Djoser, the King Who Changed Egypt Forever (C. 2650 BC)

So in this program, I want to talk about one of the most consequential kings of early Egypt, Netcheriket, whom the Greek historian Menetho called Dasotros, but who's more widely known to us today as Djoser. Scholars still debate when he lived and for exactly how long he ruled. It really sort of depends on which Egyptologist you follow. I'm going to place him between roughly 2686 and 2648 BC based on what I've seen in most of the books I've come across, but just know there are several differing opinions. Though at one time debated, we now know that Djoser was the first pharaoh of Egypt's third dynasty and the son of King Kassek Kemwi, the last ruler of the second dynasty. Now, you may be wondering, if Djoser was the son of Kassek Kemwi, the last king of the second dynasty, how can he be considered the first king of the third dynasty? After all, wouldn't father and son belong to the same dynasty? The answer lies in how we use the word dynasty. The concept of dynasties was formalized much later by the Egyptian priest Manetho in the 3rd century BC. He divided Egypt's long history into numbered dynasties to organize it chronologically. But, these divisions don't always correspond to clear breaks in bloodline. Sometimes they reflect political changes, shifts in royal ideology, administrative reorganization, or major cultural developments. In Djoser's case, there's no strong evidence of a violent break or contested succession between him and his father. In fact, archaeological evidence seems to indicate that it was quite a smooth transition from one ruler to the next. However, the beginning of the third dynasty marks the start of what we call the Old Kingdom, a period of political consolidation, administrative growth, and, most dramatically, the age of monumental stone pyramid building. This new phase in Egyptian civilization was significant enough to mark as a dynastic change, even if the royal bloodline itself continued uninterrupted. But, before Djoser came to power, Egypt had gone through a period of serious internal conflict near the end of the second dynasty. The country appears to have been divided, possibly along regional lines, between Upper and Lower Egypt. Some scholars believe rival kings ruled simultaneously from different centers of power, and royal inscriptions from the time hint at unrest and violence. Djoser's father, King Kasik Kemui, seems to have brought this civil conflict to an end. His name is particularly telling. Earlier in his reign, he was known as Kasik Kem, but later he adopted the name Kasik Kemui, meaning, the two powers appear, or the two powers are at peace. Many historians interpret this as a symbolic reference to the reunification of Upper and Lower Egypt after a civil war. Reliefs from his reign show large numbers of enemies killed, suggesting that he restored unity through force. When we study ancient civilizations on this channel, whether it's Egypt, Mesopotamia, ancient Iran, or Greece, we're studying how human beings learned to build a world. That's why I absolutely love this book, The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization by Hungryminds, the sponsor of today's video. This is no ordinary history book. It's a visual encyclopedia of the inventions that make civilization possible. Over 400 pages, 180 topics, across 23 chapters, illustrated in a style that blends engineering drawings with medieval and renaissance-inspired art. It's thoughtful, beautifully designed, and immersive. What struck me is just how interconnected everything is. These illustrations are fabulous. They're all human-created too, there's no AI in this at all. And it's printed on this beautifully art-matte paper. Another big surprise about this book is that it operates on various levels. On the surface, it's about rebuilding a civilization. But there are hidden references, symbols, and even a real interactive quest woven through its pages. You don't just read it once, you return to it. And I won't say more than that, because there are several surprises within this book, and a lot more than meets the eye. The book itself is, it's a work of art. The project raised over 2.3 million through crowdfunding and became a 2003 bestseller. So if you're fascinated by how civilizations are built, or are just looking for a thoughtful gift for that curious or hungry mind, the Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization might be something you'd be interested in. Check out the link in the description and use the promo code HISTORY10 for 10% off. Now, back to the video. By the time Djoser inherited the throne, Egypt was once again politically unified and stable. This stability likely gave Djoser the security and resources needed to embark on the ambitious building projects that would define his reign and permanently transform Egyptian architecture. During his lifetime, Djoser was known primarily by his Horus name, Netjeriket, the name that's found on monuments and inscriptions from his own time. The name Djoser appears in later king lists and was used by later generations. Djoser is best known for building Egypt's first pyramid at Saqqara. His chief architect was his vizier, Imhotep, a man so respected that later generations would deify him. Imhotep was known as the superintendent of all the king's works, a high priest of Heliopolis, a builder, mathematician, and physician. Imhotep's plan was to build a large stone mastaba, which is a flat-roofed tomb. Over time though, this design evolved. The mastaba was enlarged and stacked in stages until it became a six-step pyramid. The finished structure measured about 121 by 109 meters at its base and rose to a stunning height of 62 meters. The pyramid was only one part of a massive complex covering 37 acres. A wall over 10 meters high and stretching about 1.6 kilometers surrounded the area. Inside were ceremonial buildings, including pavilions representing Upper and Lower Egypt and chapels used for the Sed Festival. Beneath the pyramid lay a vast network of underground chambers, corridors, and storage rooms. The burial chamber itself was at the bottom of a 28 meter deep shaft. After the king's body was placed inside, a massive stone plug sealed the chamber. Excavations revealed over 40,000 stone vessels in the underground galleries, many inscribed with the names of earlier kings. There were also shafts likely intended for members of the royal family. In 1926 and again in 1934, excavators discovered fragmentary human remains in the burial chamber. However, modern carbon dating showed that these remains date to between 762 and 251 BC, about 2,000 years after Djoser's lifetime. The bones likely belonged to two later individuals, meaning we still don't know what became of Djoser's body. The Turin Canon credits Djoser with a reign of 19 years, while Minitho gives him nearly 30. Another source, the Palermo Stone, records at least a year 20. This is why we have a hard time knowing exactly how long he reigned, though most Egyptologists today, based on the evidence we have, believe it was probably around two decades. Outside of his pyramid complex and a few scattered inscriptions, Djoser's not very heavily documented in surviving records. Yet his impact was enormous. His reign marked the beginning of the Great Pyramid Building Age of Egypt, with the Step Pyramid at Saqqara being the first monumental stone building in history. Djoser's reign definitely represents a turning point. Under him, Egypt entered a new phase of political stability, architectural ambition, and royal power that would define the Old Kingdom, an era that I'll continue to talk about on this channel. But until then, thanks for watching. I'd also like to thank the channel's patrons for making videos like this possible. These include, but are certainly not limited to, Dianastra, Nimrodneer, Hypnosan, Brendan Redman, Faridun Darachanji, Jimmy Darwala, Enehide Debu, Gulistan Debu, Cher Cam, Farhad Kama, and all of the channel's patrons on Patreon for helping to support this and all future content. Check out the benefits to being a Patreon member, and if you'd like to join, feel free to click the link in the video description below. You can also follow History with Sy on Instagram, Facebook, and Dex, as well as continue to listen to special audio programs on the History with Sy podcast. Thanks again, and stay safe.