Kingdoms are times of political unity and strong centralized government, while intermediate periods are in contrast characterized by the rivalries of local rulers in their claims for power — foremost among these were the Herakleopolitan rulers (continued from Memphis) and Theban rulers (local leaders who amassed force).

The cores areas of the Herakleopolitan kingdom were Memphis and Faiyum, with hegemony ending in southern Middle Egypt. Even in areas outside Herakleopolitan control, the king was still mentioned, but only in his role as a mediator between human society and the forces of nature. His political role had been token over by the nomarchs.

A thriving culture continued among the poorer levels of society, and vigorous social development occurred in Upper Egypt’s provincial towns. Thus, the First Intermediate Period was less a total collapse and more a significant temporary shift in centers of activity an dynamism.

Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii

Amenemhat III’s earlier works are much like Senwosret III. As his reign progressed, however, the face changed while the body remained identical. The face developed flatter eyes and lesser lids, and lost the creased brow and downturn of the mouth. He depicted himself as very young – he kept a highly idealized look. The body stayed the same, including the line under the pectorals.

Originally Amenemhat III built a burial complex at دهشور Dahshur but when it collapsed he left it unfinished. His burial chamber was carved out of a single block of limestone, with traps on the sides that were emptied to allow sand to come in and fill it to prevent grave robbery. The burial chamber weighed four tons, that one piece of sandstone. This corresponded to his south temple. It featured the famous Labyrinth (attested by numerous ancient authors but now totally destroyed) and alsoa n aditional pyramid.

After the collapse at دهشور، Dahshur, Amenemhat III built his famous cult complex at Hawara in the Faiyum. It included a Labyrinth, pyramid, temple analogous to a south temple and a layout with a shrine for each of the 21 nomes of Egypt and a temple for each of the gods of Egypt.. This strongly recalled the Djoser Complex.

Egypt’s central government weakened, allowing Asiatic kings based in the eastern Delta to seize power of Lower Egypt and set up an independent regime in ~1650 BC. These Asiatic kings were known as the Hyksos, based on the Egyptian phrase meaning rulers of foreign lands. Hyksos power grew over all of Egypt but was based in Avaris (modern Tell el-Dab’a) and never directly controlled Thebes.

The Hyksos strove to accomodate native customs and beliefs, contrary to their modern reputation of violence. The brought innovations to Egypt, including the horse and chariot. The Hyksos was met with resistance by the Seventeenth Dynasty, a new family of Theban rulers whose last king, Kamose, sacked Avaris; the Hyksos were finally defeated and expelled from Egypt under the reign of Kamose’s brother, Amosis, who founded the New Kingdom.

Military garrisons in the south become increasingly independent
• In the late 13th dynasty the southern fortresses are overrun by the Kerma culture
• At around the same Yme the capital moves from Memphis to Thebes

Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii