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The Old Kingdom began in about 2680 B.C. The tan area on the map shows Egypt during the Old Kingdom. In that time Egypt had a strong central government. The next 500 years became known for the building of Egypt’s huge pyramids. The Old Kingdom lasted for about 500 years. During that 500 years Egypt was active and it was an age of peace and splendor.
The first most well known Egyptian pyramid was built for King Zoser at Saqqarah in about 2650 B.C. During the Old Kingdom, workers built that great pyramid and other great pyramids at Giza. The great pyramid was built for King Cheops (or Khufu). More huge pyramids were built nearby for his son, King Khafre, and also King Menkaure. Farmers worked on the pyramids when the Nile flooded their fields of corn. By the end of the Old Kingdom, the king’s power began to
weaken as the government officials fought for their power. The Old Kingdom only
lasted until 2181 B.C. Most of the rulers after the Old Kingdom ended were
weak rulers. From then on Kings built their tombs in good pyramid form. Each pyramid guarded the body of the king that had that tomb with a house in a chamber deep in the pyramid. During the Old Kingdom, all of the pharaohs kept a splendid court. People worshiped those pharaohs as if they were gods. They believed that they were the sons of Ra or Re the great sun-god. The Old Kingdom ended in 2181 B.C. |
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Then finally the capital was moved to Thebes.