Final answer:
Pharaohs were the rulers of ancient Egypt, known for their divine status and their role in building an extensive and well-organized empire, especially during the New Kingdom, where the most famous pharaohs reigned. The term 'pharaoh' indicates both the king of Egypt and the 'big house' or palace he resided in.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pharaohs were the rulers of ancient Egypt, a country with a complex system of government and a rich history. These leaders oversaw a vast empire and were considered living gods, whose responsibilities included maintaining the balance of harmony in Egypt and protecting their people. The pharaohs commanded great wealth used to build numerous architectural marvels, and they ruled over large populations much greater in scale compared to contemporary realms such as those in Mesopotamia. One of the most notable periods during the reign of the pharaohs was the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BCE), which marked the height of Egyptian power with rulers such as Amenhotep I, Queen Hatshepsut, and Ramesses II, among others.
Translated as "big house", the term pharaoh originally referred to the royal palace but eventually came to denote the king himself. The Egyptian pharaohs were the central figures in their government's sprawling bureaucracy, which was divided between Upper Egypt, governed from Thebes, and Lower Egypt, near the Nile delta ruled from Memphis. This era demonstrated the sophisticated state of the Egyptian civilization and is exemplified by the large-scale stone pyramids from the Old Kingdom period and the administrative advancements of the New Kingdom.