Timeline of Ancient Egypt

Old Kingdom

• Pharaohs had all government & Religious Power

• The Pharaoh was a landlord and rented out land to the nobles

• Pyramids were built to protect the dead

• Hieroglyphics told the pharaoh’s story

• Sphinx was a monument that represents the pharaoh as Ra, the sun god.

Reasons For Decline:

• Collected taxes, but pyramids were still too costly

• Pharaohs began to lose authority over nomes

• Crops failed and people suffered

Middle Kingdom

• A noble named Amenemhet I became pharaoh

• He gave power back to Pharaoh

• Moved capital to Thebes• Arts and literature

flourished• Successful war against

Nubia• Trade was successful

Reasons for Decline:

• Weak dynasties• Hyksos Warriors:

Rulers of the uplands, who used horses, chariots, and bronze weapons. They destroyed temples, art burned cities. They invaded Egypt.

New Kingdom

• Egyptian Pharaohs drove out Hyksos Warriors

• The Egyptians created a standing army of charioteers, bowman and foot soldiers.

• Hatshepsut

Reasons for Decline:

• Small invasions• The peace treaty between

Hittites & Ramses II caused Egypt to lose some dominance

• Ramses III was defeated by wave of people of the sea

• Fell under Persia• Alexander the Great occupied

Egypt and Cleopatra became the last pharaoh

• Defeated in naval battle against Rome and became a Roman Empire