1. EGYPTIAN KINGDOMS Global Studies: Adamiak

2. Egyptian Kingdoms In 3200 B.C. Menes, king of upper Egypt, united the kingdoms of Egypt to form a dynasty. Menes was the first “Pharaoh” of Egypt and his kin would succeed him as rulers of the Egyptian kingdom. The word pharaoh meant “great house” and they had absolute power over the country including: political, economic and religious decisions. Pharaohs ruled Egypt until 30 B.C. close to 30 dynasties ruled Egypt.

3. The Old Kingdom Lasted about 2680 B.C. to 2180 B.C. Great developments took place during this time including the Great Sphinx. The Old Kingdom was split into two social classes: Lower Class: Peasants, Farmers: served in the army, built irrigation canals and pyramids.

4. The Old Kingdom The Upper Class: Pharaoh, Royal family, priests, scribes, and government officials. For 100 years Egypt was divided by civil wars, nobles grew stronger and battled the for control of the land.

5. The Middle Kingdom The Middle Kingdom lasted from 2050 B.C. to 1650 B.C. In 2050 B.C. a new line of pharaohs united Egypt again. This was considered the “golden age” for Egyptians. During this time people called Hyksos, foreigners, arrived from Asia and brought new tools, technology, and food. In the 1700s the hyksos settled in Egypt and while the Egyptian empire began to crumble again the hyksos began to rule lower Egypt. What led to the hyksos ruling lower Egypt?

6. The New Kingdom The New Kingdom lasted from 1570 B.C. to 1080 B.C. As upper Egypt began to strengthen itself again they began to drive the hyksos out of Egyptian land. A new line of pharaohs began to rule Egypt and created an empire. The first known female ruler was Hatshepsut, who secured Egypt’s borders and built trade with other lands. Amenhotep ruled from 1380 B.C. to 1362 B.C. he tried to change the religious believe system from a polytheistic to monotheistic system Polytheistic: The belief in more than one god Monotheistic: The belief in only one god.