Ancient Egypt

A Resource for 4th Class C
Carrigaline Educate Together NS

Ancient Egypt

Background

Kingdoms

Ancient Egypt was one of the oldest and longest lasting world civilisations. It was located along the Nile River in the northeast part of Africa and lasted for over three thousand years. Historians generally use two ways to outline the history of Ancient Egypt:

There are also three primary kingdoms that historians use to define periods of Ancient Egypt. After each kingdom there is an "intermediate" period. The three kingdoms were the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.

Dynasties

The first is by using the different dynasties that ruled Egypt. These are the families that had power and passed the leadership of Pharaoh down from one family member to another. Counting the Ptolemaic Dynasty set up by the Greeks, there were over 30 dynasties that ruled Ancient Egypt. This sounds like a lot at first, but remember this was over the course of 3000 years.

Here is a brief outline of the timeline of the Ancient Egyptian civilisation showing the Kingdoms, periods, and dynasties:

Early Dynastic Period (2950 -2575 BC) - Dynasties I-III

The Ancient Egyptian civilisation begins. The first Pharaoh of Egypt, Menes, united the Upper and Lower parts of Egypt into a single civilisation. He put the capitol at the midpoint of the two lands in a city called Memphis. During this time the Egyptians developed hieroglyphic writing which would be important for making records and running the government.

Near the end of the Dynastic Period and the start of the Old Kingdom, the first pyramid is built by the Pharoah Djoser and the famous Egyptian Architect Imhotep. The began the building of the Pyramids for which Egypt is famous. However the pyramids the built were step pyramids.

Old Kingdom (2575-2150 BC) - Dynasties IV-VIII

First Intermediate Period (2150-1975 BC) Dynasties IX-XI

Middle Kingdom (1975-1640 BC) Dynasties XI-XIV

The fourth dynasty begins and the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are built. This is often called the Age of the Pyramids. The fourth dynasty is a time of peace and also a time when the sun god Re became prominent in the Egyptian religion.
The Old Kingdom nears its end as the 7th and 8th dynasties are weak and the government begins to collapse. The end of the Old Kingdom is a time of poverty and famine.

Egypt splits back into two countries. The Old Kingdom ends and the first Intermediate period begins.

The Pharaoh Mentuhotep II reunites the two parts of Egypt under one rule signalling the start of the Middle Kingdom. The royal tombs are moved to the north near the city of Memphis. The Egyptians start to use irrigation to carry water from the Nile to their crops.

Second Intermediate Period (1640-1520 BC) Dynasties XV-XVII

New Kingdom (1520-1075 BC) Dynasties XVIII-XX

The Middle Kingdom ends and the Second Intermediate Period begins. Some of the dynasties at the end of the middle kingdom and during this period only last for a short time. The horse and chariot are introduced during this period.

The New Kingdom is the time of greatest prosperity for the Ancient Egyptian civilisation. During this time the Pharaohs conquer the most lands and the Egyptian Empire reaches its peak.

1520 B.C. - Amhose I reunites the kingdom and the New Kingdom begins.

1506 B.C. - Tuthmosis I becomes Pharaoh. He is the first to be buried in the Valley of the Kings.

1479 B.C. - Hatshepsut becomes Pharaoh. She is one of the most successful woman pharaohs.

1386 B.C. - Amenhotep III becomes Pharaoh. Under his reign the Egyptian civilisation would reach its peak in prosperity, power, and art.

1352 B.C. - Akhenaten changed the Egyptian religion to worship a single god. This was a major change of life.

1279 B.C. - Rameses II becomes Pharaoh. He would rule for 67 years and build many monuments.