Rise and Fall

The Old Kingdom

2700–2200 BCE 

This was Egypt’s first golden age — the time when the pyramids were built! More than 100 pyramids were made during this time, each one a tomb for a pharaoh or noble. The Great Pyramid at Giza and its two smaller neighbors still stand proudly today. The workers were not slaves — they were skilled builders paid in bread, beer, and shelter. The pyramid’s shape was meant to help the pharaoh’s spirit climb up to the heavens.

But after many strong kings, Egypt began to weaken. A new group of people called the Hyksos came from the north. They had invented something Egypt had never seen before — the chariot, a fast two-wheeled war wagon pulled by horses! Egyptian soldiers only fought on foot, so the Hyksos easily defeated the Old Kingdom using their speedy chariots and new bronze weapons. This began a long, difficult time for Egypt until it could rise again.

The Middle Kingdom

2050–1650 BCE

The Middle Kingdom came next and brought peace, trade, and great art. People began writing stories for fun, not just for kings or gods. The most famous story was The Tale of Sinuhe. It’s about a man named Sinuhe who runs away from Egypt after the pharaoh dies because he’s scared. He travels through deserts, wins battles, and becomes rich and respected — but he misses home. Years later, the new pharaoh forgives him and welcomes him back to Egypt. Sinuhe returns, thankful and happy, and is buried with honor. It’s a story about courage, forgiveness, and finding your way home — lessons we still understand today!

The New Kingdom

1550–1070 BCE

This was Egypt’s strongest time. The pharaohs built mighty armies, grand temples, and ruled lands far beyond the Nile. Ramses II led great battles and conquered the Nubians in the south. At his giant temple of Abu Simbel, huge statues of Ramses stare out across the desert. On the walls, artists carved pictures of enemy soldiers with their hands and heads cut off — proof of Ramses’s victories! These carvings were meant to frighten his enemies and show his power. This was a kind of propaganda, which means using pictures or words to make people think or feel a certain way.

Later, mysterious enemies called the Sea Peoples attacked from the Mediterranean Sea. The Egyptians fought bravely and defeated them, but the wars weakened Egypt. Over time, the kingdom faded, and the Greeks and later the Romans took control.