Fourth Dynasty of Egypt
Fourth Dynasty of Egypt | |||||||||
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| c. 2613 BC–c. 2498 BC | |||||||||
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built by King Khufu ("Cheops"), ca. 2600 BC | |||||||||
| Capital | Memphis | ||||||||
| Common languages | Egyptian language | ||||||||
| Religion | Ancient Egyptian religion | ||||||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Monarch | |||||||||
• c. 2613–c. 2589 BC (first) | Sneferu | ||||||||
| Historical era | Bronze Age | ||||||||
• Established | c. 2613 BC | ||||||||
• Disestablished | c. 2498 BC | ||||||||
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| Periods and dynasties of ancient Egypt |
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All years are BC and AD |
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See also: List of pharaohs by period and dynasty Periodization of ancient Egypt |
The Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty IV) is characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. Dynasty IV lasted from c. 2613 to c. 2498 BC. It was a time of peace and prosperity as well as one during which trade with other countries is officially documented.
The Fourth Dynasty heralded the height of the pyramid-building age. The peaceful rule of the Third Dynasty allowed artistic expressions to flourish. Building experiments done by King Sneferu led to the evolution of mastaba tombs into the smooth-sided pyramids like those seen on the Giza Plateau. According to some historians, no other period in Egyptian history equaled the accomplishments achieved during the Fourth Dynasty.