the Old Kingdom

(noun)

The name given to the period in the 3rd millennium BCE when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization—the first of three so-called "Kingdom" periods that mark the high points of civilization in the lower Nile Valley (the others being the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom).

Related Terms

Examples of the Old Kingdom in the following topics:

  • The Old Kingdom

    • The Old Kingdom is the first of three so-called "Kingdom" periods that mark the high points of civilization in the Nile Valley.
    • Thus, the period of the Old Kingdom is often called "The Age of the Pyramids."
    • Egypt's Old Kingdom was also a dynamic period in the development of Egyptian art.
    • Famine, conflict, and collapse beset the Old Kingdom for decades.
    • Explain the reasons for the rise and fall of the Old Kingdom

  • Tombs

    • During the Old Kingdom, mastabas and pyramids were built as tombs for the deceased in order to preserve their soul in the afterlife.
    • The Pyramids of Giza, massive stone-cut structures built from limestone quarried from the Nile River,are the most well-known example of pyramid tombs built during the Old Kingdom .
    • There is evidence of this ritual from the Old Kingdom to the Roman Period.
    • As burial customs developed in the Old Kingdom, wealthy citizens were buried in wooden or stone coffins; however the number of burial goods declined, sometimes to simply a set of copper tools and some vessels.
    • During the Old Kingdom, only the pharaoh had access to this material, which scholars refer to as the Pyramid Texts.

  • Sculpture of the Old Kingdom

    • Egyptian artisans during the Old Kingdom perfected the art of sculpting and carving intricate relief decoration out of stone.
    • Sculptures from the Old Kingdom are characteristically more natural in style than their predecessors.
    • Toward the end of the Old Kingdom, images of people shifted toward formalized nude figures with long bodies and large eyes.
    • The Great Sphinx, located among the Pyramids of Giza, is the largest monolith statue in the world.
    • Discuss the role of ka statues and funerary art in the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt

  • Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Art

    • During the Old Kingdom, the king of Egypt (not called the Pharaoh until the New Kingdom) became a living god, who ruled absolutely and could demand the services and wealth of his subjects.
    • Under King Djoser, the first king of the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, the royal capital of Egypt was moved to Memphis.
    • Indeed, the Old Kingdom is perhaps best known for the large number of pyramids constructed at this time as pharaonic burial places.
    • For this reason, the Old Kingdom is frequently referred to as "the Age of the Pyramids."
    • Create a timeline of ancient Egyptian civilization, marking the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms

  • The Pyramids of the Old Kingdom

    • Known as the "Age of the Pyramids," the Old Kingdom was characterized by revolutionary advancements in architecture.
    • The Old Kingdom of Egypt existed from the third through the sixth Dynasties (2686 BC–2182 BC).
    • These tombs were built in the form of great pyramids, and for this reason, the Old Kingdom is frequently referred to as the "Age of the Pyramids."
    • During the Old Kingdom, only the pharaoh had access to this material, which scholars refer to as the Pyramid Texts.
    • Djoser's step pyramid was the first of the great pyramids built during the Old Kingdom in Eqypt.

  • Tombs of the Middle Kingdom

    • Royal funerary practices in the Middle Kingdom remained much the same as in the Old Kingdom, with kings continuing to build pyramids for their burials.
    • Unlike the Old Kingdom, however, Middle Kingdom royal pyramids were not quite as well constructed, and so few of them remain as pyramid structures today.
    • Unlike the Old Kingdom, objects of daily use were not often included in the tombs; however, they reappeared toward the end of the Middle Kingdom.
    • In the Old Kingdom, the Pyramid Texts, which contained spells to help the dead reach the afterlife successfully, were only accessible to the elite.
    • Compare and contrast the tombs and burial goods of the Middle Kingdom with those of the Old Kingdom.

  • Ancient Egyptian Culture

    • The Middle Kingdom was a golden age for ancient Egypt, when arts, religion, and literature flourished.
    • The Middle Kingdom (2134-1690 BCE) was a time of prosperity and stability, as well as a resurgence of art, literature and architecture.
    • In the Middle Kingdom period, due to growth of middle class and scribes, literature began to be written to entertain and provide intellectual stimulation.
    • However, some Middle Kingdom literature may have been transcriptions of the oral literature and poetry of the Old Kingdom.
    • Future generations of Egyptians often considered Middle Kingdom literature to be "classic," with the ultimate example being the Story of Sinuhe.

  • Architecture of the Middle Kingdom

    • As the pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom restored the country's prosperity and stability, there was a resurgence of building projects.
    • Grand tombs in the form of pyramids continued to be built throughout the Middle Kingdom, along with villages, cities, and forts.
    • As in the Old Kingdom, stone was most often reserved for tombs and temples, while bricks were used for palaces, fortresses, everyday houses, and town walls.
    • Senusret III was a warrior-king who helped the Middle Kingdom reach its height of prosperity.
    • In his sixth year, he re-dredged an Old Kingdom canal around the first cataract to facilitate travel to upper Nubia, using this to launch a series of brutal campaigns.

  • The Middle Kingdom

    • However, the Middle Kingdom remained defensive in its military strategy, with fortifications built at the First Cataract of the Nile, in the Delta and across the Sinai Isthmus.
    • Amenemhet I never held the absolute power commanded, in theory, by the Old Kingdom pharaohs.
    • This instituted a practice that would be used throughout the Middle and New Kingdoms.
    • The reign of Amenemhat III was the height of Middle Kingdom economic prosperity, and is remarkable for the degree to which Egypt exploited its resources.
    • Describe the various characteristics of Sensuret III's rule during the height of the Middle Kingdom

  • The Legacy of Alexander the Great

    • Four stable power blocks emerged following the death of Alexander the Great: the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, the Seleucid Empire, the Attalid dynasty of the Kingdom of Pergamon, and Macedon.
    • The Ptolemaic Kingdom was a Hellenistic kingdom based in Egypt ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty, starting with Ptolemy I Soter’s accession to the throne following the death of Alexander the Great.
    • Early in the Ptolemaic dyansty, Egyptian religion and customs were observed and magnificent new temples were built in the style of the old pharohs.
    • The Attalid kingdom began as a rump state, but was expanded by subsequent rulers.
    • The Kingdom of Macedon at the death of Philip II (336 BCE)