Without the Nile, the rise of Egypt as one of the oldest civilization would not be possible. Travellers to Egypt would be surprise to find the desert is never very far from the Nile. The predictable cycle of flooding of the Nile was a blessing, a major factor to enable civilization to put down its roots in Egypt.
This presentation can only give you a briefest of all introductions. It touches upon the deep rooted origin of the Egyptian civilization, it sketches all the important monuments and marks major turning points in their history for its 3000 years of existence. After centuries later, its people disappeared. It civilization forgotten. Though the ruins of their monument and in particular their writing, we began to rediscover their world again, their people, their culture, their religion and their history. We know a lot about their ancient Egypt, perhaps more than others civilization of the time, because they left us with a lot of records in writing. What we have found are fascinations, a human ascend in our long journey to civilization
1. First created 8 May 2016. Version 1.4 - 27 Jul 2016. Jerry Tse. London.
Ancient Egypt
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners.
Available free for non-commercial, Educational and personal use.
3000 years of pharaohs’ rule
A line of Ram-headed sphinxes flanking the approach to the temple. Karnak. Luxor Egypt
2. 13,000 old war grave by the Nile
Human activities along
the River Nile dating
back a very long time, in
Egypt.
The above photo shows two victims of violence. The pencils marked weapon fragment mixed with the
bones. Between twenty to thirty victims of violence were found buried at Site 117 Jebel Sahaba, on the east
bank of the Nile, just inside Sudan. These remains may be evidence of a large scale warfare some 13,000
year ago. Discovered in the 1965-66, as part of the UNESCO salvage campaign before flooding by the
Aswan High Dam.
3. Development of Early Egypt to Unification
The above traces continuous development along the River Nile from Neolithic Jebel Sahaba warfare to the
beginning of farming, trade, religion and finally the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. The above
timeline is recreated, based on the information displayed at the British Museum.
Predynastic Period
4. Predynastic
pottery – c 3600
BC
Even at this early stage of Egyptian history their pottery can still be attractive. The Amratian vase (right) is
estimated to be before 3600 BC. British Museum. 10 Jun 2016
5. Predynastic Mummy – c 3500 BC
The Gebelein Man B is one of six natural mummies discovered in 1890s in a cemetery in Upper Egypt. It is
estimated that the mummy died c 3500 BC, at an age of 20 – 35 year old. A recent CT scan shows the
Internal organs the brain and the lung are still inside the mummy. The reconstructed grave included some
of the black top red pottery of Upper Egypt. The mummy is on permanent display at the British Museum.
6. The earliest settlement in Egypt can be
traced back all the way to about 8000
years ago.
Egyptian Pre-dynastic Period – Before 3150 BC
By about 3600 BC Neolithic Egyptian societies
along the Nile River based their culture on the
raising of crops and the domestication of
animals. Shortly after, Egyptian society began to
grow and advance rapidly toward refined
civilization. The Gebel el-Arak knife, now in the
Louvre, dated from this period c3450 BC.
The Master of Animals
motif common in
Mesopotamia showing
its influence on Egypt.
Handle made from ivory.
17 such ceremonial
knives are known.
7. Hieroglyphics – c 3200 BC
Writing is a key part of any civilization.
Hieroglyphics writing was invented around 3100
BC. Writing made it possible to communicate
across space and time. It makes it possible to
form large and complex social organisations. All
high officials, nobility and royalty in ancient
Egypt were literate.
Paint limestone statue c2400 BC is believed to represent a
provincial governor of the 5th
Dynasty.
Hieroglyph was used for the formal inscriptions
on wall of temples and tombs. A simplified
writing called hieratic script was invented for
daily usage. The hieratic script is thought to
date back to the same time as the Hieroglyphics.
A papyrus written in hieratic script on medical treatment.
about 1700 BC
8. Unification of Egypt
At the end of the Pre-dynastic Period (6000 BC – 3100
BC), Egypt was divided into two kingdoms, the Lower
Kingdom (the Nile delta in the south) and the Upper
Kingdom (the Nile valley in the North). Around 3150 BC.
Upper and Lower Egypt was united under the rule of the
first pharaoh Narmer (also known as Menes). The event
was recorded on the Narmer Palette (see next slide). This
marks the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period or the
Protodynastic period, which lasted until 2686 BC, to the
beginning of the Old Kingdom. The Bronze Age arrived in
Egypt around about this time..
