The Old Kingdom is the period in the third millennium BCE, often called the Age of the Pyramids, when Egypt had a strong centralized monarchy ruling from Memphis. It covers the Third to Sixth Dynasties, and sometimes the Seventh and Eighth. Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, designed by Imhotep, was the first monumental stone building, followed by the pyramids of Sneferu at Dahshur and the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx, and the pyramid of Menkaure at Giza. The pharaoh was regarded as a god-king, served by viziers and officials, and expeditions were sent to Sinai, Nubia and Lebanon for minerals and cedar. In the Sixth Dynasty power drifted to provincial governors, and the state fragmented, leading to the First Intermediate Period.
Before and after
- from c. 3,000 BCE to 1,800 BCEIndus Valley Civilization
- from c. 3,000 BCE to 2,240 BCEEbla
- from 30th century BCE to 18th century BCEMari
- from c. 2,890 BCE to 2,686 BCESecond Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,707 BCE to 2,216 BCEOld Kingdom of Egypt
- from c. 2,700 BCE to 539 BCEElam
- c. 2,700 BCEConstruction of Bent Pyramid
- from c. 2,686 BCE to 2,613 BCEThird Dynasty of Egypt
- c. 2,640 BCEConstruction of Pyramid of Djoser
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- from c. 753 BCE to 476 CEAncient Rome
- 7th century BCEConstruction of Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 28th century BCE.