A Very Short Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History

Among the first societies in the Near East and perhaps one of the most important for the future development of Western civilization was Egypt whose history spanned 31 dynasties, roughly from 3000-30 BCE. Organized society arose simultaneously and independently with developments in Mesopotamia. Here is some information from my old lecture notes on Ancient Egypt for the History of Western Civilization I course (HIS 101) at Northern Virginia Community College.

Why Egypt?

1. Relatively more protected by desert, isolation
   • thus emerged with own characteristics
   • note how environment determined culture, religion, society, economy
2. The "gift of the Nile"
   • long snake of cultivated ground
   • densely populated
   • regular flooding, rich agriculture
   • transport system
3. Note that Upper and Lower Egypt were very different. One was narrow, 4-20 miles wide, isolated, surrounded by desert.  The other was flat and fertile with more cosmopolitan contacts.
4. A strong, organized government because of the need to cooperate in harnessing the annual flooding and irrigation.
5. relatively very stable

Chronology

• Archaic period, 3100-2700 BCE
  1. in ancient times, belief that each clan was created by a sacred animal, who also chose the high chief
  2. soon stronger clan chiefs united villages to make nomes, and clan chiefs became known as "nomarchs"
  3. between 4500 and 3500 two large kingdoms of lower and upper Egypt emerged
  4. about 3100, tradition says a warrior king from the south, Narmer (or Menes), became the first pharaoh
     • pharaoh comes from biblical usage; "per-ao" meant "Great House"
     • From the delta to the 1st cataract was 800 miles
• The Old Kingdom, 2700-2200 (2686-2181) BCE (also called the pyramid age)
  1. founder of the 3rd dynasty and old kingdom was Zoser
     • lasted to 6th dynasty
  2. Memphis as the capital
  3. A theocracy
     • the pharaoh, or monarch, was the son of the son god and had unlimited power
     • first pyramid
  4. Other interesting points:
     • first calendar
     • a functioning court system
     • no standing army, just local militia (which usually only did public works)
     • already had hieroglyphic
  5. Pepi 2 supposedly reigned 90 yrs during the 6th dynasty (the longest reign in history)
  6. Classical Egypt, the pyramids by 2700.           
     • They experimented with various forms, found theirs and grasped it.
• First Intermediate Period, 2200-2000 (2182-2040) BCE
  1. A feudal age of anarchy, local revolt and invasions
  2. Why the collapse?
     • The old kingdom had been very absolutist, but as the state grew larger, pharaohs needed more officials and individuals. They gained more power.
     • thus, expansion had brought decentralized power (local particularism)
     • nobles and the priesthood gained in power.
     • turnover of weak kings and royal rivalries
     • burden of building pyramids
       • power of priests who received land
       • burden of the perpetual endowments
  3. maintenance of outlying provinces
  4. loss of trade surplus
  5. relax after all the success
  6. Confusing period for those who survived
     • pyramids robbed
     • suicide
     • agnosticism or hedonism
• Middle Kingdom, 2000 to 1800 (2040-1786) BCE
  1. Pharaoh had to slowly regain and consolidate his lost power and authority
     • no longer law, written down
     • 11th-12th dynasties
     • Thebes now the center
     • Expansion to the south (Nubia) and east, to the 2nd cataract
     • Use of bronze
     • unprecedented prosperity
     • public works projects for entire population undertaken
  2. more social justice as lower classes now benefited (poor could now be mummified)
  3. religion now emphasized moral conduct, not wealthy rituals
• The Second Intermediate Period, 1800-1600 (1786-1570) BCE
  1. Collapsed abruptly
  2. Destruction as a result of noble revolt
  3. Then the Hyksos invasion around 1750
     • used the horse and chariot and a new type of bow
     • **last blow to pharaoh as divine god**
• Empire, or New Kingdom, 1600-1100 (1570-1085) BCE
  1. Ahmose, founded 18th dynasty, 1580 cleared the country of foreigners and set off to expand
  2. New view of Asiatic affairs and expansion, i.e., aggressive imperialism, militancy, lust for conquest
  3. 3 generations to build an empire
     • Thutmose 3, 1490-1436, the great conqueror of Asia reached the Euphrates,led 17 military campaigns
     • height under Amenhotep 3, 1402-1363
     • but then followed by the Akhenaten problem
  4. Xtics   
     • much more despotic, localism gone
     • the Pharaoh's word no longer taken for granted but had to be enforced, military power the final word (professional army)
     • power of priesthood very great
     • large military infrastructure, professional army
     • Much more cosmopolitan culture, as foreign influence poured into Egypt (Syria, Palestine)
     • last great pharaoh was Ramses 3, 1182-51
     • Ramses II, 1290-1224, was probably the last vestige of grandeur
       • Abu Simbel
       • Moses
• Decline
  1. Why the decline?
     • after 1325, split in royal family, and generals took over
       • had to use military force to restore order
       • severe punishments used for the first time
     • the Libyan and Sea Peoples invasions in 1200s
     • magic comes into prominence, as the pharaoh could no longer count on his word being accepted as law
     • rampant bribery
     • robbers roamed in 1100s and systematically pillaged
  2. the "Broken reed"               
     • Later conquered by the Persians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans
     • When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC, it was the 21st dynasty.
     • 30 BC, suicide of Cleopatra