Egypt Historical Overview Timeline Breakdown 6 main historical

Egypt: Historical Overview

Timeline Breakdown 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 Complete the gaps in your timeline

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 Period 3100 -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 Pyramids 2700 -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

Old Kingdom, continued 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 – 4 th Dynasty In 4 th 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 Period 2200 -2060 BCE Characterized by a period of decline in the power of the Pharaohs Egypt once again split into two kingdoms

The Middle Kingdom 2060 -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 Period 1785 -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 Empire 1575 -332 BCE Pharaoh Ahmose (18 th 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 CE

Muslim Period 642 CE, Muslims from Arabia conquered Egypt Introduced Islam and Arabic language Local military caste seized control from Muslims in 1250 and ruled until conquest of Ottoman Turks in 1517