Predynastic Egypt was in the stone
age. Their pottery is called ‘black
top redware’ (right). From their
pottery, archaeologists believe that
Upper Egypt had the technological
edge over Lower Egypt in the north.
The Unification of Egypt, show Narmer
using his maze delivering a blow to the
enemy.
10. First Dynasty kings were buried in large cedar shrines, which were
essentially boxes. Some were decorated to emulate shrines and
became the prototypes for later coffins. Grave goods expressed
status by their quantity, rather than their quality. In rich tombs
numerous storage chambers were added to hold all the goods.
(Right).
First Dynasty – 3100 - 2890 BC
First Dynasty was based at Abydos.
Much of what we know about them
comes from their tombs. These early
kings ruled an increasing urban society,
spreading over a large geographical
area. They effectively created the first
national state using religion,
administration and brute force.
(Above) – Limestone breccia jar like
this one began to appear. A huge
amount of effort was needed, to
shape and to polish such object,
suggesting Egyptian society was
making great progress.
Early Dynastic Period
11. Second Dynasty – Khasekhemwy’s Tomb c2650 BC
Above. Statue of Khasehem, 2770-2649 BC, who
might have changed his name to Khasekhemwy,
after his victory against the rebel. Egyptian
Museum, Cairo.
Below is the Khasehemwy’s
tomb, Second Dynasty at Abydos
Upper Egypt. On the right a
dolomite urn found in his tomb,
with sheet of gold tied on with fine
gold wire and secured with a clay
seal. British Museum.
12. Dating ancient Egyptian history is a
problem. In particularly during the early
dynasties. The difference between
chronologies (e.g. by Breasted and by
Shaw, see wikipedia) during the Old
Kingdom varies about 300 years, while
in the later dynasties in the New
Kingdom narrows within a few decades.
One Egyptologist, who popularises this
problem is David Rohl, in his book ‘A
Test of Time’ and ‘Legend’. He
suggested some of the dynasties were
running parallel with each rather than
one following another, in particular
around the 20th
dynasty to 26th
dynasty.
He was able to present evidences to
support his view. He called his
chronology, the New Chronology.
Using his chronology, he also compares
it against the Israeli’s and the
Mesopotamian chronology. So treat the
early dates with some cautions.
Chronology - The problem of dating Egyptian history.
13. Development of the Pyramid
The most outstanding achievements of the Old Kingdom is mastery of the techniques necessary to build
monumental structures in stone (like the pyramid and the sphinx). Sculptors also began to create life-
size portraits of individuals.
Old Kingdom
14. Meidum Pyramid c 2630 BC
The Meidum Pyramid is a step pyramid constructed in the Third Dynasty (2686-2613 BC). It is thought
to be started by the pharaoh Huni but finished by the pharaoh Sneferu. It was converted into a true
pyramid with sloping triangles. But the coverings of the pyramid collapsed due to faulty construction.
15. The Great Pyramid – Interior and plan
The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops, is the oldest
and the largest of the three pyramid in Giza. It is believed that the construction took 10 to 20 years,
completed c 2560 BC. It reaches a height of 146.5 m, on a base of 230.4 m. Ancient Egypt 84.
16. The Great Pyramid Giza 2566 BC
The royal Capital was moved to the Lower Egypt during the Old Kingdom. The Great Pyramid of Giza
is the most visible symbol of its achievements of the Old Kingdom. It is the only one of the 7 wonders
which is still standing. It was built about 2500 BC.
17. The Great Sphinx Giza c 2590 BC
The Great Sphinx, Giza, 4th
Dynasty. Limestone. L 73.5m, H 20m. It is believed it represents pharaoh Khafra
18. The statue of Menkaure, 4th
Dynasty.
Reign 2490-2472 BC. Cairo Egyptian Museum.
Egyptian sculptors created the first life-sized statues
and fine reliefs in stone, copper and wood. They
perfected the art of carving intricate relief decoration
and produced detailed images of animals, plants and
even landscape.
There was a rapid development of the stylistic
conventions that characterized Egyptian art
throughout its history.
Old Kingdom sculpture
The Old Kingdom lasted for about 500 years. The
central government collapsed, leading to famine and
small scale civil wars. Egyptologists named this era
as the First Intermediate Period (2181-1991 BC).
In time two main powers emerged, one in Lower
Egypt and one in Upper Egypt with its centre of
power at Thebes. Eventually, the Theban forces
triumphed, reuniting the Two Lands.
19. In the beginning of the Middle
Kingdom, the first departure away
from the pyramid architecture in
favour of the terraced temple
began. The grand funerary temple
of Mentuhotep II, 2020 BC, at
western Thebes was the most
significant of the period.
Middle Kingdom Mortuary architecture Middle Kingdom
20. The weakening power of the pharaoh at the end of the Old Kingdom meant that the idea of gods
on earth needed to be modified. The idea of human were responsible for life on Earth, while gods
belong to the heaven was gaining acceptance.
Partnership between Pharaoh & Gods, Middle Kingdom 1971-1926 BC.
21. Second Intermediate Period c1650-1550 BC
The Middle Kingdom lasted for
about 450 years. Around 1785 BC,
the Canaanite Hyksos (“foreign
rulers”), a Western Asian people,
living on the Eastern Delta seized
of Lower Egypt, forcing the central
government retreated back to
Thebes.
At the same time, the Kushites, in
Nubian, south of Egypt also rose
against the Egyptian. Egyptology
named this period as the Second
Intermediate Period (1674-1549
BC).
Eventually after about a hundreds
years later the Hyksos and the
Kushites were defeated. The New
Kingdom was established, borders
secured, diplomatic ties
strengthened, leading to a period of
unprecedented prosperity. The
New Kingdom is also known as the
Egyptian Empire.
Hippopotamus from the Second Intermediate Period, Egyptian
Museum, Cairo. Hippo appears in Egyptian art and literature
as far back as the Predynastic Period. They are frequently
found in tombs but disappeared abruptly at the end of 17th
Dynasty.
22. During the reign of Tuthrmosis I
(1504-1492 BC), early in the New
Kingdom, the Egyptian Empire
reached its largest extent. It stretched
from the Euphrates in the north to the
fourth cataract of the Nile in the south,
deep into today’s Sudan.
First Empire – Egyptian Empire c1550-1077 BC
Prince Ipshemuabi of Byblos’ pendant 2000-1500 BC
Department of Antiquities, Beirut, Lebanon.
Tuthmosis I. Mortuary Temple of
Hatshepsut. Deir el-Bahari. Thebes.
New Kingdom
23. Hatshepsut reign 1479-1458 BC
Hatshepsut, daughter of Tuthmosis I, ruled over Egypt after the death of her half-brother husband, first as
a Regent and later as co-ruler with Tuthmosis III. Under her reign Egypt was at the zenith her power. She
promoted peace and restored trade routes, as well as expanding to new regions. Dec 2003
Head of Hatshepsut at the
Temple of Hatshepsut.
Deir-el-Bahri, Thebes.
24. Hatshepsut Temple, Thebes
On the right is the Temple of Hatshepsut, next to it on the right is the Mortuary Terrace Temple of Mentuhotep II
of the Middle Kingdom. Deir-el-Bahri, Thebes. Behind the ridge is the Valley of the Kings, the royal cemetery.
25. Hatshepsut Temple, Thebes
On the right is the Temple of Hatshepsut. Next to it is the Temple of Thutmosis III, co-ruler with Hatshepsut. On
the far right is the Middle Kingdom, Mortuary Terrace Temple of Mentuhotep II. Deir-el-Bahri, Thebes.
26. Hatshepsut Temple, Thebes
The upper terrace façade of the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Western Thebes. A row of statues
depicting the pharaoh Hatshepsut lined the entrance to the temple. Dec 2003
27. Hatshepsut’s trade mission to Punt
One of Hatshepsut’s greatest achievement was to develop trade route to the Indian ocean, to the land of Punt,
which is thought to be either the coastal Horn of Africa or the coastal Arabian Peninsula facing the Indian Ocean.
Right. a frieze showing Egyptian transported the 31 myrrh trees back to Egypt. Left. A reconstruction scene of
Hatshepsut receiving the returning expedition from Punt.
28. Temple architecture
The above showed a typical architectural plan of a New Kingdom temple. Temples were houses for the gods or
kings to whom they are dedicated. In the New Kingdom temples grew larger and more elaborate. Higher-
ranking priestly roles became permanent rather than rotational. Once again priests controlled a large portion of
Egyptian wealth.
29. Temple of Karnak
Karnak is the largest temple complex in ancient Egypt (above), the scale and complexity if overwhelming.
It was started in the 11 dynasty. Successive pharaohs added their monuments to the temple. The temple
reached its height in the New Kingdom, during the 18 dynasty. Thutmomis I, Thutmosis III, Hatshepset,
Rameses I, Rameses II and Ramesses III put down their marks on the temple. At the heart of temple is the
Temple of Amun.
