2600-2401 BCE (Grand Union)

The 26th and 25th Centuries are the fourth section of the Bronze Age of history.

Bronze Age Pt. 3:
2800-2601 BCE

Bronze Age Pt. 4
2600-2401 BCE

Bronze Age Pt. 5:
2400-2201 BCE

Egypt[]

With Senedj's death early into the construction of the Pyramids and The Great Sphinx at Giza, many would wonder if the next ruler by the name of Seth-Peribsen would continue the previous ruler's wishes to build these great wonders. Peribsen would continue his predecessors work and continue the construction of these great wonders. Though Egypt did not have enough manpower needed to effectively construct these great tombs, he continued with the construction. Peribsen is known for having nobles and traders promote the construction by offering pay to come and work on the pyramids. Though the tactic worked in bringing in the people necessary to work on the pyramids, it heavily hindered the coffers and economy by having to pay for the exponential growth in the workforce. However, the funds were not completely crippling and Peribsen did leave the kingdom in a recoverable state with the Pharaoh opting for the building of temples to the gods across the kingdom, allowing people to restore their faith in both the Pharaoh and the kingdom.

Khasekhemwy's decade long reign was spent by trading and influencing the local tribes and smaller nations that surrounded the Egyptian Kingdom, along with trying to balance the economy with the construction of the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. Khasekhemwy unfortunately died of a heart attack in his sleep, leaving his son Djoser to take his throne. Djoser's reign would be brutal and unfair to those around him. Djoser would cut back the on the amount of paid workers on the Pyramids and Sphinx, allowing the economy to expand exponentially. Instead he used it to raise and train an army. The next 20 years would be spend expanding Egypt into various other territories and enslaving many of the non-Egyptians, which mostly consisted of the Canaanites and Nubians in the surrounding areas. The tribesmen who were captured were put to immediate work on the Pyramids and Sphinx, to make up for the low amount of native workers working on the Pyramids and Sphinx. Despite his brutality, Djoser was popular with local Egyptians, due to his relaxed labor policies on native Egyptians. Another positive to his reign was that conquests in the regions had also provided new resources and expanded opportunities, as well as a new slave class doing the dirtier jobs the Egyptians did not wish to do or perform.

Sekhemkhet's reign after his father's saw a betterment for the nations around him, as he had substantially lowered the amount of active soldiers within the military. He had also expanded trade to the Sumerians and into the Ifran tribes to the south of him, and occasional trade into the new home of the non-enslaved Canaanites, Syria. The Great Pyramids and Sphinx would eventually be completed near the end of Sekhemkhet's reign, many expected him to either keep the slaves or release them back to their homelands, but he died before a real decision could be made. The ruler after Sekhemkhet his son, Sanakht spent most of his reign quelling the clashes that had broken out between the slave class and the lower peasantry class. These clashes came from when the lower peasantry class citizens were running low on job opportunities from either the lack of education or the type of labor, thanks in part to the slave class. Sanakht merely kept both classes oppressed, but continued clashes continued into his death. Sekhemekhet also contacted tribes from the Western Oases in the Sahara, and many were taken as slaves.

Khaba's reign shocked most of those around him, after years of his father being unable to quell the class clashes, he decided if it was best to let the slave class return to their homelands. Though it was at a very slow rate, the slave class was nearly gone by the end of his reign, leaving his son to finish his task. Although many of the slaves returned to their homelands, others stayed within the kingdom to start a new life in another part of the kingdom. The slow release of the slave class, slowly allowed the return of the lower peasantry class' role.

Rest of the World[]

Butmir culture arises in Butmir, near the current Macedonian province of Bosnia. It is characterized by its unique pottery, and is one of the best researched European cultures from 2600-2400 BC. A small empire forms in Sumer, and succedes to unify a large part of the city-states in the region. It is considered to many as the first empire in that area, but it falls apart soon after it's formation. Harappan Civilization also arose within the Indus River Valley, centered on the community of Mohenjo-Daro.