OLD KINGDOM
Time: 2650 BC – 2150 BC
Accomplishments:
# of dynasties 4
Pyramid building
Strong Central Government
Strong Economy
Stronger Arts
st
1
ILLNESS
Time: 2150 BC – 2040 BC
# of dynasties: 4
Reasons for collapse of Old Kingdom:
1)Collapse of central government and increase of
independent provinces after reign of Pepi II (90’s)
Normarchs looked to have gained power as Pepi
aged and he could not prevent their rise, so
they challenged central power
2)Climate Changes resulting in a decrease of the Nile's
flooding, this had a huge impact on society
central government was unable to deal with the
results of this change – power of pharaoh
Nomarchs /other local rulers came up with a
solutions to best irrigate their own territory
MIDDLE KINGDOM
Time: 2040 BC – 1640 BC
Accomplishments:
# of dynasties: 3
Pharaohs power
-weakened nomarchs
Nile flooded better
Re-United Egypt
-Mentuhotep II (2 founder)
Building Campaign
Stronger Economy
Commoners had afterlife
nd
nd
2
ILLNESS
Time: 1640 BC – 1550 BC
# of dynasties: 4
Reasons for fall of Middle Kingdom:
1)Division and Weakening of Egypt
Lower Egypt (Nile Delta area) governed by
“foreign born” leaders
2)Invasion by Hyksos
allowed Pharaohs to continue ruling –
more concerned with “Tribute”
a)bronze
b)war from chariots
These
d)
Nationalism
helped Egypt c)better bow/arrow
“modernize” e)new spinning/weaving
NEW KINGDOM
Time: 1550 BC – 1070 BC
Accomplishments:
# of dynasties: 12
1)King Ahmose kicked Hyksos
out of Egypt
2)Re-United Egypt
3)Very militaristic
4)Empire building
5)Extreme wealth/prosperity
6)Massive building campaign
NEW KINGDOM PHARAOHS
Thutmose I -- 1520 BC – 1492 BC
expanded Egyptian borders
”Hammer of the Nubians”
-hung the Nubian king from prow of his ship
1st to have tomb in “Valley of the Kings”
Queen Hatshepsut – 1518 BC – 1484 BC
possibly 1st Female pharaoh
dressed like a man – wore beard
increased trade/economy
avoided war
tremendous building program
NEW KINGDOM PHARAOHS
Thutmose III – 1479 BC – 1425 BC
”Napoleon of Egypt”
Egyptian Empire reached its largest
pierced ears
Akhenaton – 1352 BC – 1334 BC
”Heretic King” – changed religion to monotheism
-Aton was only god
looked like a female
everything associated with Akhenaton was
destroyed after his death
NEW KINGDOM PHARAOHS
Tutankamen (King Tut) – 1333 BC – 1325 BC
”Boy King” (age 9)
Re-Established polytheism
1922 – Howard Carter found his tomb
”Curse of King Tut”
“King
Tut”
Solid Gold
2500 lbs
$13 million
NEW KINGDOM PHARAOHS
Ramses II (“the Great) – 1279 BC – 1213 BC
ruled 67 years
150 - 160 children
tremendous builder (Abu Simbel)
consumed with his “legacy” (Master of Political Spin)
-Battle of Kadesh (political spin)
>v. Hittites (iron / 3 man chariots)
>Official version – TIE
>Ramses version – RAMSES WON
-had monuments built inscribed
with him winning
-no contrary sources
after death, gradual fall of Egyptian control
overextended, revolts, immorality/corruption
EGYPTIAN
ACHIEVEMENTS
Medicine – Mummification
Irrigation
Calendar
Astrology – est. a form of “Poor Man’s Almanac”
Pyramids - +100 still exist (Mathematics)
Hieroglyphics (wrote on Papyrus)
Champollion &
the Rosetta
Stone
Hieroglyphics “Alphabet”
24 “letters” + 700 phonetic symbols
Egyptian Math
1
10 100 1000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000
What number is
this?
LIFE EXPECTANCY >age 30
>Living past 40 was rewarded by gov’t
MARRIAGE
>similar to our concept of marriage
>kids w/in 1st year (IMR = 60-70%)
>children seen as a blessing if lived past 1 yr
EDUCATION
>boys from wealthy families from ages 12-16
>poor families followed job of dad
>girls focused on home/family
BEAUTY
>loved the body
>facial hair = unclean
>”perfume cones”
FOOD
>fish, beer, bread, honey, peas, beans, onions,
lettuce/cabbage, turnips, figs, grapes
>little/to no beef – geography made it difficult