The History of Ancient Egypt: The First Intermediate Period: Weiliao Series: Ancient Egypt Series, #3

By Hui Wang

"Weiliao" is a series program that tells the story of the world, it created by Wei Yi Culture and Media AB, and launched in 2020. The content touches on history, science, technology, astronomy, geography, music, and more.

The "The History of Ancient Egypt" is a series of books to tell the historical stories of Ancient Egypt, and the stories run through the whole of Ancient Egypt. This book "The First Intermediate Period" is the third episode, the historical period includes from the Seventh Dynasty through to the Tenth Dynasty, this period is also known as the "dark period." The content covers Period of anarchy, Rise of the Heracleopolitan Kings, Rise of the Theban kings, End of the First Intermediate Period. There is more exciting content in the book is looking forward to your reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wei Yi Culture and Media AB
• Release date: Sep 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9789189209091

Book preview

Introduction

The The History of Ancient Egypt is a series of books to tell the historical stories of Ancient Egypt, and the stories run through the whole of Ancient Egypt. This book The First Intermediate Period is the third episode, the historical period includes from the Seventh Dynasty through to the Tenth Dynasty, this period is also known as the dark period. The content covers Period of anarchy, Rise of the Heracleopolitan Kings, Rise of the Theban kings, End of the First Intermediate Period. There is more exciting content in the book is looking forward to your reading.

1

Overview

False Door of the Royal Sealer Neferiu

The monument of the First Intermediate Period

The First Intermediate Period is an era that came after the Old Kingdom and precedes the Middle Kingdom. This was a name developed by the Egyptologists and not by the Egyptians themselves. Just to be clear, it is good to first understand the naming criteria of the era in Ancient Egypt as we go on. For any period or era that has been named as a kingdom, that period is known to be an era of stability in the country while those that are named as intermediate periods are known to be filled with political struggles, unsettledness, and strife. This is an era of a dark age preceded by the government that was set up during the Early Dynastic Period and strengthened during the Old Kingdom but plunged and fall in the First Intermediate Period leading the country to a series of chaos and mayhem. The problems witnessed during this period had started at the end of the Old Kingdom with the monarchs gaining popularity and influence, not forgetting that it is during this time that the country was faced by famine, which continued at the beginning of the First Intermediate Period. During a crisis of this sort, the citizens believed the king would bring a solution, but the kings at this time were being undermined by the monarchs, therefore, the king was unable to curb this problem. This led to people losing faith in their king and therefore the king lost control of the country to the monarchs since they were able to provide the solutions to the citizens of which the kingship was not able to. This led to the nomes being turned to city-states led by the monarchs and depended on each other for food and other necessities.

---

At the beginning of the 7 th and 8 th dynasty, some of the rulers still believed in the central government which was managed from Memphis, while others made themselves kings in their capacity. The most famous place where this happened is Heracleapolis, a city south of Fayun Oasis, where monarchs successfully built their dynasty and claimed their loyal prerogative which was known as the 10 th dynasty. During this period, their influence extended as much as Dendara and Abydos, before it was challenged by the rulers of Thebes who were later responsible for the formation of the 11 th dynasty. It is during this period that some monarchs were put in place some of whom were loyal to Theban while others were loyal to the Heracleapolitans. It is from this standoff that led to the two sides wedging war towards each other setting the country into a mast of war and disunity. This fight led to the defeat of Heacleapolitans by the Theban who were led by Mentuhotep II. This led to the unification of the upper and the lower Egypt under king Mentuhotep II, marking the beginning of a new era and beginning of the Middle Kingdom

---

Despite these wrangles in the leadership of the country, it is not every part of the country that was affected or actively participated in the wrangles. An example is the Dakhla oasis which is on the western side of the Nile River. This was the capital of this region which is known as Balat today. It is said it was built at the end of the 6 th dynasty after a fire had struck it down and unlike the city that was there before it, it was not now protected by the use of a perimeter wall. This means that they did not expect any form of attack from anyone, and it is from there that they remained untouched. This among other facts shall be covered below.

2

The Seventh and Eighth Dynasties

decree

Fragments of two decree from the end of the Eighth Dynasty

This was an era that had just marked the end of Pepi II,