2. Location
• Egypt was located in the Nile River Floodplain
• Predictable flooding
• Fertile farmland
• Three Seasons of the Nile
– Season of Going Out
• Floodwaters receded exposing fertile land
• Farmers planted and tended crops
– Season of Harvest
• Farmers harvested crops
• All crops belonged to Pharaoh
• Huge surplus lasted the entire year
– Season of Flood Spring
• Mineral rich silt was carried down stream
from mountains
• Provided very fertile soil
• Farmers spent these months working for the
Pharaoh
3. Pre-Dynastic Period
3200-2600 BC
• Lower Egypt and Upper
Egypt separate kingdoms
united
• Dynastic System develops
(succession of rulers from
the same family or line)
• Ruler (Pharoah)
considered divine
• Irrigation projects lead to
an abundance of food
and population explosion
5. Old Kingdom Egypt
The Pyramid Age 2600 BC – 2150 BC
• Era of Relative Peace and Stability
• Major construction projects
• 2600 BC
– 1st Pyramid Building
– Tombs of Pharaohs
• 2500 BC
– Great Pyramids & Sphinx constructed at
Giza
– Hieroglyphics standardized
– Evidence of graffiti at tombs
• 2100 BC
– Regional nobles competed for control
– Dynasty loses control
7. Middle Kingdom Egypt
World Trading Power 2100 BC – 1700 BC
• 2000 BC
– Strong Pharaohs from Thebes gain control
of the kingdom
– Mentuhotep II regains control over all of
Egypt
– New capital in Lisht
– Egypt becomes an international power by
reconquering Nubia and expanding trade
routes
– Foreigners called Hyksos from eastern
Mediterranean settle in Egypt during good
times
• 1500 BC
– Hyksos eventually gain control of Lower
Egypt. Native Egyptians still control Upper
Egypt from Thebes
8. New Kingdom Egypt
The Age of Empire 1550 BC – 1075 BC
• 1550 BC
– Rulers from Thebes reassert control and drive
out Hyksos
– Expand borders of Egypt in military campaign
designed to strengthen the empire
– Take control of Nubia and the Levant
– Force tribute from Babylon, Assyria and other
neighbors top the East
• 1400 BC
– Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) attempts to
impose monotheism
• 1320 Ramses II
– Strong, warrior Pharaoh
– Signed treaty with Hittites
9. Reasons for Decline
• Old Kingdom
– Disunity / greed of local nobles
• Middle Kingdom
– Hyksos Conquer
• New Kingdom
– Assyrians Conquer
10. Religion
• Polytheistic
• Fair & predictable gods
• Pharaoh was divine
• Egyptians belief in an afterlife led
to mummification
• “Book of the Dead” outlines
requirements for afterlife
• Pyramids represent importance
of afterlife in Egyptian thought
11. Economics
• Nile river the foundation of a strong, stable
economy
• Silt provided enough fertile land to produce
enough crops for the entire population for a full
year
• Surplus used for trade and to support the less
fortunate
• Season of Flood provide a huge urban work
force
• Middle Kingdom began to become a world
trade power
