The Egyptian Middle Kingdom, which extends from 2055 to 1650 BC. BC, is considered a period of cultural and political revival in Egypt. Marked by the reunification of the country under the XNUMXth Dynasty, this period saw a revitalization of arts, architecture and literature, as well as territorial expansion and political stabilization.
The reunification of Egypt under the XIth dynasty
The beginning of the Middle Kingdom is marked by the reunification of Egypt under the XIth dynasty, with Montuhotep II as the first pharaoh. A native of Thebes, Mentuhotep II succeeded in defeating the rulers of the region of Heracleopolis and unifying Egypt under his authority. This reunification ended the troubled period of the First Intermediate Period and laid the foundation for an era of prosperity and stability.
Cultural and artistic prosperity
The Middle Kingdom is often considered a golden age for Egyptian art, literature and architecture. Middle Kingdom artists and artisans perfected their techniques and developed a more realistic and expressive style. Sculpture and murals became more detailed, and artists paid particular attention to depicting the emotions and personality of their subjects.
Egyptian literature also experienced a significant boom during this period. Texts such as “The Teaching of Ptahhotep” and “The Tale of the Castaway” testify to the vitality and diversity of the literary production of the time. Wisdom, philosophy and poetry were also popular genres.
Architectural projects and innovations
The Middle Kingdom saw the construction of many important temples and monuments. The pharaohs of this period attached themselves to the construction of temples and funerary complexes, such as the funerary temple of Mentuhotep II at Deir el-Bahari. Egyptian architects also developed innovative techniques for building pyramids, as evidenced by the pyramid of Amenemhat III at Hawara.
Territorial expansion and political stability
Under the Twelfth Dynasty, Egypt experienced significant territorial expansion. Pharaohs such as Sesostris III led military campaigns in Nubia and West Asia, consolidating their power and expanding Egyptian influence. The political and economic stability of Egypt during the Middle Kingdom enabled it to establish diplomatic and commercial relations with its neighbours, in particular with the kingdom of Byblos in Lebanon.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||