Amenemhet
I
Sesostris I
Amenemhet II
Sesostris II
Sesostris III
Amenemhet III Amenemhet IV
Queen Sobeknefru |
Amenemhet
I moved the capital back to Memphis. There was a revival
of Old Kingdom artistic styles.
He later took his son, Sesostris as his co-regent. During
the 10 years of joint rule Sesostris undertook campaigns
in Lower Nubia which led to its conquest. Amenemhet was
murdered during Sesostris' absence on a campaign in Libya,
but Sesostris was able to maintain his hold on the throne
and consolidated his father's achievements,
Sesostris III reorganised Egypt into four regions, the
northern and southern halves of the Nile Valley and the
eastern and western Delta. He and his successor Amenemhet
III left a striking artistic legacy in the form of statuary
depicting them as ageing, careworn rulers.
It was during this period that the written language was
regularised in its classical form of Middle Egyptian.
The first body of literary texts was composed in this
form, although several are ascribed to Old Kingdom authors.
The most important of these is the "Instruction for
Merikare," a discourse on kingship and moral responsibility.
Queen Sobeknefru, the first female monarch marked the
end of the dynastic line. |
