1. The Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt
2600 BCE – 1075 BCE
NEW
1700 BCE – 1075 BCE
MIDDLE
2100 BCE – 1700 BCE
OLD
2600 BCE – 2100 BCE

2. Old Kingdom Egypt The Pyramid Age 2600 BC – 2150 BCE
Era of relative peace and stability
Major construction projects
2600 BCE
1st pyramid building
Tombs of Pharaohs
2500 BCE
Great Pyramids & Great Sphinx constructed at Giza (Sphinx – guardian of Khafre’s tomb)
Hieroglyphics standardized

6. Achievements Old Kingdom
- Hieroglyphics- the Egyptian writing system-one of the world’s first writing systems
- papyrus- long-lasting, paper-like material made from reeds
- Increase in trade routes– gold, copper, ivory, slaves, wood & stone
- Polytheism, the afterlife, pyramids, mummies
- Social class system

8. Religion Polytheistic Pharaoh was divine
Egyptians' belief in an afterlife led to mummification
Pyramids represent importance of afterlife in Egyptian thought

9. 9

11. Middle Kingdom Egypt World Trading Power 2100 BC – 1700 BCE
2000 BCE - Pharaohs from Thebes gain control of the kingdom
Egypt becomes an international power by expanding trade routes
Foreigners called Hyksos from eastern Mediterranean settle in Egypt during good times
1500 BCE - Hyksos eventually gain control of Lower Egypt
Native Egyptians still control Upper Egypt from Thebes

13. New Kingdom Egypt The Age of Empire 1550 BC – 1075 BCE
1550 BCE Rulers from Thebes reassert control, drive out Hyksos
Expand borders of Egypt
Ca BCE Ramses II (The Great)
Strong, warrior Pharaoh
Signed treaty w/ Hittites
Decline
- Began soon after Ramses died
- Assyrians attacked and destroyed the great kingdom <150 years later

16. Achievements New Kingdom
- Rosetta Stone- a huge, stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics, Greek, & a later form of Egyptian
- art and jewelry
- expansion of the empire
- continuation of the social class system