Narmer also combined the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt into a new crown representing the unity
of Egypt.
Despite the fact that the Early Dynastic period lasted around 500 years, we have very little writing
telling us about it.
The early dynastic period set the stage for the great power the pharaohs had during the Old Kingdom.
Old Kingdom:
During the old kingdom pharaohs were able to accomplish things that have rarely been attempted or
equalled, before of since.
The pharaohs built huge monuments/tombs known as pyramids for themselves. This shows us the
immense power that pharaohs had.
We know little of the deeds of many of these pharaohs. Sometimes the pyramids and the mummies are
all that they left behind.
The kingship was a divine institution. The Egyptians believed that the pharaoh was a god, the mother
and father of all men, and without equal. It was their duty to obey him.
Most pyramids were built during the 4th dynasty and in subsequent dynasties royal power was
diminished.
The pyramids were not structures by themselves. They had other pyramids for the royal family
members nearby and they also had mastabas, low flat tombs, for royal officials.
The buried Egyptians (only the important ones), would be mummified first. Mummification took 80
days and was a way of preserving the body by dehydrating it.
Before mummification the Egyptians would remove and discard the brain. They would also remove the
liver, lungs, stomach and intestines, these however they would keep in canopic jars with the body.
The largest pyramid is at Giza. Each side of its base measures 756' and it is 481' tall at its apex.
First Intermediate Period:
Towards the end of the Old Kingdom there were low floods. These low flood led to famine conditions
which eventually led to rebellions.
The first intermediate period marks a 90 year civil war where a royal family in Thebes, a city in Upper
Egypt, fought against the established pharaoh's family.
In 2040 the Theban Nebhepetre Mentuhotep defeated the established pharaoh and started the Middle
Kingdom.