The Old Kingdom - Major Events
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The Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt is described to be the period between 2686 BCE and 2181 BCE including the III, IV, V, VI Dynasties. This period followed 'The First Intermediate Period', when central authority declined and the country split into many factions. The Old Kingdom is also referred to as the 'Pyramid Age' as many pyramids were built during this period.
The Third Dynasty (2691 BCE - 2625 BCE)
The first King in the Third Dynasty was King Djoser who succedded his father Khasekhemwy. The royal capital of Egypt was moved to Memphis where the court was established. Saqqara, the Kings necropolis, was the site in which The Step Pyramid was built with the help of the architect Imhotep.
During this period Egyptians worshipped Pharoahs like gods.
The Fourth Dynasty (2613 BCE - 2494 BCE)
The Old Kingdom reached its high point in the Fourth Dynasty with the first king being Sneferu. Sneferu built three pyramids during his reign of around 24 years; the Bent Pyramid, the Red Pyramid and the Meidum Pyramid. Sneferu used more stones than any other Pharoah building these pyramids. Sneferu was succeded by his son Khufu in 2589 BCE and had a 63 year reign. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by Khufu and the second pyramid and the Sphinx of Giza was built by his son Khafra when he was king in 2558 BCE. During the middle period of the Fourth Dynasty military expeditions lead up the Nile expanding Egyptian influence. King Menkaure who became king in 2532 BCE built the smallest of the pyramids in Giza.
The Fifth Dynasty (2494 BCE - 2345 BCE)
The Fifth Dynasty began with the Pharoah Userkaf and the growth of the cult of the sun god Ra. The devotion to the construction of pyramids decreased due to this and sun temples were built instead. It is believed that Usekaf's reforms weakened both the Pharoah and the central government, putting strain on the Treasury ahure succeeded his father in 2487 BCE and led an expedition to Punt, an old kingdom and trading partner with Egypt. In 2475 BCE Sahure was suceeded by Neferirkare Kaki which was either his brother or his son. He was followed by two short-lived kings Neferefre and Shepseskare between 2455 BCE and 2453 BCE. In 2445 BCE, Shepseskare was deposed by Neferefre's brother Nyuserre Ini. He was succeeded by Menkauhor Kaiu in 2421 BCE who was the succeeded by Djedkare Isesi in 2414 BCE. The last Pharoah of the Old Kingdom was Unas who succeeded Djedkare Isesi in 2375 BCE. Unas was the earliest ruler to have pyramid texts inscribed in his pyramid.
The Sixth Dynasty ( 2345 BCE - 2181 BCE )
During the Sixth Dynasty the power of the pharoahs diminished and the power of the nomarchs (regional governors) increased. These nomarchs did not belong to the royal family thus creating indepedent dynasties seperate from the authority of the pharoahs. After the death of Pepi II in 2184 BCE there became a struggle for succession and the Egyptian Society slid into a civil war. A severe drought hit the country only a couple decades later preventing the Nile from flooding contributing to the collaspe of the Old Kingdom. Following the crumble of this period were decades of famine and further conflict.
The Third Dynasty (2691 BCE - 2625 BCE)
The first King in the Third Dynasty was King Djoser who succedded his father Khasekhemwy. The royal capital of Egypt was moved to Memphis where the court was established. Saqqara, the Kings necropolis, was the site in which The Step Pyramid was built with the help of the architect Imhotep.
During this period Egyptians worshipped Pharoahs like gods.
The Fourth Dynasty (2613 BCE - 2494 BCE)
The Old Kingdom reached its high point in the Fourth Dynasty with the first king being Sneferu. Sneferu built three pyramids during his reign of around 24 years; the Bent Pyramid, the Red Pyramid and the Meidum Pyramid. Sneferu used more stones than any other Pharoah building these pyramids. Sneferu was succeded by his son Khufu in 2589 BCE and had a 63 year reign. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by Khufu and the second pyramid and the Sphinx of Giza was built by his son Khafra when he was king in 2558 BCE. During the middle period of the Fourth Dynasty military expeditions lead up the Nile expanding Egyptian influence. King Menkaure who became king in 2532 BCE built the smallest of the pyramids in Giza.
The Fifth Dynasty (2494 BCE - 2345 BCE)
The Fifth Dynasty began with the Pharoah Userkaf and the growth of the cult of the sun god Ra. The devotion to the construction of pyramids decreased due to this and sun temples were built instead. It is believed that Usekaf's reforms weakened both the Pharoah and the central government, putting strain on the Treasury ahure succeeded his father in 2487 BCE and led an expedition to Punt, an old kingdom and trading partner with Egypt. In 2475 BCE Sahure was suceeded by Neferirkare Kaki which was either his brother or his son. He was followed by two short-lived kings Neferefre and Shepseskare between 2455 BCE and 2453 BCE. In 2445 BCE, Shepseskare was deposed by Neferefre's brother Nyuserre Ini. He was succeeded by Menkauhor Kaiu in 2421 BCE who was the succeeded by Djedkare Isesi in 2414 BCE. The last Pharoah of the Old Kingdom was Unas who succeeded Djedkare Isesi in 2375 BCE. Unas was the earliest ruler to have pyramid texts inscribed in his pyramid.
The Sixth Dynasty ( 2345 BCE - 2181 BCE )
During the Sixth Dynasty the power of the pharoahs diminished and the power of the nomarchs (regional governors) increased. These nomarchs did not belong to the royal family thus creating indepedent dynasties seperate from the authority of the pharoahs. After the death of Pepi II in 2184 BCE there became a struggle for succession and the Egyptian Society slid into a civil war. A severe drought hit the country only a couple decades later preventing the Nile from flooding contributing to the collaspe of the Old Kingdom. Following the crumble of this period were decades of famine and further conflict.