Old Kingdom Period

The period following the Early Dynastic Period is one of the most well known of all Egyptian history. Sporting some of the most memorable pharaohs, achievements, and defining highlights of all Egyptian culture most people can recognize the Old Kingdom Period. Comprised of the 3rd-6th dynasties the Old Kingdom Period brings the rise of the great pyramids.

During the Old Kingdom Period, also known as the Age of the Pyramids, capital was located in Memphis. During this time names that have not been gotten first appear: Djoser (who had the step pyramid built), Imhotep (Djoser's advisor), and a host of others. During this time pharaoh became universally deified and the people worshiped their pharaoh as a god, believing that he ensured the annual flooding of the Nile that dictated their lives.

The Old Kingdom Period was one of the richest and most creative period in Egyptian history. With all of Egypt's pyramids built at this time - the growth in population and wealth allowed the pharaohs to afford the vast amounts of labor and materials to these monuments to, themselves.

Djoser's pyramid, called the Step Pyramid, has world wide recognition. A series of 6 bases, or mastabas built on top of one another it is the beginning of the revolution of the pyramids. Unlike the Great Pyramid of Giza the sides were not smooth but it was a start to the classical Egyptian pyramid. (Seen here on the right is Djoser's Step Pyramid and complex)

In the Fourth Dynasty Snofru built for himself 3 pyramids. With a greater mass of stones than any other pharaoh, he built the now collapsed pyramid in Meidum, the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur, and the Red Pyramid at North Dahshur. Now for the one of the most famous pharaohs in history, Khufu. The builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza some later Egyptian literature describes him as a cruel tyrant, who imposed forced labor on his subjects to complete his pyramid. (Seen here on the left is the Great Pyramid of Giza along with the two smaller pyramids later built by Khafre/Chephren and Menkaure/Mycerinus)

From the Fourth Dynasty on the administration of the country was highly organized and controlled by civil servants from the royal residence at Memphis, where the pharaoh god reigned supreme. The efficiency of the administration is seen in the building of the pyramids. Estimated that the Great Pyramid of Giza when complete contained about 2,300,000 blocks of stone ( of an average weight of 2½ tons), all of which had to be transported from quarry to site, there is no better example of such an administration.

3rd Dynasty Rulers

Sanakhte (Nebka) | 2650 - 2630 BC

Netjerykhet (Djoser) | 2630 - 2611 BC

Sekhemkhet (Djoser Teti) | 2611 - 2603 BC

Khaba | 2603 - 2599 BC

Huni | 2599 - 2575 BC

4th Dynasty Rulers

Snefru | 2575 - 2551 BC

Khufu (Cheops) | 2551 - 2528 BC

Djedefre | 2528 - 2520 BC

Khafre (Chephren) | 2520 - 2494 BC

Menkaure (Mycerinus) | 2490 - 2472 BC

Shepseskaf | 2472 - 2467 BC

5th Dynasty Rulers

Userkaf | 2465 - 2458 BC

Sahure | 2458 - 2446 BC

Neferirkare Kakai | 2477-2467 BC

Shepseskare Ini | 2426 - 2419 BC

Neferefre | 2419 - 2416 BC

Niuserre Izi | 2453 - 2422 BC

Menkauhor | 2422 - 2414 BC

Djedkare Izezi | 2388 - 2356 BC

Unas | 2375-2345 BC

6th Dynasty Rulers

Teti | 2345 - 2333 BC

Pepy I (Meryre) | 2332 - 2283 BC

Merenre Nemtyemzaf | 2283 2278 BC

Pepy II (Neferkare) | 2278 - 2184 BC

Early Dynastic Period

The Early Dynastic Period of Egypt quickly followed the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by the legendary Pharaoh Menes, also believed to be King Narmer. The Early Dynastic Period includes the 1st and 2nd Dynasties which ended about 2686 BC which marks the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The First Dynasty saw the capital of a unified Egypt moved from Abydos to Memphis and an Egyptian king thought to be a god. The whole of Egypt extended from the lush Nile Delta to the first cataract at Aswan bordering the Nubians. However, Abydos did not lose prominence and still remained the center of cult worship in Upper Egypt. The Early Dynastic Period marks the beginning of what people generally know of as Egypt.

Since Egypt had primarily been a country of two states, Upper and Lower, the name the Two Lands, was used in description of Egypt and its people. At the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period the pharaohs established a national administration, appointed royal governors, and pushed for the advancement of architecture. Buildings predominately were open-air and constructed of wood or the growing in popularity sandstone. Structures originally built in brick, wood, and reeds were copied in stone, giving birth to the typical ancient Egyptian architecture. Assimilation included a single spoken language with varying dialects and common hieroglyphs. During this period Egyptians began construction of the mastabas which were "simple" dirt, wood, or stone mounds covering the dead. These led to the soon to be seen step pyramids. The Egyptians also continued to master agriculture and the cycles of the Nile and their civilization quickly rose to prominence. Another change of note is the rise of urbanism as people migrated to larger city like communities.

Authorities vary on who was the first pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period. Some start with Menes and others start with Hor-Aha. Narmer was the first ruler to claim to have united Upper and Lower Egypt, but he is also believed by many experts to be Menes himself. Others see that Egypt was unified not because of armies but because of cultural and economic reasons long before its first king ascended to the throne in Upper Egypt. Political unification would have been gradual as local districts established trading networks and organized agriculture labor on a larger scale which would have pushed divine kingship into momentum.

One of the most important tools used in deciphering some of the first ancient Egyptian kings is the Palermo Stone. A fragment of a 5th century basalt stele it details information on cult ceremonies, taxation, sculpture, buildings, warfare, along with a kings list the Palermo stone has been essential in revealing most of the rulers in the early dynasties. The Palermo Stone is now seen as Egypt's oldest history book. (The Palermo Stone is seen here to the right)

1st Dynasty Rulers

-Narmer (Menes?) | c. 3100–3050 BC

-Hor-Aha | c. 3050–3049 BC

-Djer | c. 3049–3008 BC

-Merneith (mother of Den) |less than a year

-Djet | c. 3008–2975? BC

-Den | c. 2975–2935? BC

-Anebjib | c. 2935–2925? BC (known to have reigned 10 years according to the Palermo Stone)

-Semerkhet | c. 2925–2916? BC (known to have reigned 9 years according to the Palermo Stone)

-Qa'a | c. 2916?–2890 BC

2nd Dynasty Rulers

-Hotepsekhemwy | 2890-2852 BC

-Raneb | 2852-2813 BC

-Nynetjer | 2813-2766 BC

-Weneg | 2766-2758 BC (not sure to have existed, believed to be Raneb)

-Sened | 2758-2738 BC

-Peribsen | 2738-2716 BC

-Khasekhemwy | 2716-2686 BC