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Period · c. 2700–2200 BC
Old Kingdom
- Dates
- c. 2700–2200 BC
- Dynasties
- 3rd to 6th Dynasties
- Capital
- Memphis
- In the directory
- 35 entries
The age of the pyramids: a powerful centralised state organises labour and raw materials on an unprecedented scale. The king is regarded as the son of the sun god Ra.
Achievements and events
- c. 2680 BCStep Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, designed by Imhotep: the first monumental stone building of this size.
- c. 2640 BCSneferu builds three pyramids and makes the transition from the step pyramid to the true pyramid (Red Pyramid at Dahshur).
- c. 2600 BCPyramid of Khufu at Giza, originally 146.6 m high: the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.
- c. 2560 BCPyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx of Giza.
- c. 2470 BC5th Dynasty: sun temples for the god Ra; Sahure sends an expedition to Punt, the land of incense.
- c. 2350 BCPyramid Texts in the pyramid of Unas: the oldest known collection of religious texts from Egypt.
- c. 2245–2180 BCPepi II reigns for more than 60 years; the administration is decentralised and the provincial governors (nomarchs) grow stronger.
All rulers of the period
3rd Dynasty
- Nebkac. 2740–2720 BC
- Djoserc. 2720–2700 BC
- Djoserteti/Tetic. 2700–2695 BC
- “Hudjefa II”c. 2695 BC?
- Mesochrisc. 2690 BC?
- Hunibetween 2690 and 2670 BC
- Sanakhtto c. 2670 BC
- Nebkare (Neferka)
- Khabac. or shortly after 2670 BC
- Qahedjetto c. 2670 BC
- Sa
4th Dynasty
- Sneferuc. 2670–2620 BC
- Khufuc. 2620–2580 BC
- Djedefrec. 2580–2570 BC
- Khafrec. 2570–2530 BC
- Bikherisc. 2530 BC
- Menkaurec. 2530–2510 BC
- Shepseskafc. 2510–2500 BC
- Thamphthisc. 2500 BC
5th Dynasty
- Userkafc. 2500–2490 BC
- Sahurec. 2490–2475 BC
- Neferirkarec. 2475–2465 BC
- Shepseskarec. 2465–2460 BC
- Neferefre (Raneferef)c. 2460–2455 BC
- Nyuserrec. 2455–2420 BC
- Menkauhorc. 2420–2410 BC
- Djedkarec. 2410–2380 BC
- Unasc. 2380–2350 BC
6th Dynasty
- Teti IIc. 2318–2300 BC
- Userkarec. 2300 BC
- Pepi Ic. 2295–2250 BC
- Nemtyemsaf I (Antyemsaf I) (Merenre I)c. 2250–2245 BC
- Pepi IIc. 2245–2180 BC
- Nemtyemsaf II (Antyemsaf II) (Merenre II)c. 2180 BC
- Nitocrisc. 2180 BC