Ancient Egypt: Old and Middle Kingdom

River Nile

Crucial for agriculture and transportation in Egypt.

Polytheistic Society

Belief in multiple gods influencing daily life.

Absolute God-King

Pharaoh held ultimate power and divine status.

Old Kingdom

Period from 2686 to 2125 BCE in Egypt.

Middle Kingdom

Era of prosperity from 2040 to 1640 BCE.

New Kingdom

Period from 1550 to 1070 BCE, marked by expansion.

Baked Mud Brick

Common construction material for homes and walls.

Monumental Stone Construction

Durable building material for temples and pyramids.

Mastaba Tombs

Early tombs with flat roofs and mud brick.

Interior Decorations

Colored carvings depicting daily life for deceased.

Deep Shaft

Added to tombs to deter grave robbers.

Pyramids

Tombs symbolizing rebirth and divine power.

Mortuary Temple

Site for rituals associated with the deceased.

Stepped Pyramid of Djoser

First monumental stone structure, designed by Imhotep.

Angle of Repose

Critical for pyramid stability in construction.

Bent Pyramid

Pyramid with an unusual angle, built by Snefru.

Great Pyramid of Khufu

Largest pyramid, built with 2.3 million limestone blocks.

Khafre Pyramid

Notable for surviving smooth limestone apex.

Menkaure Pyramid

Incomplete pyramid due to the pharaoh's early death.

Hypostyle Halls

Large halls supported by columns, enhancing ritual atmosphere.

Post and Lintel System

Construction method using vertical posts and horizontal beams.

Flower/Bud Capitals

Column tops designed to resemble papyrus plants.

Tomb of Mentuhotep

Notable for its conjectural pyramid and column spacing.