30. Temple of Karnak, a reconstruction
Hypostyple hall Great Court
Lake link to NilePylons VII-X
Sacred lake
Rows of sphinxesTemple of Ramses IIIGreat Festival TemplePrecinct of Montu
31. Temple of Karnak, Temple of Ramese III
Temple of Ramses III (1184-1153 BC), built as a bark shrine between Pylon I and II, Inside in the temple
courtyard is lined with Osride statues of the pharaoh.
32. Great Temple of Karnak
Procession in the Great Court, reconstruction by Mark Millmore. (from discoveringegypt.com).
33. Temple of Karnak, Hypostyle Hall
Massive columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall. All the columns were carved and painted in bright colours, built c
1250 BC. The hall was part of the Temple of Amun. Only important priests and the pharaohs were allowed to
enter the hall, which was used for religious rituals.
34. Temple of Karnak
Artist reconstruction of the
Hypostyle Hall, Karnak.
The painted columns of the Karnak..
35. Temple of Karnak
Nefertari standing at the feet of Ramses II.
Using stones from temple built by Akhenaten on the
Pylon II. Many of the carvings were defaced.
36. Temple of Karnak
Tuthmosis I obelisk on the left and Hatshepsut’s obelisk on the right, in front of the Pylon IV.
37. Temple of Karnak
The Pylon VIII was built by Tuthmosis III (above) Pylon VII was built by Hatshepsut, linking Karnak
with the Temple of Mut.
39. Irrigation
The Shaduf was the device by which ancient Egyptian to irrigate their agricultural farmland. The fresco on
the left was found in Western Thebes, Deir el-Medineh, tomb of Ipui, New Kingdom c 1240 BC.
Right. Watering gardens. Relief
found in Saqqara, tomb of
Mereruka. Old Kingdom, c
2330 BC.
40. Waterwheels like this one were introduced to Egypt during Hellenistic times to irrigation agricultural farmland.
It is waterwheels like this that made Egypt the bread basket of the Roman Empire.
Waterwheel Irrigation
41. Pharaoh Akhenaten
Akhenaten was the most controversial
pharaoh in ancient Egypt. After his death
his image on carvings, statues and
sarcophagus had been defaced. He was
branded a heretic. Even omitted in the
Official list of pharaohs.
In the 17 years of his reign, Akhenaten
dramatically transformed Egyptian art,
culture and religion. He moved the capital
from Thebes to his newly built capital of
Armana.
He promoted the cult of Aten, the god of the
solar disk, as the sole deity. This upset the
powerful Amun religious priesthood, based
at Karnak. Although there is no
documented evidence, many Egyptologists
speculated this was a power struggle
between the monarchy and the priesthood.
He also appointed his wife Nefertiti as his
co-regent and she took an active role in the
religious and political life of the kingdom.
42. Akhenaten
Source National Geographic History. Apr 2016
The defaced sarcophagus of
Akhenaten, Cairo Egyptian
Museum.
Aten, the
sun disk
Offerings
Blessed by
Aten
Royal
messengers
Distorted
Bodies
43. The Valley of the King
Tutankhamun
Rest House
Rameses II
Rameses III
Sethos I
Entrance to
the Valley of
the kings
The Valley of the Kings on West Thebes was the Royal Necropolises for many pharaohs.
44. Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun was a son of Akhenaten. He came to the throne about 17 and reigned for 9 years. It was
under his reign that the Amun priesthood in Thebes regained their power. He is famous due to the
discovery of his completely intact tomb, giving us a glimpse into the royal treasure of ancient Egypt.
45. Tomb of Tutankhamun
The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. It is an important because it was the
only pharaoh’s tomb that was discovered intact in modern time. Like a time capsul it gives us records of
the royal life and death in ancient Egypt.
46. Treasure of Tutankhamun
Front and back of Tutankhamun’s funerary
mask (above & right). The funerary mask is
the most priced object that we have on
ancient Egypt. It is a surperb example of
artistic and technical achievement on the
time.
47. Treasure of Tutankhamun
One of the 4 Serket goddesses, of the canopic
shrine (above & right). The goddesses protected
and guarded the canopic shrine.
48. Treasure of Tutankhamun
The Throne Chair (above). The
portrait on the back of the chair
(right). The informal pose of the king
and the affectionate attitude of the
queen were the artistic style of the
period.
50. Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC)
Black Granite seated statue of Ramesses II wearing
the war crown. Turin Museum
Ramesses II was an important pharaoh and
ruled for 34 years (1279-1213 BC). He built
more temples than any other pharaohs,. Some
of the monuments associated with him were
the Pi-Ramesses in eastern Delta, the
enlargement of the Luxor Temple and the rock
temple of Abu Simbel.
He was a war pharaoh. Ramesses II had led
several military campaigns into the Levant and
reasserted Egyptian control over Canaan
(Lebanon, Syria and the Holy Land). To the
south, he fought the Nubian and put down
rebellions.
His most famous battle was the Battle of
Kadesh 1274 BC, in which he fought the Hittite,
It is the oldest battle that we have knowledge in
detail, involving altogether some 4000-5000
chariots.
51. Luxor Temple (1400 BC)
Two giant seated statues of Ramesses II, at the first pylon of the Luxor Temple entrance.
52. Luxor Temple (1400 BC)
One of the several colossus seated statues of Ramesses II at the temple.
53. Temples Abu Simbel (c 1264 BC)
The Great Temple of Abu Simbel (above). The temple was cut out of solid rock, located the southern most
of present day Egypt. It was a display of Egyptian power to its Nubian neighbour. It took 20 years to build.
54. Temples Abu Simbel (1264 BC)
The interior of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel (above). The interior is lined with two rows of Osirid
statues and covered with reliefs, leading to the sanctuary (bottom far right corner).
55. Temples Abu Simbel (1264 BC)
The Temple of Hathor and Nefertari also called the Small Temple, Abu Simbel (above). Two statues of
Ramesses II stood on either side of the entrance, flanked by statues of the queen and the king. Remarkabily,
this is the only instance in Egyptian art that the statues of the king and the queen have equal size.
56. Battle of Kadesh (1274 BC)
The Battle of Kadesh (now in Syria) is the oldest battle which the military tactics are known. It was a battle fought by
Ramesses II, with the rising power of the Hittite (in modern Turkey), with 20,000 Egyptian infantry and perhaps a total
of 3 to 4 thousand chariots. Neither side won a decisive victory. In the end, it was settled by a treaty.
Above is a drawing based on the wall reliefs from the Luxor Temple on the Battle of Kadesh..
Hittite
Infantry
Egyptian
chariot
summon
reinforcement
The arrival of
the Ptah
Division
Hittite
withdraw
back into
Kadesh
The arrival of
Ne’arin
detachment
save the day
Ramesses
charged
single-
handedly in
the Hittite
chariots
Defeated
Hittites
57. Third Intermediate Period 1069-664BC
During this time, Egypt was under civil wars. Egypt was split into several segments. Several of them
were Libyan in origin, among them was the 21st
Dynasty. Egypt suffered invasions by the Sea Peoples
and the Assyrians (671 BC), who installed a client ruler of the 26th
Dynasty. Egypt lost all its peripheral
territories. Israel, Lebanon and Nubia were independent. Lower Egypt became richer and cities
developed for the first time.
Sea Peoples captives with their distinctive head dress.
Sea Peoples warship Egyptian warship
Relief at Medinet Habu, Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III.
Third Intermediate Period
58. Late Period to Ptolemy Egypt 664-32 BC
The Third Intermediate Period was ended with Upper and Lower reunited again, with the capital now
moved to Sais (Late Period). This was ended when the rising Persian Empire conquered Egypt in 525
BC and the 27th
Dynasty was established (Achaemenes Egypt). The Persian rule was ended when
Alexander the Great defeated the Persia. One of his general Ptolemy became the pharaoh of Egypt
(Ptolemy Egypt). The last pharaoh of Egypt was the well-known Cleopatra VII.
Cleopatra and son by Julius Caesar on the Temple of
Dendera (above). The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Right).
Late Period to Ptolemaic Egypt
59. Isis Temple
The earliest Isis temple was built in c 370 BC. The current Temple of Isis was greatly expanded in the reign of
Ptolemy II (285-246 BC), but construction continued during the Ptolemaic period. The Roman emperor Diocletian
(284-305 AD) also contributed to the construction. The temple was modelled on temples of the New Kingdom. It was
finally closed in 535 AD by Emperor Justinian. Some of the rooms were used by the Coptic Christian.
60. Roman & Byzantine Egypt (30BC – 641 AD)
Egypt became a province of the Roman
Empire in 30 BC, following the defeat of
Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. But during
this period mummification and the Egyptian
religion continued. Christianity took root in
Egypt in the first Century AD. The Roman
rule lasted into the Byzantine time.
