The First Intermediate Period (2134-2040 BC)

Pepi II

last great Old Kingdom pharoah

reigned for 94 years (2246-2152 BC)

successors never matched his authority

central power of state declined

nomarchs (local leaders) became independent rulers within their provinces

droughts in northern Africa (~2250 BC)

early in Egyptian civilization, the pharoahs learned how to deal with droughts by expanding irrigation and building canals, resulted in population increase

by 2250 BC, population more than 1 million

repeated famines for more than 300 years

resulted in turmoil: competing kingdoms

trade with Levant stopped

exploitation of mines in Sinai Desert stopped

vicious warfare evident in graves

The Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC): The Organized Oasis

classic period of Egyptian civilization

pharoahs more human and approachable than in the Old Kingdom where they considered themselves in the role of gods

Mentuhotep II

Theban prince

reunited Egypt (2040 BC)

made Thebes his capital

Amenemhet I

took throne in 1991 BC

moved capital to Lisht (border between Upper and Lower Egypt)

political stability in Egypt

expansion/consolidation of borders

expansion of trade with Levant

mining of copper and gold in the Sinai

development of Fayyum oasis

80 km southwest of Memphis

marsh turned into fields and irrigation canals protected by dikes

unprecedented agricultural project

high crop yields, even during drought

Kahun

community of priests and workers (pop 3000)

mud-brick walls

strict grid pattern of roads and houses

20:1 small houses to large houses with granaries

papyri shows there was a mayor, legal offices, and a prison

census data

town laid out by noble officials with little conception of the realities of society

after the Middle Kingdom, state gave up planning communities other than small workers' camps

Amenemhet III

(1844-1797 BC)

last great pharoah of the Middle Kingdom

followed by weak pharoahs resulting once again in local kingdoms and a divided Egypt

The Second Intermediate Period (1640-1550 BC)

Thirteenth Dynasty (1783-1640 BC)

large number of Asiatics in Egypt: cooks, brewers, seamstresses, merchants, etc.

"Hyksos" - term referring to chiefs and their people

17th Century BC

Hyksos kings seized power over Lower Egypt

capital: Avaris

Hyksos

brought new ideas

more sophisticated bronze technology

traded silver

Minoan style friezes

new weaponry

inaugurates the New Kingdom

The New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC): Imperial Kings

Theban state took Avaris and chased out the Hyksos

Egypt became an imperial power

Ahmose (1550-1525 BC)

turned Egypt into efficient military state

became national hero, military leader

Egypt competed with two states for control of the gold, copper, and pottery trade of the eastern Mediterranean: Mitanni, east of the Euphrates and Hatti, kingdom of the Hittites in Anatolia

state and empire financed by pharoahs with Nubian gold

trade routes extended to "Land of Punt" (between Red Sea and Middle Nile)

1472 BC - Queen Hatshepsut sent royal trading party which is reflected on her mortuary temple

"The Estate of Amun"

Thebes was considered to be the city of Amun, their sun god

large shrine built in his honor at Karnak

religion was now used as a way of influencing public opinion

rent was paid to the gods in produce

mortuary temple of Ramesses II near Thebes was capable of storing enough food for 20,000

Amun-Re - "king of the gods"

conceived and protected kings in life and death

myths, rituals, and temples all served to guarantee continuity of proper rule - concept central to Egyptian thinking

Valley of the Kings

Eighteenth Dynasty (1505 BC)

Pharoah Amenhotep and successors were buried in rock-cut tombs underground

Akhenaten and Amarna

Pharoah Akhenaten - took throne in 1353 BC

alterred Egyptian religion to focus only on one god, Aten and made him a divine pharoah

Akhenaten wanted to be adored like a god

considered a heretic pharoah

established new capital from Thebes to Amarna

The Imperial Power

King Tut (reigned from 1333-1323 BC)

Amarna abandoned and capital moved back to Thebes

died of an arrow injury while on a raid to Nubia

important in archaeology because his tomb was found intact

Nineteenth Dynasty (1307-1196 BC) - Ramesside pharoahs tried make Egypt an imperial power it once was

Ramesses II (1290-1224 BC) lost battle to Hittites - beginning of Egypt's decline

The Decline of Egypt (after 1100 BC)

corruption within bureaucracy

gangs robbed the graves in the Valley of the Kings for gold

royal authority weakened and broke into separate kingdoms as before, but never united again.

instead, military leaders seized control of Thebes

and Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire in 30 BC