Middle Kingdom sac

Question 1

What caused the FIP?

Answer 1

Climate issues - prolonged period of drought in the Nile

Decentralisation of gov - power struggles, economic difficulties

Rise in Nomarch power - increased wealth, trusted by society

Question 2

Where was the 11th dynasty family located?

Why

Answer 2

Thebes - Upper Egypt

Capital was moved here from Memphis, allowed Theban rulers to gradually expand their influence southward.

Question 3

How did Mentuhotep II reunify Egypt?

(Conquest of the Heracleopolis - Lower Egypt)

3 points

Answer 3

Theban forces clashed with Heracleopolitan dynasty, leading to series of wars

launched military campaigns against herocleopolis, achieving strategic victories to weaken their power

conquered Heracleopolis, ending its rule.

Question 4

How did Mentuhotep II reunify Egypt?

(non-war factors)

3 points

Answer 4

Administrative reform (reorganised gov + appointed officals to maintain order).

Boosted economy through flourishing trade and agriculture.

revived arts and architecture, reflecting stability.

Question 5

Why did Mentuhotep II conquer Nubia?

3 points

Answer 5

Control trade

Buffer from threats from the south (Kingdom named Kush, threatened Egyptian sovereignty)

Great soldiers (archers), helped reunify Egypt.

Question 6

Why did Mentuhotep II establish forts along the Nile?

2 points

Answer 6

Defence (guarded Egypts southern border)

Controlled Nubia (access to it, monitored movements)

Question 7

Why is Der el Bahri significant?

3 points

Answer 7

Mortuary temple (contains burial sites for Pharaohs and queens)

Reflects struggling economy - pyramids used lots of resources, temple cheaper

Religious shift in society - front of temple faces sunrise, focus on Cult of Ra

Question 8

Summary of the Prophecy of Neferti

2 points

Answer 8

fictional story about an Old Kingdom wiseman who predicts the appearance of the founder of the 12th Dynasty; Amenemhet I.

considered to be a pseudo-prophecy, bc written after an important event in history

Question 9

How was the Prophecy of Neferti used as a tool of propaganda?

2 points

Answer 9

writing’s purpose was to promote the ruling class’s interests.

prioritised benefiting the upper classes of society, rather than the peasants

Question 10

Summary of Lay of the Harper story

2 points

Answer 10

“Harper’s Song” was a poem inscribed in tombs alongside images of harp-playing blind men

Harper lamenting his misfortune and the challenges he faces in the afterlife.

Question 11

How was Lay of the Harper used as a tool of propaganda?

Answer 11

reflects Egyptian beliefs in the importance of proper burial and preparation for the journey beyond.

Question 12

Summary of Instructions of King Amenemhet

2 points

Answer 12

Supposedly written by King Amenemhet before his death to instruct his son, Senusret I, on how to effectively rule.

emphasises qualities like wisdom, justice, and loyalty to maintain a stable kingdom.

Question 13

How was Instructions of King Amenemhet used as a tool of propaganda?

Answer 13

Speculations that it was actually written by Senusret illustrate how literature was used to reinforce the power of the Pharaohs.

Question 14

Summary of The Story of Sinuhe

2 points

Answer 14

story is centred around official named Sinuhe, who flees Egypt after the death of Amenemhat I.

journeys to foreign lands in order to find refuge, establishing a new life + becoming a military hero. However, he longs to return to Egypt.

Question 15

How was The Story of Sinuhe used as a tool of propaganda?

2 points

Answer 15

Sinuhe’s desire to return to Egypt reflects the strong connection between individuals and their homeland in ancient Egyptian culture.

importance of loyalty to the king and the homeland

Question 16

What was the Golden Era? (Senusret III era)

3 points

Answer 16

height of Middle Kingdom power

Senusret’s power organised Egypt into real power in the Middle-east

Conquests conducted to secure trade routes, ports, and mines

Question 17

Why did Senusret III conduct conquests into places such as Palestine and Nubia?

(Secure 3 things)

Answer 17

Secure trade routes

Secure valuable resources (copper, gold)

Secure Egypts Southern border

Question 18

Key features of Cult of Amun-Ra
(2 points abt Amun)

Why is it significant?

Answer 18

Amun - God of Thebes, replaced Ra as King of the Gods

Rise in Amun shows influence ruling parties had on religion and worship

Question 19

Key features of Cult of Osiris
(2 points)

Why was there a religious shift?

Answer 19

Appealed to ruling elite and common people, unifying belief of a positive afterlife.

associating pharaohs with Osiris reinforced his divine status.

Upper Egypt shifted religion to try control people of lower Egypt (through unified religion)

Question 20

What is the Faiyum Oasis?

2 points

Answer 20

Turned large area into religious, resort like centre.

Allowed Pharaoh’s/members of court to worship, hunt, or fish.

Question 21

Why was Senusret III moving the capital from Memphis to Itjtawy significant? (why did he do it)

Answer 21

Location to Faiyum and the Nile (helped control trade)

Major political enemies in Memphis, move was strategic way to start fresh.

Question 22

Who did Egypt trade with?

Why was trade significant in the Middle Kingdom?
(2 points)

Answer 22

International trade with neighbours (Byblos, strong relationship)

cultivated success through gaining valuable resources (minerals) from other kingdoms

Trade routes protected Egyptian land (south border, Nubia)

Question 23

Explain the end of the 12th Dynasty (Sebeknefru)

Answer 23

Senusret III died, successors Amenemhet III and IV reigned for 5 years each after.

No male successor, so female Pharaoh Sebeknefru took her rule.

Ruled peacefully for 4 years, had no heir to pass the throne to.

Question 24

Where did the Hyksos migrate from?

How long was the course of their migration?

Where did they settle?

Answer 24

waves of ppl from Palestine and West Afria

150 years

Lower Egypt, mainly around Delta

Question 25

Who are the Hyksos?

Why were the Hyksos able to easily migrate?
(2 points)

How were they viewed?

Answer 25

Foreign rulers emerged as a powerful force.

1.no organised central gov army to keep people out.
2.Increased trade in Middle Kingdom also made it easier.

Foreigners or different to Egyptians.

Question 26

How did the Hyksos expand their power and influence?

3 points

Answer 26

entered Egypt as nomads, likely drawn by fertile lands of Nile Delta.

Seized Avaris and made it their capital, strategic location in the eastern Nile Delta.

Expanded dominion south, exerting control over significant portion of Lower Egypt.

Question 27

What inventions did the Hyksos introduce to Egyptian society?

Answer 27

horse-drawn chariot (gave them significant military advantage)

new methods of irrigation (boosted agriculture production, sustained growing population)

advanced metal working techniques.

Question 28

What led to the downfall of the Hyksos?

3 points

Answer 28

series of well-executed military campaigns by Ahmose I.

Egyptians used naval forces to control Nile, cutting off Hyksos supply lines

Egyptians improved Hyksos tech (chariot), giving them advantage

Question 29

How has the defeat of the Hyksos beem documented?

Answer 29

Autobiography of Ahmose - firsthand account, details military campaigns

Tale of Apepi and Seqenenre - recounts conflict between Hyksos ruler Apepi and Theban prince Seqenenre.

Question 30

Key features of the SIP

Answer 30

not an economic collapse of centralised power, more of a political fragmentation of Egypt