The Old Kingdom of Egypt

“The Old Kingdom was the richest and most creative period in Egyptian history.” All the pyramids were built at this time and Egypt was wealthy and prosperous. There were ten (and part of the eleventh) dynasties in this kingdom.

“With whom the Predynastic Period ends and the 1st Dynasty begins is a matter of speculation, with Narmer either being the first king of the 1st Dynasty [which began in 3100 B.C,] or the last king of the Predynastic period. This is an argument that has never really been settled.” However, assuming that Narmer was the first king of the first dynasty, these are the rulers.

1st Dynasty
“Narmer
Aha [also known as Menes.] At this time, “Egypt was split into two districts: Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. Unification of these two kingdoms came under King Menes in 3100 BC. Menes unified the two areas and divided the land into 40 regions where a governor was appointed to rule each region and report back to the Pharaoh.”
Djer
Djet
Den
Anedjib
Semerkhet
Qa’a.” (Oakes 340)

During this first dynasty, “papyrus was invented and as a consequence writing was used as an administrative tool of government.”

“From the end of the 1st dynasty, there is evidence of rival claimants to the throne.” We see that Hetepsekhemwy was successful in claiming the throne, though, thus starting the 2nd dynasty.

2nd Dynasty
“Hetepsekhemwy [means ‘peaceful in respect of the two powers’ and may allude to the conclusion of strife between two factions or parts of the country, to the antagonistic gods Horus and Seth, or to both.”]
Raneb
Nynetjer
Weneg
Sened
Peribsen
Khasekhemwy” (Oakes 340)

“The Second Dynasty maintained the war records of raids into Nubia. None of the raid efforts were large scale or resulted in permanent conquest, but they are indicative of a desire for the wealth of Nubia. Another large exploit of the Egyptians during the Second Dynasty is the shift of a power center from Abydos to Memphis. This shift, due largely in part to resources, could also possibly have been due to the cult of the Sun god Ra beginning during this period, and also due to a want for greater political control by the king. By the end of the 2nd Dynasty an end to political opposition of north and south established a basic economic, religious and political system, which lasted well into dynasties to come, and paved the way for the more affluent Third Dynasty.”

This is when the Old Kingdom actually starts. This dynasty began in 2686 B.C.

3rd Dynasty
“Sanakht (Nebka)
Djoser (Netjerikhet) [Djoser is “accredited with building the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The king's vizier, Imhotep, was the architect of that great tomb, and of the magnificent Funerary Complex of Djoser at Saqqara. Egypt also experienced a seven year famine during Djoser's reign.”]
Sekhemkhet
Khaba
Huni” (Oakes 340)

Overall, this third dynasty was a prosperous age. “The artistic masterpieces in the tombs of the nobles show the martial wealth of this time.”

4th Dynasty
“Sneferu [This pharaoh “sent military expeditions as far as Libya and Nubia.”]
Khufu (Cheops) [He built the Great Pyramid of Giza.”]
Djedefre (Radjedef) [He built the second pyramid of Giza.]
Khafre (Chephren) [He built the third and final pyramid of Giza.]
Menkaure (Mycerinus)
Shepseskaf” (Oakes 340)

“The fourth dynasty came from Memphis and the fifth from the south in Elephantine. [However,] the transition from one ruling family to another appears to have been peaceful.”

5th Dynasty
"Userkaf
Sahure
Neferirkare
Shepseskare
Reneferef
Niuserre
Menkauhor
Djedkare
Unas (Wenis)" (Oakes 340)
“There are surviving papyri from this period which demonstrate well developed methods of accounting and record keeping.”

“The Old Kingdom is often also called the ‘Pyramid Age,’” but “from Dynasty 5 the pyramids declined. They ceased with the collapse of the Old Kingdom. Although reintroduced in the Middle Kingdom, they were finally replaced by rock-cut tombs.” (David 25)

6th Dynasty
"Teti
Userkare
Pepi I (Meryre)
Merenre
Pepi II (Neferkare)
Nitiqret" (Oakes 340)

“There are many inscriptions from the sixth dynasty. These include records of trading expeditions to the south from the reigns of Pepi I. One of the most interesting is a letter written by Pepy II. The pyramid of Pepi II at southern Saqqara is the last major monument of the Old Kingdom.

“7th and 8th Dynasties
…Numerous short reigns…” (Oakes 340)

This time from 2181 B.C. to 2055 B.C. is called the First Intermediate Period.

“When King Pepy II [Pepi II] died after 94 years of reign, the government lost control of power. This decline in royal power allowed provincial governors to form states, ruling their districts. The people no longer felt an allegiance to the pharaoh...As the pharaoh’s power decreased, the power of the governors increased.”

“9th and 10th Dynasties
Khety (Meryibre)
Khety (Wahkre)
Merykare
Ity” (Oakes 340)

There was general conflict in Egypt at this time, but was resolved in the 11th dynasty.

11th Dynasty
Mentuhotep I (‘Tepy-aa’)
Intef I (Sehertawy)
Intef II (Wahankh)
Intef III (Nakhtnebtepnefer)
Middle Kingdom c. 2055-c.1650
Mentuhotep II (Nebhepetre)
Mentuhotep III (Sankhkare)
Mentuhotep IV (Nebtawyre)” (Oakes 340)

“Life was good in the Old Kingdom. Egypt was at peace, and trade flourished. Mighty kings built the Great Pyramids, and sculptors and tomb painters created the finest art of Egypt’s history.” (Marston 9 and 10) However, this could not last forever. “The Old Kingdom declined with power struggles within and raids from without.”

David, Rosalie. Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press. 1998.

Marston, Elsa. The Ancient Egyptians. New York: Benchmark Books. 1996.

Oakes, Lorna and Lucia Gahlin. Ancient Egypt. New York: Barnes & Noble Publishing, Inc. 2003.