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The Sumerians invented a system of writing called cuneiform. A reed stylus was used to make wedge-shaped markings on clay tablets. Then the tablets were baked in the sun.
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Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt began as separate kingdoms. The rulers of Upper Egypt wore a tall white crown. The rulers of Lower Egypt wore a red crown. In 3100 BCE the king of Upper Egypt, Menes (Narmer) won a conflict and therefore united Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt as one kingdom. Rulers of the united kingdom wore a double crown to represent both regions. King Menes became the first pharaoh and founded the First Dynasty. -
The Sumerians developed the first Mesopotamian civilization. By 3000 BCE the Sumerians had built several city-states such as Ur and Uruk. These city-states were controlled by the surrounding countryside politically and economically. The Sumerians invented the arch and the dome. The temple was the most important building and the temple was built upon a ziggurat.
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The invention of the wheel was a boost to trade. The wheel was also used by the Egyptians.
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Characteristics of the Old Kingdom include great wealth, monuments and the pyramids. The god of sun Ra was important.
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During the Old Kingdom many famous pyramids were built. Such as the Step Pyramid at Saqqara was was built for King Djoser which was his tomb. This pyramid was the first monumental stone building built. Great pyramids of the kings of the 4th dynasty are on a plateau of Giza which is high above Cairo. These pyramids are the pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), and the other pyramids were built for his two sons Chephren, and Mycerinus.
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Around 2340 BCE the Akkadians which were people living in the north invaded the Sumerian city-states. The Akkadians were led by Sargon and they conquered Sumer and established the world's first empire.
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Towards the end of the 6th dynasty the climate of the Nile river caused Egypt to suffer from famines and therefore this was the ending of the old monarchy. After the death of Pepi ll who ruled for 94 years Egypt separated into two parts. The country entered a time called the First Intermediate Period.
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In the Middle Kingdom Nubian was the new ruler and he combined his religion with the old kingdom. There was already the god Amun that combined with Rah to create the god Amun Ra. During the Middle Kingdom they built temples for Amun-Ra. They prayed to him for things such as rain. Egypt was still somewhat isolated but there were close foreign invaders that came in during the Middle Kingdom. The pharaohs had short reigns and had little personal fame. Thus the authority of the throne weakened.
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Hammurabi of Babylon overthrew the Akkadians and established a new empire. Hammurabi made the Code of Hammurabi. This is an important early system of law. The principle of retaliation is fundamental to Hammurabi's code. The laws were carved onto a stone and this showed that not even kings were above the law. Hammurabi's code showed the patriarchal nature of Mesopotamian society. As women had fewer privileges and rights than men.
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People from other countries settled into Egypt. Many of them were prisoners of war during the campaigns of the 12th dynasty pharaohs. The settlers gained power and established their base in the town of Avaris in the delta and seized control about 1670 BCE. This is when Egypt went into its 2nd Intermediate Period where Egypt was controlled by foreign rulers called Hyksos and later on Greeks.
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During the New Kingdom the three pharaohs were Hatshepsut and she was a female pharaoh. Women weren’t suppressed if a woman could rise to be a pharaoh. She expanded Egypt through trade. Another pharaoh is Akhenaten who tried to invent a new god called Aten and he tried to change the pillars of religion which Egypt was built on. He tried to make Egypt follow monotheism instead of polytheism. Tutankhaten was his son who went on to rule after his mother and sister.
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Jews lived peacefully in Egypt for some time before eventually they weren't liked anymore. When the Hyksos were expelled the Jewish people were enslaved in 1200 BCE. The Jews endured around 400 years of slavery before Moses led them out of Egypt and to freedom. They fled into the desserts of Sinai Peninsula.
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In 332 BCE Alexander the Great took invaded Egypt with his mixed army of Macedonians and Greeks. The Egyptians didn't want to be under the oppressive Persian control anymore. Therefore the Egyptians welcomes Alexander and Alexander the Great took Egypt without a battle. The people of Egypt were ruled by Macedonians and administered in Greek. After Cleopatra Vll’s reign resulted in defeat by the forces of the Roman empire which was Augustus, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire.
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