Download The Ages of Egyptian history

The Ages of Egyptian History
Background
• Historians use the date 3400BCE as the
approx. beginning of Egyptian history
• 3100BCE Menes (Narmer) united Upper
and Lower Egypt (delta)
• He was the first Pharaoh
• Double Crown
• Absolute rule/ living god
The Double Crown:Pschent (sh-yen)
Lower Egypt: Red
Crown
(Cobra, Papyrus, Bee)
Upper Egypt: White
Crown
(Vulture, Lotus, Sedge)
3 Ages of Egyptian History
• 3 periods in Egyptian history
based on archaeological
evidence
• Old, Middle and New Kingdoms
• A total of 30 Dynasties
• A dynasty refers to a
succession of rulers who belong
to the same family for
generations.
The Old Kingdom
2700-2100 BCE
• Also called the Pyramid Age
• An age of very powerful kings
• Reputation of Egypt was established in
this period
• Trade/ cultural diffusion
• Pyramids cost a great deal and weakened
the power of the Pharaoh
First Intermediate Period
• Breakdown of rule- rebellion
of the richer people in society
• Provincial officials seized
control of their territories
• Lower Egypt was ruled by
kings from Heracleopolis
• Rulers at Thebes controlled
Upper Egypt
• References to the Nile being
low in some texts
The Middle Kingdom
2000-1800 BCE
• The Age of Nobles
• Pharaohs more concerned with common people
• Drained the delta, canal built from Nile to the
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•
•
•
Red Sea
Trade with Mesopotamia, Kush, Syria and Crete
Marked by many internal problems
After 150 years of turmoil Egypt came under the
rule of Theban Kings
Establish capital at Memphis
Hyksos : Second Intermediate Period
• At the end of this period the Hyksos "rulers of foreign
countries", invaded and fractured Egypt into provinces
• From Israel/Palestine/Syria
By main force they easily seized it without striking a blow; and having overpowered
the rulers of the land, they then burned our cities ruthlessly, razed to the ground
the temples of gods...Finally, they appointed as king one of their number whose
name was Salitis."
-Josephus
• Bronze weapons/ wheeled chariots
The New Kingdom 1600-1100 BCE
• The Empire Age/ Golden Age
• The Egyptians united under
•
•
•
Theban leadership
Mastered the weapons of their
enemies and drove them out
Started wars in which they
conquered others in the Fertile
Crescent (ruled/taxed them)
Great works of art/ temples built
Decline
• Unsuccessfully tried to
recreate greatness of
Pyramid Age
• New powers emerging
(Nubians, Greeks, Romans,
Assyrians, Persians)
• Went into decline & ruled
by foreigners for the next
3000 years