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The Old Kingdom (2686-2181BC)
Pharaonic burial
practices continued to develop during the Third Dynasty, lasting from
2686-2613BC, which marked the beginnings
of the Old Kingdom. The first of Egypt's pyramids were constructed
during the 27th century BC. The Step Pyramid of Saqqara built
for King Zoser by his chief architect Imhotep, who later
generations deified, is considered by many to be the first pyramid
ever constructed in Egypt. Prior to this, most royal tombs were
constructed of sun-dried bricks. Zoser's gargantuan step
pyramid attested to the pharaoh's power and established the pyramid as
the pre-eminent Pharaonic burial structure. During Zoser's rule
the Sun God Ra attained a supra-eminent place over all other Egyptian
deities.
The Fourth Dynasty (2613-2494BC) was
characterized by expansionism and pyramid construction. King Sneferu
constructed the Red Pyramid at Dahshur near Saqqara and
the Pyramid of Meidum in Al-Fayoum. He also sent military expeditions
as far as Libya and Nubia. During his reign trading along the Nile
flourished. Sneferu's descendants, Cheops (Khufu), Chephren (Khafre)
and Mycerinus (Menkaure) were the last three kings of the
Fourth Dynasty. These three pharaohs built the pyramids of Giza.
Egypt under Cheops became the first state in the history of the world
to be governed according to an organized system. The Fourth Dynasty
also extended trade relations with the Near East and mined and smelted
copper in Nubia.
The Fifth Dynasty (2490-2330BC) was
marked by a relative decline in Pharaonic power and wealth, evidenced
by the smaller pyramids of Abu Sir built during this period. The
pharaohs ceased to be absolute monarchs and began to share power with
the aristocracy and high officials. As the independence of the
nobility increased, their tombs became larger and were built at
increasing distances from the pharaohs.
Worship of the sun god Ra also spread during the Fifth Dynasty. It was
during the reign of Unas that religious texts were placed in the
pyramids bearing descriptions of the afterworld which were later
gathered into the Book of the Dead.
Decentralization of Pharaonic authority increased during the Sixth
Dynasty (2330-2170BC) as small provincial
principalities emerged to challenge Pharaonic power. The Sixth Dynasty
kings were forced to send expeditions as far as Nubia, Libya
and Palestine to put down the separatists, but these campaigns served
to further erode the central authority. By the reign of the last Sixth
Dynasty Pharaoh Pepi II, the Old Kingdom had become a spent force.
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