1. 3200 B.C. – 500 B.C. Ancient Egypt Cory May
3: Kingdom on the Nile

2. Early Egypt ~3100 B.C. – King Menes of Upper Egypt unites Egypt
Capital established at Memphis
Use the Nile as a highway for trade, among many other things
Merchants use barges & sailboats

3. The Old Kingdom (~ B.C.)
Pharaohs organized a strong, centralized government; hold absolute power, seen as a god
Bureaucracy, rule w/ viziers; nobles powerful locally
Ptah-hotep

4. “Age of the Pyramids” Many pyramids built around Memphis
Great pyramids stand at Giza; biggest built by Khufu

5. Middle Kingdom (~1938-1630 B.C.) Corruption & rebellion common
Rulers create more arable land through organizing a large drainage project
Egyptian armies occupy Nubia; rich in gold
Senusret III
Period of peace & prosperity
Revived crafts, trade, & cities

6. Hyksos Invasion ~1630 B.C. – Hyksos invade Egypt, nomads
Horse-drawn chariot
Easily conquer Egypt; 1st time rule by outsiders
Peaceful
Takeover?

7. Hyksos Rule Preserve Egyptian culture, adopt customs & beliefs
Bring knowledge of weapons, chariots, armor, composite bow
Chief deity, Seth

8. New Kingdom (~1539-1075 B.C.) Period of strong pharaohs w/ strong rule
~1450 B.C. – height of power - empire reaches as far as Syria & Euphrates River
1st Female pharaoh - Hatshepsut
Encourages trade in Mediterranean & along the Red Sea

9. Thutmose III Hatshepsut’s stepson
Great general; spread Egypt to Euphrates
Won a great victory at Megiddo
Very Religious
Built and/or enlarged many temples

10. Ramses II Pushes lands to Syria; rules for __ years
Boasts his victories on temples & monuments
Fights against the Hittites
Signs a treaty, 1st of its kind
Declares:
“Egypt & the Hittites shall be at peace & in brotherhood forever.”

11. Invasions & Decline Falls apart after Ramses III
Nubians invade; leave a mark
Also Babylonians, Assyrians & Persians
Under Persian control until Alexander the Great
Cleopatra, the last pharaoh, defeated by Rome

12. Comparison: Old & Middle
Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
Thought pharaohs were ______
Only pharaohs lived forever
Pharaohs buried in _______
Longer complete power, shared w/ officials
Everyone lived forever (all ______
Tombs cut into _______ near Thebes