Egypt: Historical Overview

6 main historical eras ruled almost continuously for 3,000 years by a group of hereditary kings divided into 31 dynasties with approximately 400 Pharaohs

Timeline Breakdown

Egyptian Hierarchy Kings known as “pharaohs”

Biblical Hebrew rendering of the Egyptian “per-aa”

Means “Great House” – royal palace (master of the world)

Pharaohs considered divine They were gods, thus their rule was

autocratic and religious A theocracy

Egyptian Royalty Within the royal family, it

was possible for a brother to marry a sister, since only marriage to another divine person could produce a dynasty

Archaic or Thinite Period3100-2700 BCE Population is 3200 2 kings: one in Upper Egypt and one

in Lower Egypt In 3100, Narmer (aka Menes), king

of Upper Egypt defeats king of Lower Egypt and unifies civilization

Capital is Memphis Major developments: irrigation, rise

of urbanism, hieroglyphic writing

Old Kingdom or Age of Pyramids2700-2200 BCE Characterized by central government =

stability and order Landed nobility shared power with Pharaoh Bureaucracy formed with positions created

Vizier (chief of staff) Chief Architect Chief Judge or High Priest

Land divided into political units known as “Nomes” and were ruled by “Nomarchs” (i.e. monarch)

Pyramids began as flat tombs called “Mastabas” First pyramid was the

“step” pyramid of Saqqara built by King Djoser in 2650 BCE

Pyramid Construction – 4th Dynasty In 4th Dynasty, true

pyramid construction was begun, reaching its zenith with pyramids in Giza, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, smaller one to his son, Khafra, and the third, about half the size of the larger two, to Menkaura, whose reign was short

First Intermediate Period2200-2060 BCE Characterized by a period of decline in the

power of the Pharaohs Egypt once again split into two kingdoms

The Middle Kingdom2060-1785 BCE Egypt again unified under

Mentuhotep II (2040 BCE); capital moved to Thebes

Rising middle class (i.e. lesser gov’t officials, merchants/traders, small indep. farmers) challenged landed nobility for power

Second Intermediate Period1785-1575 BCE Semetic people, known as Hyksos (i.e.

highland rulers) from Syria/Palestine/Canaan invaded Lower Egypt in 1785 BCE

Hyksos’ Contributions Iron weapons Horse-drawn chariots Compound bow, and

cimitar (curved sword) Spinning and weaving

(on upright looms) New musical

instruments (lyres, lutes)

Impact of Hyksos Invasion Hyksos invasion achieved opposite of

intended effect: revitalized Egyptian cultural spirit and led to

eventual recapturing of Egyptian throne from invaders

The New Kingdom: The Age of Empire1575-332 BCE Pharaoh Ahmose (18th Dynasty) drove out

Hyksos invaders in 1550 BCE and reunited Egypt

Reaction to Hyksos’ Invasion More militaristic

sought power/security by building organized army

Imperialistic sought empire through military expansion

Autocratic leaders ruled with iron fist

Alexander’s Conquest 1223-332 BCE, several important dynasties

ruled Egypt continuously until conquest by Alexander the Great Crowned Pharaoh of Egypt when he was 24 Alexandria made new capital

Greek Period Egypt ruled by Ptolemy family from

Alexander’s death in 323 until Queen Cleopatra VII committed suicide in 30 BCE Ptolemy I was one of Alexander’s generals

Roman Period A province of Rome from 30 BCE to 641 AD

Muslim Period 642 AD, Muslims from Arabia conquered Egypt Introduced Islam and Arabic language Local military caste seized control from Muslims in 1250 AD

and ruled until conquest of Ottoman Turks in 1517 AD