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Historically very little is known about this period apart from the funerary monuments like the pyramids and literary text. This time period is known as the ‘Pyramid Age’ – the pyramid being an indication of the absolute power of the living god-king.
Djoser of the Third Dynasty erected the first pyramid, the so-called Step Pyramid, at Saqqara, but the first proper pyramids were built by the kings of the Fourth Dynasty at Meidum, Dashur and the now well known site of Giza. Here at Giza are the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkau-Ra. The pyramids built for the kings of the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties are smaller and this perhaps is an indication of a time period on decline.
Near the end of the Sixth Dynasty several low inundations of the Nile caused famine. The last king was Pepi II who ruled Egypt for a very long time. In his time foreigners settled on the borders of Egypt and the authority of the king declined.
After Pepi’s death, Egypt again separated into two sections. This general disorder lasted for less than a hundred years and is called the First Intermediate Period, from 2181-2040 BCE.
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 The first pyramid, the so-called Step Pyramid, was erected by Djoser of the Third Dynasty at Saqqara. The Giza pyramids were built by the kings of the Fourth Dynasty at Meidum, Dashur. |