Lecture Notes: The Middle Kingdom of Egypt

Introduction

• Professor: Dr. Rob Steffen
• Focus on how Egypt re-centralized power after the First Intermediate Period
• Comparison to Roman Empire's fragmentation
• The Middle Kingdom marks a period of flourishing in art and literature

Context: The First Intermediate Period

• Time of fragmentation and regionalization
• Political and military struggles
• Tenth Dynasty: Ruled from Heracleopolis in Lower Egypt
• Powerful nomarchs in Thebes declared themselves kings

Rise of Thebes and the 11th Dynasty

• Intef I: Claimed kingship over Thebes
• Intef II: Conquered Abydos, linked to Egyptian royalty
• Mentuhotep II: Unified Upper and Lower Egypt (~2055 BCE)
  • Reasserted control over Sinai and Nubia
  • Reestablished religious cult of the Pharaoh

Depiction of Kingship

• Old Kingdom: Kings idealized as youthful, divine beings
• Middle Kingdom: More realistic depiction of kings
  • Statues of Amenemhat III and Senusret I as leaders caring for people
  • Shift from divine to more human portrayal

Literature and Ideology

• Middle Kingdom texts show realism and the king's fallibility
• Notable texts: "Instruction of Amenemhat," "Debate between a Man and his Ba," "The Eloquent Peasant"

Middle Kingdom Military and Political Strategies

• Mentuhotep II and successors waged wars and sent expeditions
• Co-regency established to ensure smooth power transitions
• Senusret III: Military achievements, campaigns in Nubia
  • Built forts along Egypt's southern border

Artistic and Cultural Developments

• Middle Kingdom: Peak of Egyptian writing and literature
• Literature grapples with real-life issues
• Art shifts focus to everyday life and realistic portrayals
  • Wooden models from the tomb of Meketre depict daily life
  • Non-royal tombs show scenes of hunting, fishing, and sports

Conclusion

• The Middle Kingdom marked a classical age in art and literature
• Movement from divine imagery to realistic leadership
• Emphasis on daily life and life's complexities

Key Takeaways

• The Middle Kingdom's achievements in literature and art were significant
• Political unity and cultural developments were intertwined
• The period set a precedent for realistic depiction of leaders and daily life