Weekend 5: Ancient Egypt, Day 1: Political History

First Intermediate Period

"Dark period" in ancient Egypt of approx 125 years (2181-2055 BC), after Old Kingdom. Little monumental evidence from this era. Rule was divided between 2 competing power bases - 1 in Lower Egypt (Memphis, then Heracleopolis), one in Upper Egypt (Thebes). Temples & statues were pillaged/violated during this time of chaos. The 2 kingdoms eventually came into conflict, with the Theban kings conquering, resulting in reunification under single ruler (during 2nd part of 11th dynasty).

Deir-el-Bahri

(Arabic: الدير البحري ad-dayr al-baḥrī, i.e. "Monastery of the Sea"). A complex of mortuary temples, part of the Theban Necropolis. Start during 15th Century, BC, in 11th dynasty. Was also added to during 18th dynasty by Amenhotp I and Hatshepsut.

Thutmose III

1458-1425 BCE. Ruled after death of Hatshepsut (after officially co-ruling with her). Sent armies east, establishing Egyptian empire in Palestine and Syria, and expanded empire south into Sudan and Nubia. Brilliant military leader, never lost an engagement. Has been credited as creating the Egyptian Empire.

Late Period

664 BC-332 BC. Last time native Egyptians would rule - alternating with Libyans and Persians. Ended with conquest by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, and establishment of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, which began age of Hellenistic Egypt.

Memphis

Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom

Old Kingdom of Egypt

Credited as either 3100 or 2686-2200 BC. When Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization. First of 3 "kingdom" periods. King of Egypt (not called Pharaoh yet) was a living god. Ruled absolutely. Known as the "age of Pyramids" (when they were developed). Followed by period of disunity & decline, called First Intermediate Period

Ptolemaic Kingdom

Hellenistic kingdom based in Egypt. Ruled by Ptolemaic dynasty which started with Ptolemy I Soter's accession after death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. Alexandria was the capital city. Ptolemaic rulers continued some Egyptian customs (dress, married siblings), but still fought rebellions.

Hatshepsut

Lived 1507-1458 BCE. Second confirmed female Pharaoh (first being Sobekneferu). Daughter of Thutmose I. Wife and half-sister of Thutmose II (r c 1495-1490 BC). Upon his death, she served as regent to his son, Thutmose III (age 2; born to different wife, not her), and ruled for the first 20 years of his reign until her death. -Successful Pharaoh, increasing trade, added to Deir-el-Bahri. Reigning longest of any woman of indigenous Egyptian dynasty. Egyptologist said "the first great woman in history of whom we are informed."

Second Intermediate Period

Period c. 1640-1550 BC, when Egypt was in disarray between the end of the Middle Kingdom and the start of the New Kingdom, when the Hyskos invaded Egypt from Syria-Palestine with chariots. They ruled Egypt, comprising the 15th dynasty, until driven out by the 18th dynasty.

Third Intermediate Period

Period from 1070 BC - 664 BC. Began with death of Ramesses XI in 1070, ending the New Kingdom. Priesthood gained influence over series of weak monarchs. Later followed by the Late Period (c 664 BC). Marked by decline and political instability. Coincided with Late Bronze Age collapse of civilizations in Near East and Eastern Mediterranean (incl Greek Dark Ages). Marked by divided state for much of this period, and conquest & rule of foreigners - conquered by Assyrians (671 BC), and then Persians (525 BC) under Cambyses II (succeeded by Darius I).

Thebes

aka "Waset" to ancient Egyptians. 500 miles south of Mediterranean, its ruins lie in modern city of Luxor. Was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom. Close to Nubia and eastern desert. Wealthiest city of ancient Egypt at its heyday.

Amenhotep III

aka Amenhotep the magnificent. ruled c 1386-1349 BC, after his father, Thutmose IV died. His reign was a period of unprecedented prosperity and artistic splendor, when Egypt reached its peak (artistically and in power). His son ruled as Amenhotep IV before changing royal name to Akhenaten.

Ipuwer Papyrus

aka Papyrus Leiden - ancient Egyptian hieratic papyrus made during the 19th Dynasty of Egypt; now held in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands (hence the aka). Papyrus itself is dated c. 1250 BC, contains older poem: the Admonitions of Ipuwer, dated to the 12th Dynasty of Egypt (c.1991-1803 BCE). Is a poem/lamentation in which Ipuwer (common name of the time) complains of disorder (rich man being poor, king's burial is desecrated, etc), disaster, like the Great Flood.

Middle Kingdom

aka The Period of Reunification, c. 2050 BC-1800 BC, from the reunification of Egypt under Mentuhotep II of the 11th Dynasty - ruled from Thebes, to the end of the 12th Dynasty (dynasty ruled from el-Lisht). Osiris became the most importanty deity.

The New Kingdom

aka the Egyptian Empire, from 16th-11th centuries BC, covering the 18th-20th Dynasties. Followed the Second Intermediate Period, and was Egypt's most prosperous, powerful time. Resulting from foreign rule of Hyksos during Second Intermdiate Period, Egypt attempted to create buffer from invasion, and expanded territory, creating an empire. -The most popular era in Egyptian history with the best known pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty (Hatshepsut, Thuthmoses III, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti, Tutankhamun), 19th Dynasty (Seti I, Ramesses II (The Great), and Merenptah), and of the 20th Dynasty such as Ramesses III. -During this time rulers became known as "Pharaoh" -Later part, under 19th & 20th dynasties (1292-1069 BC), is aka the Ramesside period, named after the eleven Pharaohs that took the name of Ramesses I, the founder of the Nineteenth Dynasty.

Eighteenth Dynasty

dynasty in power when ancient Egypt was considered at its height. History was better recorded than most.

Pyramid of Djoser

first Egyptian pyramid. In Saqqara, northwest of Memphis. Built in 27th century, BC, for burial of Pharaoh Djoser by his vizier, Imhotep. Central feature of larger mortuary complex. Originally 203' tall. One of the earliest large-scale cut stone constructions.

Menes

pharaoh of ancient Egypt credited with having united Upper and Lower Egypt and as the founder of the First Dynasty of the Old Kingdom (3100-2200 BC). Founded his capital at Memphis.

Amenhotep IV

r c 1372-1354 BC. 18th Dynasty. Husband to Queen Nefertiti. Changed name to Akhenaton, abandoning traditional Egyptian polyhteism and introducing worship centered on Aten. Shifts weren't widely accepted, and his monuments were hidden/destroyed, and his name removed from king lists. Traditional religion was gradually restored. When 18th century died out, new dynasty discredited him as "the enemy" in records. Was all but lost from history until 19th century discovery of site he built for worship of Aten. Mummy found in 1907, led by Edward Ayrton, is likely him. Said mummy has been proved by DNA to be father of King Tutankhamun (or Tutankhamen). -His fanaticism is credited with hastening decline of Egypt, has he neglected provinces to focus on religious shift.