The Old Kingdom

1. The Old Kingdom Chapter 4 Lesson 2

2. Objectives • Explain ancient Egypt’s political structure. • Describe the earliest uses of Egyptian writing • Describe early Egyptian architecture.

3. Vocabulary • Diplomacy- relations between countries • Nation-State- region with united people and single government • Dynasty- series of rulers from the same family • Vizier- chief advisor (works for King) • Hieroglyphs- picture symbols • Papyrus- paper-like material used for writing • Pyramids- largest stone structures in the world; served as tombs for Egyptian rulers

4. Egypt Unites • About 3100 BC King Narmar united Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt • This began the Egyptian period that historians now call the Old Kingdom • It was a time when the Egyptians believed that their kings were living gods • This belief helped unify the people, and it also allowed the kings to maintain their authority

5. Written Forms of Language • The Egyptians may have borrowed the idea of writing from the Sumerians • They developed a writing system that used hieroglyphs in about 3100 BC

6. Building the Pyramids • Because they were thought to be living gods, Egyptian kings were able to use huge amounts of Egypt’s resources and the whole society to build pyramids • The pyramids served as tombs for Egyptian rulers

7. Preparing for the Afterlife • The tomb of royalty contained everything a royal person might need in the afterlife, including the person’s mummified body

8. Summary • The belief that Egyptian kings were living gods helped them maintain their authority • The kings ordered pyramids built as their burial places. • The Egyptians came to believe that all people could enter the afterlife.