The Pyramid Builders: Egypt's Ancient Kingdom and Khufu's Great Pyramid
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 4Section 3 The Pyramid Builders
The Old Kingdom • Began in about 2575 BC. • Egypt’s most famous pyramids built. • Dynasty – line of rulers from the same family. • Succession order that members of a royal family inherit the throne. • Ancient Egypt – more than 30 dynasties ruled!!
Pharaohs • Pharaoh – meant “great house” – king’s palace • Pharaoh thought to be a god (religion and government not separate in Egypt!) • Believed that if pharaohs honored gods, Egypt would prosper.
Khufu’s Great Pyramid • Egypt became richer and more powerful – pyramids were built over tombs. • 2550 BC – Pharaoh Khufu ordered a pyramid to be built for his greatness. • Largest pyramid ever built!!
Valley of the Kings • Eventually Egyptians stopped building pyramids because of grave robbers. • During the New Kingdom pharaohs began building secret tombs in the Valley of the Kings. • All but one of these tombs was discovered and robbed – the exception was Tutankhamen.
The Middle Kingdom • 2160 BC – the Old Kingdom lost power and a hundred-year period of invasions and disunity followed. • Around 2055 BC – a strong pharaoh began the Middle Kingdom. • 1985 BC – the Middle Kingdom reached its peak when Pharaoh Amenemhet I founded the 12th Dynasty. • 12th Dynasty pharaohs invaded Nubia for gold!!
Middle Kingdom Ends • For more than 200 years – pharaohs of the 12th Dynasty expanded and strengthened Egypt. • Trade thrived / government was stable. • A weaker 13th Dynasty followed – overthrown by invaders from the east (the Hyksos). • 1630 BC – the Middle Kingdom ended.