My research deals with the Early Dynastic Period dating from 3100 to 2686 BC or, & more specifically relates to how exactly King Menes united Upper & Lower Egypt. He was supposedly the ruler of Upper Egypt but was said to have conquered Lower Egypt & established his new capital at Memphis. Through wise governing, common laws & new religious practices, the people of "The Two Lands" were able to reconcile their differences. Though the two kingdoms had been unified several times before, the unification was very short-lived & it was only after 3100 BC that they were merged into a centralized monarchy. As mentioned in the lesson, there are several other Pharaohs like Aha & Pharaoh Narmer who were also associated closely with the unification of the two kingdoms & it is clearly seen that the complete unification of a kingdom cannot be the work of one single pharaoh. The Narmer palette which is basically a stone tablet contains some of the earliest hieroglyphics found and also depicts a king wearing the white crown of the Upper kingdom on one side of the tablet & on the other side he is depicted wearing the red crown of the Lower kingdom. This is the basis of the argument that King Menes is in fact Pharaoh Narmer. Significant features of this era include further development of hieroglyphics, the emergence of a polytheistic religion, mythology & of course the development of arts & crafts. There were also tensions between the newly united Egypt and it neighboring countries which were under its control such as Libya. Another interpretation of the Narmer palette is that it depicts a recent military success of the Egyptians over the Libyans. There were struggles for the throne which have been highlighted in history as political & religious conflicts. However these conflicts also came to an end with the help of the last pharaoh of this dynasty, Khasekhemwy.
By Isabella Ravi
By Isabella Ravi
The Old Kingdom is a period from the Third Dynasty to the Sixth Dynasty (2686 – 2181 BC). The Old Kingdom period is renowned as a period of great internal security and prosperity, hence the very large building projects executed during this time. During this period, the King of Egypt, not yet called a “pharaoh”, became a living god to his subjects. He ruled with absolute power and could demand any service or wealth from his subjects. King Djoser, the first king of the Third Dynasty, moved the royal capital of Egypt to Memphis and established his court there. King Djoser's architect, Imhotep, developed the concept of the Step Pyramid. The Egyptians of this period believed that the living god king ensured the annual flooding of the Nile river that was necessary to grow their crops. So they worshiped the pharaoh to ensure a good harvest.
During the Fourth Dynasty, Sneferu built three pyramids, then his son Khufu built the Great Pyramids of Giza. This continuous building of pyramids by multiple rulers is why the Old Kingdom is referred to as “the Age of Pyramids”.
During the Fifth Dynasty, the cult of the sun god Ra increased. So more efforts went towards building sun temples in Abusir instead of pyramids. Egypt's interests in trade expanded into ebony, myrrh, frankincense, gold, copper, and other metals that helped them to build ships for navigation of the open seas. Ship builders of the era actually used ropes instead of wooden pegs or metal fasteners to keep their ships assembled. Planks and the structures of the ship were tightly bound together by ropes.
During the Sixth Dynasty, the power of the pharaoh began to wane in favor of regional governors. The country slowly slipped into civil wars as the regions drifted away from the central authority of the pharaoh.
The final blow that ended this age of prosperity was a severe drought between 2200 and 2150BC.
By Saeir Darr
During the Fourth Dynasty, Sneferu built three pyramids, then his son Khufu built the Great Pyramids of Giza. This continuous building of pyramids by multiple rulers is why the Old Kingdom is referred to as “the Age of Pyramids”.
During the Fifth Dynasty, the cult of the sun god Ra increased. So more efforts went towards building sun temples in Abusir instead of pyramids. Egypt's interests in trade expanded into ebony, myrrh, frankincense, gold, copper, and other metals that helped them to build ships for navigation of the open seas. Ship builders of the era actually used ropes instead of wooden pegs or metal fasteners to keep their ships assembled. Planks and the structures of the ship were tightly bound together by ropes.
During the Sixth Dynasty, the power of the pharaoh began to wane in favor of regional governors. The country slowly slipped into civil wars as the regions drifted away from the central authority of the pharaoh.
The final blow that ended this age of prosperity was a severe drought between 2200 and 2150BC.
By Saeir Darr
I have always fascinated with the Egyptian history, but have never really dug into it, only from what I watch or read by chance. The period that interests me the most is probably the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC) since it was the period when Egypt was politically stable and prosperous - I don’t favour wars and dark times ;) It extended from the third to the sixth dynasty. It began with Djoser, who established his royal court in Memphis at the beginning of the Third Dynasty. Though most historians agree that Djoser was the first pharaoh of the Third Dynasty, some believe that Necherophes or Nebka preceded Djoser. Djoser also built the Step Pyramid at Saqqara with the help of his famous vizier, Imhotep. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara was the first major pyramid used as a burial structure.
