In the history of ancient Egypt, the Old kingdom (2700-2200 BC) is also called the Pyramid Age or The Age of the Pyramid Builders as during this reign the great pyramid builders of the 4 dynasties, King Sneferu and the kings Khafre, Khufu and Menkaure ruled the land. The country of Egypt first reached its peak of stable civilization during the Old Kingdom period, which was followed by the Middle and New Kingdoms that highlighted the flourishing of civilizations in the lower Nile.
Highlights
The concept of old kingdom as one of three golden ages was introduced by the German Egyptologist Baron von Bunsen in the year 1845, and its definition underwent significant changes throughout the 20th and 19th centuries. The last king of the early dynasty was not only associated with the first two kings of the Old Kingdom, but the capital, or royal residence, remained in the ancient Egyptian name Memphis. The main reason for the separation of the two eras is the revolutionary changes in architecture that affect Egyptian economy as well as society.
The Old Kingdom is generally considered the period from the 3rd to the 6th dynasty. Information from the 4th to 6th dynasties of Egypt is scarce and the monuments and inscriptions that also include the 7th and 8th dynasties of Memphis in the Old Kingdom as an extension of the centralized administration of Memphis. This was a period of internal prosperity and security and then was followed by a period of cultural decline as well as division. During this era, the king became a living god and claimed service and wealth from his subjects.
Rise of the Old Kingdom
The first king of the Old Kingdom was Djoser of the Third Dynasty. An important person during Djoser’s reign was his dignitary Imhotep. During this time, the ancient Egyptian nations that had previously been independent came to be known by names under the rule of the king. Previous rulers had to act as governors or collect taxes. The Egyptians of that time worshiped the pharaohs as gods and believed that the pharaohs flooded the Nile every year for crops. According to the Egyptian view of the nature of time during this period, the universe operated cyclically, and the pharaohs on earth worked to ensure the stability of these cycles. They also perceived themselves as specially chosen people.
Under King Djoser, the 3rd Dynasty?s first king, Memphis was made the capital city, and a court was established. During his reign, a new era of construction began in Saqqara. King Djoser’s architect Imhotep is credited with the development of stone buildings and the concept of a new architectural style, the Step Pyramid. The ancient kingdom is perhaps best known for its numerous pyramids built during the burials of Egyptian kings.
The Old Kingdom monarchy culminated in the Fourth Dynasty, which began with Sneferu . Pharaoh Sneferu followed Djoser as a great pyramid builder. Snefer was instructed to build three pyramids instead of one. The first is called Meidum Pyramid, located in Egypt. Sneferu left after the pyramid’s exterior collapsed. The pyramids of Meidum were the first to have an above-ground burial chamber. He built three pyramids using more stones than any other pharaoh. The Fallen Pyramid of Meidum, the Red Pyramid of North Dahshur and the Curved Pyramid of Dahshur. However, the full development of pyramid architecture did not take place in Saqqara, but during the construction of the Great Pyramids in Giza.
Sneferu was followed by his son Khufu. After Khufu’s death, his son Djedefre and Khafre may have quarrelled. The latter built a second pyramid and (traditionally) the Great Sphinx of Giza. A recent review of the evidence has led Egyptologist Dobrev to believe that the Djedefre Sphinx was built as a monument to his father, Khufu. Alternatively, the Sphinx has been suggested to be the work of Khafre and Khufu himself. Military expeditions to Canaan and Nubia and the Egyptian influence got extended from the river Nile to the region of present day Sudan. King Menkaure built the smallest pyramid in Giza.
Fall of the Old Kingdom
During the Sixth Dynasty the Pharaoh’s power gradually weakened, supporting a powerful regional governor. These governor?s did not belong to royal families. Instead they created several local dynasties and other hereditary monarchies largely independent of central authorities of the Pharaoh. Flood protection on the Nile remained the subject of very large-scale work, especially the canal to Maurice, around 2300 BC.
An internal disorder that began during the incredibly long reign of Pepi II. Indeed, his death far beyond his intended heir’s death can lead to a succession struggle. Only a few decades after the end of Pepi II’s reign, the country was involved in a civil war. The last blow was the drought of the 22nd century BC. Rainfall has decreased significantly in this area. This was prevented for at least several years between 2200 and 2150 BC. Normal floods on the Nile. Whatever the cause, the collapse of the Old Kingdom has been in conflict with famine for decades. An important inscription on Ankhtifi?s tomb, a regional governor in the early First Intermediate Period, describes the miserable state when famine struck the country.