1. PREDYNASTIC EGYPT ~3100 – 2650 BCE

2. The Nile River Flooded every year leaving rich black silt
Great for agriculture
Black Land = Kemet
Red Land = Deshret
River dotted with cataracts (rapids). The first one makes a natural border with Nubia
Desert dotted with wadis (oases)

3. In The Beginning… Egypt divided into Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt
Lower Egypt was the Delta; Upper Egypt was the rest.
In Lower Egypt, the papyrus was abundant and trade was important

4. Upper and Lower Egypt Unite
War broke out between the kings of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Upper Egyptian king prevailed
This was Menes aka Narmer aka Scorpion King
Capital at Memphis
Built a temple to the god Ptah.
He started the first dynasty and the Old Kingdom period.

5. Meanwhile… People began settling along the river
When people died, they took them out to bury in the Deshret (desert) with a few possessions.

6. APPLE MUMMIES

7. OLD KINGDOM ~2650 – 2134 BCE

8. Old Kingdom Begins
Djoser unifies Egypt again after nobles fighting for power
Divides Egypt into nome (provinces) each with a governor
Created himself to be a living god

9. Saqqara Djoser’s vizier, priest, architect was named Imhotep
Djoser wanted to immortalized
Step Pyramid (necropolis)
Based upon the old way of making a grave (mastaba)

10. GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA
In the fourth dynasty, great improvements in architecture
Big pyramid is for Khufu (Cheops in Greek), then Khafre and Menkaure
Many smaller mastabas/small pyramids surrounding for the queens, nobles and workers.
Many graveyards, temples, etc. Another necropolis

12. KHUFU’S PYRAMID

13. INSIDE THE PYRAMID
Upon entering, there is the Grand Gallery that leads to the King
Three burial chambers: an unfinished one, “queen’s chamber” and “king’s chamber”
Both the Queen’s and King’s chambers have two shafts each, which have an unknown purpose.

14. GREAT SPHINX Part of the 2nd Pyramid (Khafre) Legendary broken nose
Napoleon and his soldiers

15. Trade Begin to expand around Mediterranean
Potter’s Wheel from Mesopotamia
Timber from Syria
Oil and Wine from Crete

16. END OF THE OLD KINGDOM
Pharaoh's power weakened, government officials and priest grasping for power
Pharaoh is a god, right? He should ensure good harvests. But years of bad harvests made the people look upon the pharaoh negatively
Pepi II ruled for 94 years, when he died, so did Old Kingdom.
Egypt separated again, many tried to be king
Led to FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD, lasted 100 years
Memphis (capitol) left in ruins