The Fourth Dynasty saw the construction of the Pyramids at Giza including the Great Pyramid and the sphinx. This period marked the height of pharaonic power during the Old Kingdom. It began with Sneferu. In his reign, he built in Dahshur the first straight-side pyramid, known as the Red Pyramid. Sneferu passed away and Khufu began his reign. Khufu had his vizier, Hemon, began building the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Sphinx was built for pharaoh Khafra, son of Khufu, sometime during his reign. He also built the second largest pyramid of Giza. Up to the Fourth dynasty the kings were considered to be the incarnation or descendent of the god Horus and from the Fifth Dynasty the King was also considered to be the son of Ra, the sun god.
The 5th Dynasty began with Userkhaf. He began the custom of building sun temples at Abusir. During his life he also built the Pyramid of Userkhaf complex at Saqqara. However, it is thought that the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Userkhaf initiated reforms that weakened both the Pharaoh and central government.
During the Sixth dynasty the pharaohs lost much of their power to the nobles, high officials and the priests who began to build funerary monuments that rivalled that of the Pharaoh. The end of the Sixth Dynasty ended the period known as the “Age of the Pyramids.”
By Angel Pevensie
The Fourth Dynasty saw the construction of the Pyramids at Giza including the Great Pyramid and the sphinx. This period marked the height of pharaonic power during the Old Kingdom. It began with Sneferu. In his reign, he built in Dahshur the first straight-side pyramid, known as the Red Pyramid. Sneferu passed away and Khufu began his reign. Khufu had his vizier, Hemon, began building the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Sphinx was built for pharaoh Khafra, son of Khufu, sometime during his reign. He also built the second largest pyramid of Giza. Up to the Fourth dynasty the kings were considered to be the incarnation or descendent of the god Horus and from the Fifth Dynasty the King was also considered to be the son of Ra, the sun god.
The 5th Dynasty began with Userkhaf. He began the custom of building sun temples at Abusir. During his life he also built the Pyramid of Userkhaf complex at Saqqara. However, it is thought that the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Userkhaf initiated reforms that weakened both the Pharaoh and central government.
During the Sixth dynasty the pharaohs lost much of their power to the nobles, high officials and the priests who began to build funerary monuments that rivalled that of the Pharaoh. The end of the Sixth Dynasty ended the period known as the “Age of the Pyramids.”
By Angel Pevensie
Dear Diary,
They call us “slavers”. Somehow I think that the word suits even though I don’t know what it means. I asked the man with the whip what it meant but he just caned me with it. My friend helped me soak the lashes, I was afraid that they wouldn’t stop bleeding.
I was made to return to work straight away after the incident. The heat was absolutely blistering. I could sense the hairs on my back frying in the blazing sun around midday. This ridiculously extravagant tomb that we’re supposed to be building is for the Pharaoh so I suppose I can’t really complain. He is only nineteen, but the plans are so complex that I see no way we would be able to finish in time. He will be dead and buried in the ground with no glory and no greeting from Osiris is the lashes do not keep coming fast.
Today I was told I will soon be forced to carve the new blocks from granite for the antechamber. It is said to be more hard wearing, which will no doubt make it all the more heavy and back – breaking. I hate this work and life. It makes me miss home. But Thebes will never be the same again now, thanks to THEM. But we’re not allowed to talk about that.
Political alliances can be dangerous in a place like this. My friend Amenmose was beaten and then forced to wear clamps for talking to freely to another slaver. It took three months for his wounds to heal and even now they give him pain. I feel they are painful to look at. Amenmose used to belong to a noble family that lost its wealth but now you couldn’t tell the difference between him and the rest of us.
His family were killed for being “useless” and he was enslaved like me, and the other three thousand. We are all faceless now. If anyone were ever to read these words they would know the plea of every man, woman and child who has lost something thanks to the Assyrians.
By Antonia Clarke
They call us “slavers”. Somehow I think that the word suits even though I don’t know what it means. I asked the man with the whip what it meant but he just caned me with it. My friend helped me soak the lashes, I was afraid that they wouldn’t stop bleeding.
I was made to return to work straight away after the incident. The heat was absolutely blistering. I could sense the hairs on my back frying in the blazing sun around midday. This ridiculously extravagant tomb that we’re supposed to be building is for the Pharaoh so I suppose I can’t really complain. He is only nineteen, but the plans are so complex that I see no way we would be able to finish in time. He will be dead and buried in the ground with no glory and no greeting from Osiris is the lashes do not keep coming fast.
Today I was told I will soon be forced to carve the new blocks from granite for the antechamber. It is said to be more hard wearing, which will no doubt make it all the more heavy and back – breaking. I hate this work and life. It makes me miss home. But Thebes will never be the same again now, thanks to THEM. But we’re not allowed to talk about that.
Political alliances can be dangerous in a place like this. My friend Amenmose was beaten and then forced to wear clamps for talking to freely to another slaver. It took three months for his wounds to heal and even now they give him pain. I feel they are painful to look at. Amenmose used to belong to a noble family that lost its wealth but now you couldn’t tell the difference between him and the rest of us.
His family were killed for being “useless” and he was enslaved like me, and the other three thousand. We are all faceless now. If anyone were ever to read these words they would know the plea of every man, woman and child who has lost something thanks to the Assyrians.
By Antonia Clarke