Old Kingdom (estimated around 3000 BC): Since it was so long ago, it is difficult to be precise about when the Old Kingdom was formed. That was when people started to live closer to rivers for irrigation of crops. In Egypt, farmers moved near the Nile River. Pharaohs were the rulers of Eqgypt and had a great deal of power over their people. Farmers would build great pyramids for their Pharaohs. The Pharaohs also started to engage in human sacrifices. Pepy II was only six years old when he became Pharaoh, although it was his mother, Ankhesenpepi who really ruled Egypt. Following their deaths, the wealthy ruled over their own lands. Intermediate Periods were period of time in between Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. After the old kingdom, the 1st intermediate period began.
Middle Kingdom (2030 - 1640 BC): Mentuhotep II was part of Dynasty XI, which ruled Upper Egypt from the city of Thebes (capital city) and brought together upper and lower Egypt by defeated the last of the rulers of the Dynasty X. He wore a Double Crown of Egypt, which represented this unity.
Artists started to use large blocks of stone for their work. Irrigation methods were expanded to reach more in the desert areas so farmers didn't have to live so close to the river. Whereas writing was historically used for record keeping and honoring the gods, during this period, writing was used for story telling. One famous story was called "The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor. (see photo). The story is about a ship's captain who has returned from an unsuccessful trading mission. One of his crew tells the captain a personal experience of being the only survivor of a previous sea voyage and shipwreck. He tells the captain to feel lucky that he is alive and that he will see his wife and children. The captain however is worried about facing the pharaoh after his unsuccessful voyage.
Artists started to use large blocks of stone for their work. Irrigation methods were expanded to reach more in the desert areas so farmers didn't have to live so close to the river. Whereas writing was historically used for record keeping and honoring the gods, during this period, writing was used for story telling. One famous story was called "The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor. (see photo). The story is about a ship's captain who has returned from an unsuccessful trading mission. One of his crew tells the captain a personal experience of being the only survivor of a previous sea voyage and shipwreck. He tells the captain to feel lucky that he is alive and that he will see his wife and children. The captain however is worried about facing the pharaoh after his unsuccessful voyage.
New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC): The New Kingdom was the golden age of the civilization of Ancient Egypt. It was a time of wealth, prosperity, and power. A ten-year-old named Ahmose I became king of Lower Egypt. Ahmose I became a great leader. He defeated the Hyksos and united all of Egypt under one rule. This began the period of the New Kingdom. It was during the New Kingdom that the Egyptian Empire conquered the most lands. Pharaohs launched wide ranging expeditions taking over lands to the south (Kush, Nubia) and lands to the east (Israel, Lebanon, Syria). At the same time, Egypt expanded trade with many external nations and kings. They used gold mines in Nubia to gain great wealth and to import luxury goods from around the world. The pharaohs of the New Kingdom used their wealth to built massive temples to the gods. The city of Thebes continued to be the cultural center of the empire. The Temple of Luxor was built at Thebes and grand additions were made to the Temple of Karnak. Pharaohs also built monumental Mortuary Temples to honor themselves as gods.