[MUSIC] The Old Kingdom consists of Dynasties Three, 2686 to 2150 BCE, and into the Seventh and Eighth Dynasties, 2170 to 2130 BCE. A long period of time, more than 600 years. During Dynasties Three to Six, we see more consolidation of the kingdom and it territories. Religious doctrine develops significantly, and evidence of the ideology is apparent in art, architecture, and text. For example, we have the creation of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara in Dynasty Three. The Great Sphinx and pyramid at Giza in Dynasty Four. And the introduction of the pyramid texts at Saqqara at the end of the Fifth Dynasty. Now called the pyramid texts because they were originally carved on the interior walls of the inter chambers of the pyramids. They can consist of hundreds of spells created for the rulers use, and they would help ensure his transition to a divine afterlife. They continue in use in some form in both royal and private context well into the later periods, more than a thousand years later. The cult of the sun and its major god, Ra, became a central element of the belief system from then on. As we can see in royal names of the Old Kingdom, which incorporated the element Ra. It appears in several of the names of the kings of the Fourth Dynasty, such as Khafra and Menkaure. And also in the Fifth Dynasty, such as Sahure and Neferefre. It also appears in the title of the king, Son of Re, a phrase that identifies the king with that solar god, from the Fourth Dynasty on. The same deity is invoked in the pyramid texts, and even solar temples are erected to him at the site of Abusir, not far from Saqqara. The time period also focused on the god of the afterlife, Osiris, and elements of both gods, Osiris and Ra, turn up in the pyramid texts. Beyond their boarders, the kings of the Old Kingdom extended their power and domain. But their reigns exhibited some internal political issues, and it would not be too long before the bonds linking the two lands would begin to strain. The elaborate administrative system, and the organization of local and provincial governors that the Pharaohs has established, began to show weakness by the Sixth Dynasty. And soon some decentralization took place, and internal strife began to surface. And leaders of the Seventh and Eighth Dynasty were ephemeral, with those in charge of the south more powerful. In general, weaker kings led to stronger local political heads. The last two Dynasties of the Old Kingdom, Seven and Eight, and then the Ninth, Tenth and midway through the Eleventh, comprise a period under 200 years, 2130 to 1980 BC, that is called in modern times the First Intermediate Period. Local areas began to accumulate power and control at the expense of the central government around Memphis in the north. These actions resulted in competition for authority, in both the north and the south. Environmental changes may have led to lower Nile floods, less water and hence famine and disease. In addition, economic issues flared, derived likely from the costly royal construction of pyramids, temples, and palaces of the Old Kingdom. Biographical texts and other inscriptions indicate a variety of problems. And the need to prepare troops for warfare between districts.