The Three Kingdoms of Egypt

Old Kingdom 2700 BC – 2200 BC Ruled by strong pharaohs who were thought to be both king and god. One of the most famous pharaohs was Khufu (2500s BC) – known for monuments that were built to him

Old Kingdom Egyptian social pyramid consisted of pharaohs and nobles on top with farmers and slaves on the bottom.

Egyptian Social Pyramid Pharaoh Nobles (Officials & Priests) Often related to the Pharaoh Scribes & Craftspeople Farmers ~ 80% of the population! ---------------------------------------------- Servants & Slaves

Old Kingdom Egyptians traded with their neighbors. Ex: wood perfume and medicine gold, ivory, and stone

Old Kingdom Polytheistic Religion Much of the religion focused on the afterlife Built large temples and pyramids for burial and the afterlife. (It was during this Kingdom that the pyramids were built.) They symbolized the pharaoh’s importance & the shape symbolized the pharaoh’s journey to the afterlife….but they were $$$$

2200 BC – 2050 BC The building and maintaining of pyramids was expensive. The pharaoh’s wealth and power declined. Nobles gained enough power to challenge the pharaoh’s authority. Without a central ruler, trade was disrupted and the Egyptian people faced economic hardship and famine.

Middle Kingdom 2050 BC – 1750 BC Mentuhotep II defeated his rivals and brought unity back to Egypt.

Middle Kingdom Trade resumed, irrigation was repaired, and writing was rediscovered. Cities kept their political independence. (Pharaohs had little power)

1750 BC – 1550 BC But…they began to experience internal disorder. The pharaohs could not hold the kingdom together. The Hyksos from Southeast Asia conquer Lower Egypt. (They had horses, chariots, and advanced weapons.) Egyptians have to pay high taxes to the foreign rulers.

New Kingdom 1550 BC – 1050 BC Ahmose defeats the Hyksos and declares himself king of all Egypt.

New Kingdom Egyptian army invades and conquers neighboring land. Military conquests made Egypt rich. Recreates old trade routes.

New Kingdom Queen Hatshepsut increases the number of new trade cities. The wealth gathered from trade was used to support the arts and architecture.

New Kingdom ~ Work/Daily Life Scribes were highly honored – they worked for the government and temples. Many became very wealthy. Most Egyptian women were devoted to their homes & families, but some had jobs outside of the home. Women had some legal rights – they could own land, have contracts & divorce their husbands.

End of the New Kingdom Ramses the Great was a great military ruler He fought against the Hittites (from the North East) After Ramses died, the Sea Peoples invaded Shortly after the invasions of the Sea Peoples and Hittites, the New Kingdom ended

Three Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt MIDDLE KINGDOM NEW KINGDOM OLD KINGDOM STRONG PHARAOHS SOCIAL PYRAMID TRADE WITH NEIGHBORS POLYTHEISTIC MENTUHOTEP BRINGS UNITY TO EGYPT CONSISTED OF MANY INDEPENDENT CITIES WITH LITTLE PHARAOH POWER AHMOSE CREATES A WEALTHY EMPIRE TRADE EXPANDS ART AND ARCHITECTURE ENDS AFTER INVASIONS

Review Quiz…. 1. The pharaohs of Egypt where thought to be part __________ and part __________. 2. What type of religion did the Egyptians follow? 3. Why did the Old Kingdom end? 4. Name one right that Egyptian Women had. 5. How did the New Kingdom end?