The Old Kingdom Chapter 4 section 2. Old Kingdom Menes also known as Narmer (king of upper Egypt) led his armies into lower Egypt and married one of the.

The Old KingdomThe Old KingdomChapter 4 section 2Chapter 4 section 2

Old KingdomOld Kingdom

• Menes also known as Narmer (king of Menes also known as Narmer (king of upper Egypt) led his armies into lower upper Egypt) led his armies into lower Egypt and married one of the princesses, Egypt and married one of the princesses, uniting Egypt into 1 kingdom-uniting Egypt into 1 kingdom-

• Menes was called Lord of Upper and Lower Menes was called Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt, Wearer of 2 Crowns, and Lord of Egypt, Wearer of 2 Crowns, and Lord of the 2 Landsthe 2 Lands

• His capital was Memphis which bordered His capital was Memphis which bordered both upper and lower Egyptboth upper and lower Egypt


• Menes wore a red and white crown to Menes wore a red and white crown to symbolize both united kingdomssymbolize both united kingdoms

• Was the first pharaoh of EgyptWas the first pharaoh of Egypt

• Pharaoh means “The Great HousePharaoh means “The Great House””


• 2600 B.C. Old Kingdom established2600 B.C. Old Kingdom established

• Kingdom lasted 500 yearsKingdom lasted 500 years

• During old kingdom- cities became During old kingdom- cities became centers of religion and governmentcenters of religion and government

• Kings, priests, government officials, Kings, priests, government officials, and artisans lived thereand artisans lived there


• Some Egyptians lived along the Nile Some Egyptians lived along the Nile River on large estates. River on large estates.

• A household was made up of the A household was made up of the owner’s family, servants, and artisansowner’s family, servants, and artisans

• Artisans were hired to make things for Artisans were hired to make things for the family like boats and weave linen the family like boats and weave linen clothcloth

• Most were farmers who lived in villages Most were farmers who lived in villages within the estateswithin the estates


• Used sun-baked, mud bricks as Used sun-baked, mud bricks as building materialsbuilding materials

• Farmers worked in fields and tended Farmers worked in fields and tended cattlecattle

• Made repairs to roads, built Made repairs to roads, built monuments, and dug ditchesmonuments, and dug ditches

The PharaohsThe Pharaohs

• Pharaoh means Great HousePharaoh means Great House


• At first Egyptian rulers were called At first Egyptian rulers were called kingskings

• Later they were called PharaohLater they were called Pharaoh

• The pharaoh was a ruler, a priest, and The pharaoh was a ruler, a priest, and a goda god

• He was at the center of Egyptian life- He was at the center of Egyptian life- ruling on earth as gods ruled in ruling on earth as gods ruled in heavenheaven


• The pharaoh owned all the land but The pharaoh owned all the land but he gave gifts of land to rich he gave gifts of land to rich Egyptians and priestsEgyptians and priests

• He ordered dams, irrigation canals, He ordered dams, irrigation canals, and granaries (storage for grain for and granaries (storage for grain for times of poor harvests or drought) be times of poor harvests or drought) be builtbuilt


• He chose all government officialsHe chose all government officials

• He collected taxes from the people of He collected taxes from the people of EgyptEgypt

• He was in charge of developing trade He was in charge of developing trade with other nations and his word was with other nations and his word was the lawthe law

• Pharaohs were respectedPharaohs were respected


• Egyptians believed that everything Egyptians believed that everything that happened in Egypt depended on that happened in Egypt depended on Pharaoh's actionsPharaoh's actions

• He carried out certain rituals- breaking He carried out certain rituals- breaking the irrigation levees to let in the water the irrigation levees to let in the water to the land, drove a sacred bull around to the land, drove a sacred bull around the capital city to bring the water level the capital city to bring the water level up, cut the first ripe grainup, cut the first ripe grain

PyramidsPyramids

PyramidsPyramids

• Great tombs of the PharaohsGreat tombs of the Pharaohs

• Constructed from 2650 – 1637 B.C.Constructed from 2650 – 1637 B.C.

• The sun set in west, so they were built The sun set in west, so they were built on the west bank of the Nileon the west bank of the Nile

• Called “Houses of Eternity”Called “Houses of Eternity”

• Designed to protect the pharaoh's Designed to protect the pharaoh's body from floods, animals, and body from floods, animals, and robbersrobbers

PyramidsPyramids

• Egyptians believed the pharaoh Egyptians believed the pharaoh should be happy in the afterlife.should be happy in the afterlife.

• Most were buried with their personal Most were buried with their personal belongings of jewelry, food, clothing, belongings of jewelry, food, clothing, weapons, and furnitureweapons, and furniture

• Walls inside the tombs were covered Walls inside the tombs were covered with picture writing that told the with picture writing that told the story of the pharaoh that was buried story of the pharaoh that was buried insideinside

PyramidsPyramids

PyramidsPyramids

• Pyramids were built during the 3 Pyramids were built during the 3 months of year when Nile floodedmonths of year when Nile flooded

• Made of granite and limestone blocks Made of granite and limestone blocks cut with copper toolscut with copper tools

• Stones were floated down the river Stones were floated down the river and moved into place with ramps and moved into place with ramps and human muscle powerand human muscle power

PyramidsPyramids

• The Great Pyramid-The Great Pyramid-

• Larger than an areas of 10 football Larger than an areas of 10 football fieldsfields

• Made with 2 million stones weighing Made with 2 million stones weighing more than 2 ½ tonsmore than 2 ½ tons

• Stones were placed so the laid closely Stones were placed so the laid closely together to appear to made of 1 together to appear to made of 1 single stonesingle stone


• During Old Kingdom- During Old Kingdom- Pharaoh was very powerfulPharaoh was very powerfulEgypt grew in prosperity and powerEgypt grew in prosperity and powerAble to keep invaders out of EgyptAble to keep invaders out of EgyptExpanded tradeExpanded tradeRoyal family starts to lose power after Royal family starts to lose power after

44thth dynasty and nobles and officials dynasty and nobles and officials rise in power- political instabilityrise in power- political instability

The Old Kingdom Chapter 4 section 2. Old Kingdom Menes also known as Narmer (king of upper Egypt) led his armies into lower Egypt and married one of the.

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