Egypt’s Middle Kingdom Renaissance

Episode 11 Middle Kingdom Dynasty XII

The History of Ancient Egypt

Professor Robert Brier

Film Review

Brier describes the period under Dynasty XII as an Egyptian renaissance, with a revival of all the cultural traditions that preceded the chaos of the First Intermediate Period (see Egypt’s Dark Ages: The First Intermediate Period). Nearly all the information about Dynasty XII pharaohs comes from inscriptions they left on the inner walls of their pyramids.

• Amenenhut I (1991-1962 BC), who launched Dynasty XII, was a commoner, the vizier (prime minister) of the last pharaoh of Dynasty XI. Born in Thebes in southern Egypt, he moved the capitol from Memphis to Faiyum, in a lush green area 35 miles southwest of modern day Cairo. He renamed the capitol Itali (“binder of two lands”). He divided Egypt into 42 nomes, each governed by nomarchs who collected taxes. One of these officials was Khnumhotep, whose tomb inscriptions reveal he completed a new geographical survey (the ancient origin of geometry) of Egypt. Amenenhut also began the tradition of appointing his son a co-regent to rule during the last ten years of his reign to cement his ascent to the throne.
• Seostrist I (1962-1907 BC) Following Amenenhut’s death (murder?), his son Sesostrist I discovered a manuscript (which Sesostrist may have written himself predicting the murder and warning him to beware those plotting against him and to not trust his friends nor his brother. It suggests one of Amenenhut’s guards committed the murder. Sesostris built two forts in Kush (aka Nubia, in modern day Sudan), one on each bank of the Nile. Although his troops never marched on Nubia, it’s likely Seosostris sought to intimidate the Nubians into paying tibute (in gold) obtain Nubian gold without charging the heavy tax the Nubians charged on the gold trade.
• Amenenhut II (1907–1897 BC) Sesostris I made his own son Amenenhut co-regent before he died. The latter led an expedition to Punt (Eritea) via the Red Sea and greatly expanded foreign trade. Jars carrying his name have been found in Lebanon.
• Sesostris II (1897-1878 BC) Amenenhut II’s son reclaimed land on the banks of the Nile and built irrigation works to significantly expand agriculture. He build a pyramid for himself and all his princesses and queens.
• Sesostris III (1897-1839 BC) His son was six feet six inches tall (at a time when the national average was five feet five inches. Due to increased sophistication in art during his reign his face is much more detailed (and tired looking). He built two pyramids, one for himself and one for the princess Neferu Fatah.

• Amenenhut IV (1839-1787 BC) The last pharaoh in Dynasty XII, Amenenhut IV didn’t build a pyramid.
• Queen Sobeknefru (1787-1782 BC) As Amenenhut IV left no male heirs the dynasty ended with queen.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/1492791/1492819