citation for background image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palermo_Stone
The Palermo Stone, a fragment of the Egyptian Royal Annals which can be found in Palermo, Italy. The Palermo Stone preserves royal annals that clearly indicate that the kings from the First and Second Dynasty come before the kings of the rest of the dynasties (Kitchen 1991:203).
Intro: Although there are several ways in which we can date events from the Early Dynastic Period to the Old Kingdom, the sequence of dynasties can be established through an incomplete kings list. This provides the clearest and most comprehensive timeline in which we can then examine the social stratification, clothing, religious practices, and burial practices of Ancient Egypt. These aspects will help us make sense of Egypt in its early days.
3000 BC - 2700 BC; First and Second Dynasties (Kitchen 1991:206)
Most believe that this is the transitional period between Upper and Lower Egypt unifying, whereas others believe that Egypt has long since been unified by this time (Lloyd 2010:49). The basic structure of the government developed in this period and is used for several following dynasties, where power flows from top to bottom (Lloyd 2010:54). This time period can also be noted for the institution of kingship that can be followed through the other dynasties (Bard 2015:117). The Second Dynasty is even harder to reassemble, but the Palermo Stone (above) provides somewhat of an outline of the period (Lloyd 2010: 50).
2700 BC - 2610 BC; Third through Sixth Dynasties (Kitchen 1991:206)
This time period can be defined as the “first flowering of classic Egyptian civilization” when the idea of kingship and power began (Lloyd 2010:xxxiiii).
This time period can also be marked by the pyramids. During the Old Kingdom, more specifically the Third Dynasty, pyramids began to make their breakthrough (Tignor 2010:35). The massive first pyramids of Egypt represent “state control over resources, both material and human” (Bard 2015:134). The three pyramids of Giza are a vital site of significance to Egypt, showing the height of the Old Kingdom all the way to the start of its decline.
Credited with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. More about Narmer and the unification in the "The Beginning of Egyptian Dynasties & Unified Egypt" section.
A recent discovery presents a royal cemetery found in Abydos from the Early Dynastic period, which suggests that the unification process started before the First Dynasty, but Narmer still was regarded as the first king (Lloyd 2010:49).
Finely carved reliefs of King Djoser running the Sed festival race found in one of the rooms in the South Tomb of his pyramid (Bard 2015:143). This pyramid was completed during Djoser’s longer reign, which can symbolize that he had a greater amount of power and control as unlike his successors, he was able to see the completion of his pyramid (Bard 2015:144).
Sneferu was the first king in the Fourth Dynasty and he made three pyramids during his reign (Bard 2015:145). The pyramids he built introduced a new level of “massiveness, consisting of more than 3.5 million cubic meters of stone” (Tignor 2010:37).
Khufu statue at the Egyptian Museum Cairo, Egypt.
He built the first pyramid at Giza, becoming “one of the most impressive structures of the ancient world” (Bard 2015:147-148).
Longest ruling king of Ancient Egypt, and the image above confirms he became king at a very young age. The image presents Pepi II as a child with his mother. The fall of the Old Kingdom, or at the end of the Sixth Dynasty, can be seen with the death of Pepi II (Wenke 1989:129). This is important as this begins the process of change that eventually leads to a more complex society of Egypt (Wenke 1989:129).