The time period, in Egyptian history, that we refer to as the Old Kingdom, is 2650-2134 B.C. It was the most wealthy and creative period in Egyptian history. It is also known as the golden age of pyramids,because all the pyramids built in Egypt, were built during the old kingdom.
Djoser(2630-2611 B.C.), the first notable pharaoh of Third Dynasty, ordered the construction of a pyramid in Memphis. In this era ancient Egyptian states became solely ruled by the pharaoh.
"The Fourth Dynasty (2613-2494BC) was characterized by expansionism and pyramid construction. King Sneferu constructed the Red Pyramid at Dahshur near Saqqara and the Pyramid of Meidum in Al-Fayoum. He also sent military expeditions as far as Libya and Nubia. During his reign trading along the Nile flourished. Sneferu's descendants, Cheops (Khufu), Chephren (Khafre) and Mycerinus (Menkaure) were the last three kings of the Fourth Dynasty. These three pharaohs built the pyramids of Giza."(source)
The Fifth Dynasty (2490-2330 B.C.) was marked by a decline of the pharaohs' power and wealth. Pharaohs started to share power with the aristocracy and high officials. The worship of the sun god Ra was also spread during the fifth dynasty.
The kings of the sixth dynasty, were forced to send explorers to Nubia, Libya, and Palestine, to put down the separatists. These expeditions further eroded central authority. Just as fast as the old kingdom exploded with wealth and creativity, it fell into disarray.
"When the Memphite government collapsed at the end of the Sixth Dynasty, it ushered in a century of famine and trouble. Perhaps it was the long reign of Pepi II, over ninety years according to ancient sources, that weakened the reins of the central government, or a series of low, or destructively high Nile floods which brought famine. Large scale buildings and works of art cease and it is probable that the tombs and pyramids. were entered and robbed at that time. It was not until the country was reunited under a new line of rulers from the southern city of Thebes in the Eleventh Dynasty that prosperity was restored."(source)
Djoser(2630-2611 B.C.), the first notable pharaoh of Third Dynasty, ordered the construction of a pyramid in Memphis. In this era ancient Egyptian states became solely ruled by the pharaoh.
"The Fourth Dynasty (2613-2494BC) was characterized by expansionism and pyramid construction. King Sneferu constructed the Red Pyramid at Dahshur near Saqqara and the Pyramid of Meidum in Al-Fayoum. He also sent military expeditions as far as Libya and Nubia. During his reign trading along the Nile flourished. Sneferu's descendants, Cheops (Khufu), Chephren (Khafre) and Mycerinus (Menkaure) were the last three kings of the Fourth Dynasty. These three pharaohs built the pyramids of Giza."(source)
The Fifth Dynasty (2490-2330 B.C.) was marked by a decline of the pharaohs' power and wealth. Pharaohs started to share power with the aristocracy and high officials. The worship of the sun god Ra was also spread during the fifth dynasty.
The kings of the sixth dynasty, were forced to send explorers to Nubia, Libya, and Palestine, to put down the separatists. These expeditions further eroded central authority. Just as fast as the old kingdom exploded with wealth and creativity, it fell into disarray.
"When the Memphite government collapsed at the end of the Sixth Dynasty, it ushered in a century of famine and trouble. Perhaps it was the long reign of Pepi II, over ninety years according to ancient sources, that weakened the reins of the central government, or a series of low, or destructively high Nile floods which brought famine. Large scale buildings and works of art cease and it is probable that the tombs and pyramids. were entered and robbed at that time. It was not until the country was reunited under a new line of rulers from the southern city of Thebes in the Eleventh Dynasty that prosperity was restored."(source)
Lassieur, Allison. The Ancient Egyptians. San Diego, Ca: Lucent Books, 2001.
Romer, John. People of the Nile. New York: Crown Publishers, 1982.
3 comments:
You have a couple of great sources!
Hey, I just went back to your source for "Fifth Dynasty." It was working great when I went there earlier, but now the web page account has been suspended... I'm not sure if Mr. L will mind, but if you get this in time, you may want to find a new link. :( Sorry!
It was working when I graded it.
Good work.
4,5,5
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