Egypt 2.1: Life in Ancient Egypt

​Around 2600 BC, the period of Egypt's civilization was called the Old Kingdom and lasted until 2200 BC.

​During these years, Egypt built great cities, increased trade, and formed a unified government

​they developed a government under an all-powerful ruler who controlled both religious and political affairs called a theocracy

​the Egyptians were ruled by a pharaoh which means "great house"

​the pharaoh held total power and issued commands that had to be obeyed

​Egyptians were loyal to their pharaoh and believed that a pharaoh's wise and far-reaching leadership would help their kingdom survive disasters like war and famine

​The pharaoh appointed bureaucrats or government officials, to carry out his orders

​they supervised the construction and repair of dams, irrigation canals, and brick granaries

​the pharaoh's officials collected tax payments of grain from farmers

​the pharaoh also distributed land to officials, priests, and wealthy Egyptians he liked

​Egyptians thought the pharaoh was the song of Re, the Egyptian sun god

• ​was thought to be a god on earth

• ​ in the public, he was carried and people played music on flutes and cymbals and bowed their heads

​the pharaoh participated in ceremonies to help the kingdom thrive

• ​rode a bull around Memphis because the Egyptians believed that this would help keep the soil fertile

• ​first to cut the grain at harvest time believing this would produce abundant crops