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Ancient Egypt: Timelime

Egyptians

First Intermediate Period (2160 BC – 2055 BC)

But the certainties of the Old Kingdom could not last forever. Its highly centralised administration began to falter and a series of poor annual floods probably sparked famine and inflation. Egypt once again broke up into independent city-states. In time, two rival alliances formed in the north and the south of the country. Ancient texts speak of violence between these factions and of widespread upheaval across the region during this time but reliable records of the period are scarce.

Middle Kingdom (2055 BC – 1650 BC)

Eventually, Egyptians must have tired of the turmoil and allowed themselves to be reunited under southern rule once again. Despite their southern roots, these rulers founded a new capital in the north, Itj-Tawy, near Memphis. Middle Kingdom rulers were less unbending than their Old Kingdom forefathers. The pharaoh was seen as a conduit to the gods rather than a deity himself. It seemed to work. Art and literature flourished, the country prospered and the army was able to expand Egypt's frontiers in Nubia to the south.