Brian: Do you know anything about Egypt? Well I’ll bet that you don’t know about the Old
Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom. Well I just know that you’re stunned because you
didn’t know about these Kingdoms. A few of you might know, so I shall give you a harder question,
what tricky tactical plans did King Thutmoses use?
Just: You shall learn about it and after you listen to us, you shall have the right to brag about your
knowledge of Ancient Egypt. Listen carefully, for we shall ask you ten random questions at the end.
Bill: Then, I shall give certificates to one who answered all of our questions correctly and with the
best explanations.
Brian: Now, you probably want to yell at me because you are so eager to learn about some
fighting strategies. Therefore, I shall tell you that Ptolemy II and III captured elephants and used them
against their enemies. Just imagine their enemy’s panic.
Bill: In Egypt, there were a total of 31 dynasties. There were also periods where there weren’t
dynasties. The last dynasties weren’t Egypt’s own, these were the second Persian period and many parts
of the Greek-romeo period. We, history buffs, found Egyptian writing recording history, mainly on
Egyptian Pharoh tombs. Then, we found the Rosetta stone which was carved in 196 BC and that stone
helped us translate the Egyptian writings. Also, Egyptian Pharoh’s tombs, Manetho’s King list, the
Abydos tablet, and Sumerian King List told us who ruled Ancient Egypt.
Bill: During the Late Predynastic period, the earliest known hieroglyphic writing was used. You
may guess the other major event. Can you guess it? (pauses for a while) Of course, Egypt was founded!
Justin: Following the Early Predynastic period, the Early Predynastic period started. Wit ye well
that during this period, the first dynasty started. This period lasted for a total of three dynasties (2950
BC-2575 BC). Learn more from our poster.
Bill: Then, after the third dynasty, the famous Old Kingdom started. It lasted from the fourth
dynasty through the eighth dynasty. The Kingdom was never a whole kingdom. Those of you who are
interested in any part of history would just love this!
Brian: The Old Kingdom was the time of the building of great pyramids. The Kings who died in
this era were buried in the middle parts of the pyramids. The pyramids were built in the deserts because
the Egyptians greatly valued their fertile land. As you can see, the Egyptians made their pyramids from
stone and palaces were made of sun-dried brick. (points at the palace and the pyramid). Their great arts
usually concerned death. However, they were also commonly placed in deserts. Countless pieces of
masterpieces were created during the Old Kingdom. However, many of the Old Kingdom’s facts remain
as a mystery to us because their records have mainly worn out. To make things worse, no houses have
been left to rot because of the Egyptian’s value for land. Luckily, the Egyptians recorded their events that
were of importance.
Just: Fortunately, the elite tombs included the first extensive descriptions, for if they didn’t
contain them, who knows how we would learn information about Egypt!
Bill: You are now probably wondering what the Egyptians recorded. Well have you heard of
people cheating each other when trading? Well if you did, you’ve got your answer--that was the type of
information they recorded. Amazingly, most of the Egyptian’s information that is revealed to us is from
the Pharaoh’s monuments.
Justin: I must let you know that the fall of the Old Kingdom was pretty complex. First, Peppy II
caused confusion to rule for more than ninety years. Then, the rulers that followed him were all bad and
they eventually split Egypt into many small fractions of what it used to be. Then, the Nile failed to flood
and caused a drought among the new ‘weak kings’ and because they weren’t together, they died out.
Learn more about the complexity from our poster.
Just: You must know that under normal circumstances, the bad rulers would have been
overthrown, for the Egyptians controlled their kings. However, Peppy II’s confusion changed the
circumstances.
Brian: Then, because of the fall of the Old Kingdom, the second Intermediate period began.
During this period, Egypt split into two-- Memphis in the north using the white crown as their major
crown and the Thebes in the south, using the red crown as their main crown. Under normal
circumstances, there would be the main crown with both colors. It remained like this until the new
Middle Kingdom came to the rescue. Find out how the Middle Kingdom rescued Egypt by listening to
Just.
Bill: King Herakleopolis, the King of the South finally decided to attack the North of Egypt,
which was ruled by King Mentuhotep in an attempt to reunify Egypt. However, King Mentuhotep won
and so he reunified Egypt.
Justin: The middle kingdom falls between the New Kingdom and the Old Kingdom. It holds the
11th to the 14th Egyptian Dynasties and lasted 254 years. The middle kingdom was created after a series of
wars between Upper Egypt’s king and Lower Egypt’s pharaoh. Upper Egypt won the battle. They united
Egypt and the Middle Kingdom was started. During the Middle Kingdom (2040 – 1786 B.C.), the
pharaoh Mentuhotep united Egypt and moved the capital city to Thebes. The dominant king reclaimed
power. Art and literature begin to develop in the capital city Thebes, and the first known schools were set
up. Egypt successfully conquered Southern Nubia under Senwosret I and III during this time.
Justin: Amenemhet III was the last powerful ruler of the Middle Kingdom. Economic growth
reached its peak under his reign. A huge temple to the local god Sobek was built in Kiman Faris. Two
pharaohs, Amenemhet IV and Queen Sobehnefru ruled for a short period. After 254 years of succession,
the state system collapsed because the Hyksos (a foreign power) overran Egypt. This marked the end of
the Middle Kingdom and the beginning of the Second Intermediate Period.
