Special Sub-Topic: Egypt - Middle Period Authored by: thejazzkickazz Sub-topic of: Ancient Egypt

Which Pharaoh of Egypt established his capital at Thebes and reunited the land during his reign, beginning the middle period of ancient Egyptian history?

Menthu-Hotep I. Menthu-Hotep is recognized as the founder of the 11th Dynasty and reigned for a glorious 51 years...uniting Egypt under his rule. His mummy was found near Thebes in 1827.

A powerful Vizier quickly ended the reign of this Pharaoh's son, and established himself as Pharaoh, beginning the 12th Dynasty. Who was this fellow?

Ammenemes. Ammenemes was a prolific builder of monuments, beginning the construction of the great temple at Karnak.

During this dynasty, the Heliopolitan god Re was united with the Theban god, creating a new national god for Egypt. What was the god of Thebes called?

Amon. From this time, Pharaohs became known as the sons of Amon-Re.

During this 12th Dynasty, a major territorial acquisition was made by the Egyptians. Which area was overwhelmed by Egyptian power in this era?

Nubia. Nubia became a province of Egypt under the great reign of Ammenemes I, mentioned above.

The 17th century brought new rulers to Lower Egypt, as the power of the Theban kings began to decline. Who were these newcomers to the realm of the Pharaohs?

Hyksos. The origin of the Hyksos remains a mystery. They could be some offshoot Indo-European tribe, the original Palestinians, the original Hebrews or any number of other possibilities.

Which of the following was not brought with this new Asiatic people to the land of Pharaohs?

Irrigation Techniques. One thing we do know about the Hyksos is that they were well-endowed with weapons and were firmly ensconced in the bronze age.

What was the name of the Egyptian king who brought native rule back to Egypt?

Kamose. The brother of Kamose, Ahmose, would become the founder of the great 18th Dynasty!

Which of the following reflects the proper introduction of Egyptian scripts in terms of time order?

Hieroglyphic, Hieratic, Demotic, Coptic. The evolution of these scripts follows a slow procession from pictographs to alphabet. The Coptic script reflects the powerful influence of Greek.

What is the best known tale of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt?

The Story of Sinuhe. 'The Story of Sinuhe' was a romantic tale set during the reign of Sesostris I and very much promoted the glory of said Pharaoh.

True or false: The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death.

True & T. Which is why they mummified the bodies of their dead. This belief is a departure from other ancient civilizations, such as Sumer, which did not share in the belief in an afterlife.