Bronze Age
Ancient Egypt
2500 BC – 1070 BC · peak 1450 BC
The Old Kingdom of Egypt (c. 2686–2181 BC) spanned the Third to Sixth Dynasties with its capital at Memphis. It is characterized by the construction of the Giza pyramid complexes and the centralized authority of the pharaohs over the Nile Valley. Internal political fragmentation and climatic changes led to its eventual collapse into the First Intermediate Period.
Capital: Memphis / Thebes
Key figures
Battles in this period
Trade routes in use
- Amber Road (1500 BC – 500 AD)
- Phoenician Mediterranean Routes (1100 BC – 300 BC)