• Old Kingdom = Prosperity

• Middle Kingdom solved the flooding problem with canals used to irrigate new farmland
  

The Old and Middle Kingdoms

• Upper Egypt = White Crowns

• Lower Egypt = Red Crowns

• United by Narmer who became the first pharaoh.

• Narmer wore red and white double crown.

Uniting Egypt

The Kingdoms of Egypt

• Relied on bureaucracy headed by vizier.

• Farmers paid taxes with surplus crops.

• Taxes went to bureaucracy, priests, pharaoh, artisans, merchants.

The Political Order in Egypt

• Conquered lands in Asia & Africa.

• High point of power & prosperity.

• Conquered by Persian Empire.

• Conquered by Alexander the Great's Greek Army

High Point and Decline

The Kingdoms of Egypt

• Social order provided loyalty and labor.

• Gods controlled all

• Pharaoh = God-king

• Farmers held religious devotion to pharaohs

• Slaves were property and forced to labor.

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How was Egyptian Society Organized