Old Kingdom (C. 2686 – 2181 BC)
This is also known as ‘the age of the pyramid builders’ with many of these incredible structures built during the Old Kingdom Period. Djoser was the son of Khasekhemwy and was the first ruler of the Third Dynasty. He commissioned the first pyramid ever to be built in Egypt. He asked a powerful priest and architect called Imhotep to design a stone monument. The result was the Step-Pyramid at Saqqara which was near the capital Memphis.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built for Khufu during the Fourth Dynasty. It was created over a 10-20 year period and is believed to have been completed by 2560 BC. At approximately 146.5 meters high, it was to remain the world’s largest manmade structure for over 3,800 years until the completion of the Lincoln Cathedral in 1311. While ancient Greek writers suggest Khufu was a tyrant, Egyptian sources suggest he was a pious ruler.
Khufu’s predecessor and father, Sneferu, had the Meidum, Bent and Red Pyramids built during his reign and historians believe he was buried in the latter. The second largest pyramid at Giza was built during the reign of Khafre and the third largest during the rule of Menkaure.
It appears as Egypt enjoyed a lengthy spell of prosperity and peace and this golden age lasted throughout the Third and Fourth Dynasties, a period of between 150 and 200 years. During this time, the various Pharaohs reigned relatively unchallenged, and there was a lack of foreign threats. During the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, however, the kingdom’s wealth began to dwindle (due to pyramid building as much as anything) and the nobles and priests that grew up around the sun god Ra started to exert more influence on the kingdom.
Things began to fall apart after the death of Neferkare Pepi II who ruled for anywhere between 64 and 94 years depending on the source (the latter would make him the longest reigning monarch in human history). When he died in c. 2184BC, chaos reigned and signaled the end of the Old Kingdom.
First Intermediate Period (c. 2181-2055 BC)
This was a messy age in Egyptian history as various Pharaohs tried and failed to consolidate power. There was up to five different dynasties and as many as 39 rulers in this 126 year period. The Seventh and Eighth Dynasties are usually combined and consisted of many monarchs who attempted to rule a broken kingdom from Memphis.
The entire administration had devolved into a feudal system, so even these ‘kings’ held relatively little power. Menkare was probably the first leader of the Seventh Dynasty while Neferirkare was the last ruler of the Eighth Dynasty. No one was able to hang on to the throne for more than a couple of years and both dynasties ruled for less than a combined total of 45 years. It may have been as little as 25 years. Famine, disease and a series of attacks from marauding Bedouins did not help Egypt’s cause.
The Ninth Dynasty (based in Heracleopolis) fared no better and consisted of up to 18 kings according to the Turin King List. It ruled from 2160 – 2130 BC and most of the names of the leaders are missing. The Tenth Dynasty also used Heracleopolis as its capital and faced a threat from another ruling family in Thebes.
Things get a little confusing at this stage. Intef the Elder probably started the 11th Dynasty and is believed to have been succeeded by Mentuhotep I in c. 2135 BC. However, some Egyptologists believe this particular monarch never even existed as his name is not found on any contemporary monument.
After another handful of rulers, it appears as if Mentuhotep II, a Theban prince, managed to take control of Egypt, defeating the ruling families at Heracleopolis and ending this age of instability. For some historians, this marked the beginning of the 11th Dynasty; others divide it into two parts with Mentuhotep II as the first leader of the second part.