Just: During this time, fighting abilities knew no bounds. The most important part of this period
happened in the northern part. Hyksos kings seize the white crown and the red crown, the north crown
and the south crown. Though they were in Egypt, they called themselves the Aumus. They played a
major role in this period. They excelled in warfare using bronze chariots, maces and composite bows.
They have been considering themselves the rulers of Egypt, but still, part of the southern part wasn’t in
their control and a few other parts were not fully in their control. Hyksos kings were soft-hearted rulers,
for they were tolerant of all beliefs.
Brian: They also preserved documents that have contributed to our technology and history with
various types of information. One piece told us about their views of the human body. Egypt wanted itself
to be independent, isolated from the outside world. Therefore, they used the Hyksos technology and
overthrew the Hyksos. They had more modern technology and taught them how to survive and use their
lands! That’s what happened to change history!
Bill: This period is the most famous period. There were lots of famous Pharaohs and Queens. The
famous rulers were Hatshepsut, Tutankhamen, Thutmoses III, and last but not least, Ramesses the Great.
The New Kingdom lasted from 1539-1075 BC. The New Kingdom happened in the North and eventually
fell because the South defeated them.
Just: King Thutmoses III led Egypt to its height of power. He conquered many rival kingdoms in
ancient Syria and Palestine. He won wars mainly because of his secret tactics. Sometimes, he would hide
his best fighter inside various objects (like a sack) and secretly get them through city gates. King
Thutmoses was a smart tactical leader.
Bill: Next, we shall talk about Ramesses II, the famous pharoh who ruled for 67 years. He is usually
known for the sculptures he made for himself and the numerous wars he won. However, to be honest,
Ramessess II never won a lot of battles. It was Seti I, his father, who won numerous battles for him.
Ramesses II refused divine demands.
Bill: Ramesses II lived from about 1314 BC to 1224 BC and reigned from 1290 BC to 1224 BC. He
died in his 90th year. He was, by far, the best leader ever known in Egypt! He was the third king of the
19th dynasty, and a son of King Seti the first and Queen Tuya. You might’ve heard people say that he
had ninety sons, but this is just because Ramessess thinks large. This means that he would exaggerate
everything. Ramesses was buried in The Valley of Kings and later, when his body was found, his body
was moved to the Musuem of Cairo.
Brian: King Hatshepsut was born in the 18th Dynasty. Hatshepsut is the daughter of Thutmose the first
and Aahmes. She lived longer than her brothers and parents and therefore, she got in the position to rule
Egypt. Then, when Thutmoses the third came, Hatshepsut married Thutmoses. Her rise to power went
against all the conventions of her time.
Just: Tutankhamen was the 12th ruler of Egypt's 18th Dynasty. He was Pharaoh of the Eighteenth
dynasty of Egypt and lived during the period known as the New Kingdom. King Tutankhamen is known
only because his tomb was never robbed. The wealth of objects discovered in this young king's tomb
naturally lead to speculation on what might have been contained in the plundered tombs of far more
significant Pharaohs. He was a young little pharaoh and married his big sister. People believe that when
Tut was dug out, a curse was set upon the people who surrounded the tomb. King Tut’s death is, like
Hatsheput’s death, a mystery.
Brian: After the sad fall, things became worse. Libyan disunity caused the creation of Libyan’s own
dynasty during this period. Then, towards the end, Egypt was conquered by the Nubians. Just imagine
the panic Egyptians would be in, how could they survive for so long in such a dreadful situation?
Brian: If you read a story about the Late period, it would definitely be heartbreaking. Just imagine the
situation Egypt was in! Then, imagine another invasion.
Just: (in a taunting way) Yeah, heartbreaking.
Bill: Then another time of tranquility arose and you knew you were safe. Then, imagine being
invaded again! Who could you trust? Well, that was what the Late period was like. Besides, what did
Egypt want? They only wanted independence!
Bill: Err… I thought that the south and the north wanted to be separated
Brian: The cruel Assyrians conquered Egypt briefly. Then, the Kings of Sais (the northern kings)
fought and fell to the south. Eventually, they rose again and reunited Egypt and brought tranquility. In
order to prove themselves loyal to Egypt, they revived the Egyptian gods and reunited Egypt. I would
pay you ten bucks if you could name one Egyptian that hated the rule of the Kings of Sais.
Justin: The Kings of Sais eventually became known as the ‘Invincible Ones’. However, they weren’t
invincible, for the mighty Persians conquered Egypt later on in history. Though the Persians were kind
rulers, Egyptians probably hated the Persians because they wanted their independence and loved their
Kings of Sais.
Bill: If you lived in 404 BC, you would, with no doubt love, Alexander the great, for he freed the
Egyptians from their chaotic situation and granted them their independence. The Egyptian’s remained
independent until 343 BC. Though they lost their independence later on in history, they remained happy
all the way until 30 BC. Find out why by listening to Bill talk about the Greco-Romian period.
Bill: Finally, the Greco-Romian period began.
Brian: This dolorous period was much like the fall of Camelot. This was also the last period of Egypt.
Countless major events occur. Cleopatra (one of the most famous person in Egypt) a brilliant ruler fell in
love with the great Sesa (a roman warrior).
Just: Cleopatra was also a troubled ruler. One of the reasons is because her sister accused her of
killing her father. Cleopatra overreacted and had a war with her sister thus weakening Egypt. However,
Cleopatra’s sister only retreated, therefore, Sesa had to go home. Cleopatra was then pregnant.
Brian: Therefore, the two had to keep the baby as a secret. However, Rome discovered the secret and
therefore, they conquered Egypt.