The Nile River Valley Civilization Egypt: The Kingdoms The Nile River Valley Civilization

The Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BCE) Egyptian Culture Unthreatened by outside invaders Although Egypt was in contact with lands as far away as Afghanistan and Mesopotamia

The Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BCE) Nile River In Egypt, the Nile creates a fertile green valley across the desert. Using a calendar, its floods were predictable The ancient Egyptians lived and farmed along the Nile, using the soil to produce food for themselves and their animals.

Djoser, pharaoh of the third dynasty The Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BCE) The Pharaoh The rulers of Egypt had various titles Pharaoh originally referred to the royal palace The ruler was worshipped by a cult The ruler was deemed a living god during this period Had absolute power during the Old Kingdom Djoser, pharaoh of the third dynasty

The Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BCE) Pyramids Pyramids were only built during the Old Kingdom First pyramids were step-like The pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara designed by vizier and polymath, Imhotep

The Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BCE) Pyramids Under Khufu pyramid building took on form you most associate with Egyptian pyramids Pyramids were costly and very visible Easy targets for robbers

The Middle Kingdom (2050 – 1652 BCE) Egypt’s Golden Age Trade, arts, literature flourished at this time Egypt built up its army to protect itself from invaders Pharaoh Near the end of the Old Kingdom, the pharaoh Pepi II gave away pharaonic power The pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom wasn’t as powerful, but was expected to be a wise and good ruler

The Middle Kingdom (2050 – 1652 BCE) Tombs The rising cost of pyramids and increased robbery led to the development of a new resting place for Egypt’s kings The Valley of the Kings Series of hidden tombs to avoid robbery located in Thebes

The Valley of the Kings (discovered tombs)

The Middle Kingdom (2050 – 1652 BCE) Hyksos Invasion Marks the end of the Middle Kingdom Benefits Improved Egyptian bronze casting Future pharaohs borrow Hyksos chariot fighting technique Hyksos preserved papyri of Egyptian medical texts

The New Kingdom (1567 – 1085 BCE) Reunification Under Ahmose, the Hyksos were defeated and Upper and Lower Egypt were reunified

Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple The New Kingdom (1567 – 1085 BCE) Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple

The New Kingdom (1567 – 1085 BCE) Period of Chaos The Reign of Akhenaten (King Tut’s father) Changed the Egyptian religion to worship one god, Aten

The New Kingdom (1567 – 1085 BCE) Invasion of the Hittites, Assyrians and “Sea Peoples” Constant state of war led to the depletion of the treasury For the next thousand years Egypt was dominated by Libyans Nubians Persians Macedonians