Builders of the pyramids were not slaves but peasants, working in the farming off-season, along with specialists like stone cutters, mathematicians, and priests. Creating these massive projects required a centralized government with strong powers, sophistication and prosperity. After Khufu’s death, one of his sons built the second pyramid, and the Sphinx in Giza. Sneferu was succeeded by his (in)famous son, Khufu (2589-2566 BCE), who built the Great Pyramid of Giza. He also sent his military into Sinai, Nubia and Libya, and began to trade with Lebanon for cedar. Using a greater mass of stones than any other king, he built three pyramids: Meidum, the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid. The Old Kingdom and its royal power reached a zenith under the Fourth Dynasty, which began with Sneferu (2613-2589 BCE). Golden Age: Fourth Dynasty (2613-2494 BCE) The former rulers of these states were forced to assume the role of governors or tax collectors. It was in this era that formerly independent ancient Egyptian states became known as nomes, and were ruled solely by the king. The first notable king of the Old Kingdom was Djoser (reigned from 2691-2625 BCE) of the Third Dynasty, who ordered the construction of the step pyramid in Memphis’ necropolis, Saqqara. These had two principal functions: to ensure an ordered existence, and to defeat death by preserving life in the next world. Sculptors created early portraits, the first life-size statues, and perfected the art of carving intricate relief decoration. Thus, the period of the Old Kingdom is often called “The Age of the Pyramids.”Įgypt’s Old Kingdom was also a dynamic period in the development of Egyptian art.
The Old Kingdom is perhaps best known for a large number of pyramids, which were constructed as royal burial places. This flooding was necessary for crop growth. He was considered a living god, and was believed to ensure the annual flooding of the Nile. The king (not yet called Pharaoh) of Egypt during this period resided in the new royal capital, Memphis. Additionally, trade became more widespread, new religious ideas were born, and the strong centralized government was subtly weakened and finally collapsed. During this time, a new type of pyramid (the step) was created, as well as many other massive building projects, including the Sphinx. The Old Kingdom is the first of three so-called “Kingdom” periods that mark the high points of civilization in the Nile Valley. The Old Kingdom is the name commonly given to the period from the Third Dynasty through the Sixth Dynasty (2686-2181 BCE), when Egypt gained in complexity and achievement.
In the Third Dynasty, formerly independent ancient Egyptian states became known as Nomes, which were ruled solely by the pharaoh.The royal capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom was located at Memphis, where the first notable king of the Old Kingdom, Djoser, established his court.The Old Kingdom is the name commonly given to the period when Egypt gained in complexity and achievement, spanning from the Third Dynasty through the Sixth Dynasty (2686-2181 BCE).