Fourth Dynasty
The Old Kingdom and its royal power reached a zenith under the Fourth Dynasty (2613–2494 BC), which began with Sneferu (2613–2589 BC). Using more stones than any other pharaoh, he built three pyramids: a now collapsed pyramid in Meidum, the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur, and the Red Pyramid, at North Dahshur. However, the full development of the pyramid style of building was reached not at Saqqara, but during the building of the "great pyramids" at Giza.
Sneferu was succeeded by his son, Khufu (2589 - 2566 BC) who built the Great Pyramid of Giza. After Khufu's death his sons Djedefra (2528–2520 BC) and Khafra (2520–2494 BC) may have quarreled. The latter built the second pyramid and (in traditional thinking) the Sphinx in Giza. Recent reexamination of evidence has suggested that the Sphinx may have been built by Djedefra as a monument to Khufu.
There were military expeditions into Nubia and Palestine, with Egyptian influence reaching far up the Nile into what is today the Sudan. The later kings of the Fourth Dynasty were king Menkaure (2494–2472 BC), who built the smallest pyramid in Giza, Shepseskaf (2472–2467 BC) and, perhaps, Djedefptah (2486–2484 BC).
Read more about this topic: Old Kingdom Of Egypt
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