This remarkable mummy portrait of a
woman was probably painted in 24 AD, with
tempera on canvas, in the Faiyum of Egypt.
It is now in the Agypusches Museum,
Berlin. Its naturalism was way beyond what
were to follow for the next 1500 years, until
the arrival of High Renaissance in Italy.
Roman Period
61. All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective
owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal
use.
The End
Music – Bella Notte, Ludovic Einaudi
Painted column at the temple of Isis on the Island of Philae, 380-362 BC. From Description de l’Egypte,
1809.
Ancient Egypt
Without the Nile, the rise of Egypt as one of the oldest civilization would not be possible. Travellers to Egypt would be surprise to find the desert is never very far from the Nile. The predictable cycle of flooding of the Nile was a blessing, a major factor to enable civilization to put down its roots in Egypt.
This presentation can only give you a briefest of all introductions. It touches upon the deep rooted origin of the Egyptian civilization, it sketches all the important monuments and marks major turning points in their history for its 3000 years of its existence. After centuries later, its people disappeared. Its civilization forgotten. Through the ruins of their monuments and in particular their writings, we began to rediscover their world again, their people, their culture, their religion and their history. We know a lot about their ancient Egypt, perhaps more than other civilizations of the time, because they left us with a lot of records in writing. What we have found are fascinations, a human ascend in our long journey to civilization.
National Geographic News - Egypt’s Earliest Farm Settlement Discovered – reported a discovery of a 8000 years old settlement in the Faiyum by a US-Dutch team of archaeologists 12 Feb 2008.
Dagger from Gebel el-Arak – see www.louvre.fr website or Gebel el-Arak Knife wikipedia.
The invention of writing around 3000 BC defines the beginning of Egyptian history more than any other single change. Literacy open up new possibilities in social organization and in the transmission and occasionally criticism, of growing bodies of received knowledge.
It seems that there was no separtate, illiterate class of nobility.
Predynastic Upper Egypt Kingdom (Wikipedia) – By about 3600 BC Neolithic Egyptian societies along the Nile River had based their culture on the raising of crops and the domestication of animals. Shortly after 3600 BC, Egyptian society began to grow and advance rapidly toward refined civilization. A new and distinctive pottery, which was related to the pottery in the Southern Levant, appeared during this time. Extensive use of copper became common during this time. The Mesopotamian process of sun-dried bricks, and architectural building principles – including the use of arch and recessed walls for decorative effect – became popular during this time.
Concurrent with these cultural advances, a process of unification of the societies and towns of the upper Nile River, ov Upper Egypt, occurred. At the same time the societies of the Nile Delta or Lower Egypt also under went a unification process. Warfare between Upper and Lower Egypt occurred often. During his reign in Upper Egypt King Narmer defeated his enemies on the Delta and merged both the Kingdom of upper and Lower Egypt under his single rule.
Bronze age in Egypt c3150 BC. Unification of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt c3000BC.
The difference between the Early Dynastic Period and the Old Kingdom is the revolutionary change in architecture accompanied by the effects on Egyptian society and economy of large-scale building projects. Under King Djoser, the first king of the Old Kingdom, the royal capital of Egypt was moved to Memphis.
Reference Wikipedia Akkadian Empire, also List of Empires
Hatshepsut, daughter of Tuthmosis I, married her half-brother Tuthmosis II, who died young. As there was no direct successor, Hatshepsut proclaimed herself co-regent to the young Tuthmosis III, the son of a secondary wife. Her hunger for power didn’t stop there and it wasn’t long before she declared herself pharaoh. She was always depicted as a man, wearing a beard andmen’s clothing. After her death, when Tuthmosis III finally came to power, he erased alll of her cartouches and portraits, in an unsuccessful attempt to consign her to oblivion. AA Explorer Egypt p154.
Hatshepsut, daughter of Tuthmosis I, married her half-brother Tuthmosis II, who died young. As there was no direct successor, Hatshepsut proclaimed herself co-regent to the young Tuthmosis III, the son of a secondary wife. Her hunger for power didn’t stop there and it wasn’t long before she declared herself pharaoh. She was always depicted as a man, wearing a beard andmen’s clothing. After her death, when Tuthmosis III finally came to power, he erased alll of her cartouches and portraits, in an unsuccessful attempt to consign her to oblivion. AA Explorer Egypt p154.