Alexus'+Information

= Egyption society ended, began, key events, it's peak, and it's worst. =

When it started - Around 6000 BC Hunter Gathers began using the Nile River as the centre in their territories, because the drying of the Sahara kept them coming back to the river anyways. Many people wondered why such a desert land would host such an amazing civilization, the answer is the Nile River. Certain times of the year the river would flood because of heavy seasonal rains, which deposited a layer of rich soil perfect for settled agriculture. The river took upon itself two laborious tasks, irrigating and enriching the soil, because of this it attracted early settlers from nearby Syria, Palestine and from Libyan tribes from the west and Nubia tribes from the west.

The pre-dynastic period of Egypt was a little different, Egypt was not just one country it was divided into Upper (Ta Shemau) and Lower Egypt (Ta Mehu). It was far away from the Egypt we think about today, ruled by lavish Pharaohs it was not. The first steps to this Egypt, were several battles. After these battles Egypt was finally joined as one, with King Menes, who was the king of Upper Egypt and was responsible for the battles that joined Egypt, crowned as the first Pharaoh. Now, Menes did not want to lose one of the two lands so he made his capital, Memphis, in the middle where the two lands used to join. With this, the first dynasty began.

The First King of the second Dynasty, Hotepsekhemwi is said to have unified the kingdom after some kind of turmoil, because his name means “the two powerful ones are at peace”. Hotepsekhemwi’s name is found on the tomb of Horus Qa’a, the last king of the first dynasty, it is the indication that Hotepsekhemwi buried Horus Qa’a and therefore is his successor. Hotepsekhemwi also took Horus Qa’a’s name at the beginning of his reign. Overall there it is said that the second dynasty lasted 204 years and had around seven kings. Although that number is disputed it could be anywhere from five to nine. Compared to the first and third dynasties, the second is weak in political, technological and cultural terms. There were few and unexceptional from this dynasty.

The third dynasty also started the “Old Kingdom”. The Old Kingdom’s first king was Zoser, he also started the pyramid era. This was a great indicator of the well functioning state and big tax revenues. It is also a good indicator if the advances in technology and culture. It is said that the Old Kingdom reached its peak with Snefru, Khufu, and Khafre, in the fourth dynasty. Those three were said to be the best pyramid builders.

The Fifth Dynasty is the most common or well known, with all the kings in the kings list and attested by archaeological sources. It had brought some critical changes and innovations. At the beginning of this dynasty there is an increase of the number of high officials. This is because high offices were no longer restricted to the royal family, as it was in the fourth dynasty. Government and administration were also changed, which resulted in a more efficient way for the king to rule the kingdom. With more high officials, came more documentation which makes it easier to find out more about this dynasty then the previous ones.

In the sixth dynasty further government reforms were meant to strengthen the peoples hold on the rest of the country. It has been said that putting local governors was the downfall of the sixth dynasty and the Old Kingdom. It is also said that the long reign of Pepi two was also the cause of the downfall. Even if Pepi two was unable to rule the country due to his ageing the central administration was organised so that they could have ruled it themselves. More commonly believed for the downfall was the climate changes, and lower inundation of the Nile River, have a greater chance to play a large role in the downfall.

Starting into the 7-8th dynasties and the First Intermediate, some local governors still recognized the Kings of the dynasties and the central government others started declaring themselves kings in their own rights. Especially at Heracleapolis, a city south of the Fayum oasis, the nomarchs were very successful in creating their own dynasty, the 9th/10th Dynasty. Their influence extended as far south as Abydos and Dendara, where it was challenged by the local ruler of Thebes. The local ruler of Thebes was the creator of the 11th dynasty. Other nomarchs, who were less powerful but capable of some Independence, left their loyalty to either the Heracleopolitan or the Theban dynasties. The rivalling dynasties waged their conflict on both a diplomatic and military level. Also putting a part of the country in a civil war. The victory of the Theban dynasty, Led by Mentuhotep two, was the beginning of the a new era, the Middle Kingdom.