Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt | DAILY BELLRINGER
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt, detailing its timeline from 2050 BC to 1800 BC. It highlights key events like the reunification of Egypt by Pharaoh Mentuhotep II after years of civil unrest, the expansion of Egypt’s territory through military campaigns, and the establishment of a standing army under Sesostris I. The period is regarded as Egypt's 'Golden Age,' marked by artistic and cultural developments focused on common life. The video also discusses the eventual decline of the Middle Kingdom due to external invasions and possible environmental challenges.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt lasted from approximately 2050 BC to 1800 BC.
- 🔱 The Middle Kingdom began after Pharaoh Mentuhotep II united Egypt following over 100 years of civil war.
- 🏰 The capital of the Middle Kingdom was established at Thebes in Upper Egypt.
- 🛡 Pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom expanded Egypt's influence by military campaigns, including controlling the Sinai Peninsula and Nubia.
- 🚣♂️ Expeditions were sent to an area known as Punt, present-day Somalia, to further Egypt's reach.
- 🏰 Amenemhat I moved the capital from Thebes to near present-day El-Lisht.
- 🏹 Nubia was conquered for its resources, including gold, which was highly desired by the Egyptians.
- 💂♂️ Sesostris I established Egypt's first standing army to conquer new lands and protect the kingdom's borders.
- 🏰 The Middle Kingdom is considered the classical or golden age of ancient Egypt, with significant artistic and architectural achievements.
- 🎨 Artwork and literature during the Middle Kingdom focused more on common people's everyday activities, depicted in paintings, reliefs, and sculptures.
- 🌍 Sobekneferu became the first female pharaoh of Egypt, but her rule was short-lived as the Middle Kingdom declined after her death.
Q & A
What are the three major time periods of ancient Egyptian history?
-The three major time periods of ancient Egyptian history are the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom.
What years did the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt span?
-The Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt spanned from approximately 2050 BC to 1800 BC.
Who is credited with unifying Egypt at the start of the Middle Kingdom?
-Pharaoh Mentuhotep II is credited with unifying Egypt at the start of the Middle Kingdom.
Where did Mentuhotep II establish the new capital for the Middle Kingdom?
-Mentuhotep II established the new capital for the Middle Kingdom in Upper Egypt at the city of Thebes.
What was the significance of the military campaigns led by Mentuhotep II?
-Mentuhotep II led military campaigns against the Nubians of the south and took control of the Sinai Peninsula, furthering Egypt's reach.
What is known about the expeditions sent by Mentuhotep III?
-Mentuhotep III sent expeditions south on the Red Sea to an area known as Punt, in present-day Somalia, furthering Egypt's influence.
What is the significance of the reign of Amenemhat I?
-Amenemhat I moved the capital from Thebes to near present-day El-Lisht and established Egypt's first standing army.
Who was the most powerful pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom?
-Seqenenre Tao II, also known as Sesostris III, was the most powerful pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom.
What was unique about Sobekneferu's rule in the Middle Kingdom?
-Sobekneferu was the first female pharaoh in Egypt's history, marking a unique period in the Middle Kingdom.
What are some examples of the artistic expression during the Middle Kingdom?
-Artistic expression during the Middle Kingdom focused more on common people, with paintings, reliefs, and sculptures depicting everyday activities such as fishing, harvesting crops, or walking by the Nile River.
How did the architecture of the Middle Kingdom differ from that of the Old Kingdom?
-The architecture of the Middle Kingdom was less about grand building projects and more focused on designs that blended temples and tombs into the existing landscape.
What factors contributed to the decline of the Middle Kingdom?
-The decline of the Middle Kingdom was indicated by a potential drought causing limited food supplies, and the invasion of the Hyksos from the north who brought superior military technology.
Outlines
📜 Introduction to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt
This paragraph introduces the video about the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, highlighting the importance of subscribing and checking out additional resources. It outlines the division of Egyptian history into three major periods: the Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC), the Middle Kingdom (2050-1800 BC), and the New Kingdom (1550-1100 BC), with intermediate periods of unrest and civil war. The Middle Kingdom is marked by the reunification of Egypt under Pharaoh Mentuhotep II around 2050 BC after over 100 years of turmoil.
⚔️ Reunification and Military Expansion
Mentuhotep II is credited with reuniting Egypt, establishing Thebes as the capital of the Middle Kingdom. He led military campaigns against Nubians to the south and secured control over the Sinai Peninsula. His successor, Mentuhotep III, expanded Egypt's influence further by sending expeditions to Punt (modern Somalia). The end of Mentuhotep's dynasty came with the rise of Amenemhat I, who moved the capital near present-day El-Lisht and continued Egypt's southern expansion into Nubia, a region rich in resources such as granite, iron ore, and gold.
🛡️ Rise of Egypt's First Standing Army
Amenemhat I’s successor, Senusret I, is noted for establishing Egypt’s first standing army. This marked a significant shift in Egypt's military strategy, as campaigns to expand and protect Egypt’s borders became a top priority. Senusret III, one of the most powerful pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom, personally led violent campaigns into Nubia and built a series of forts to protect Egypt's southern border, solidifying control over Nubia. These actions symbolized the Middle Kingdom's military might and territorial ambitions.
🎨 Egypt’s Golden Age of Art and Culture
The Middle Kingdom is regarded as a 'Golden Age' or 'Classical Age' of Ancient Egypt. Unlike the Old Kingdom, where art and literature were centered around pharaohs and gods, Middle Kingdom art shifted focus to the common people. Paintings, sculptures, and reliefs depicted everyday scenes, such as fishing and farming. The scale of building projects also changed, with tombs and temples blending into the natural landscape. Examples include the Temple of Mentuhotep II near Thebes and the Temple of Amun at Karnak, built by Senusret I.
👑 First Female Pharaoh and the Decline of the Middle Kingdom
Late in the Middle Kingdom, Sobekneferu rose to power as Egypt’s first female pharaoh. Her reign, though short, marked a significant moment in Egyptian history. However, the kingdom soon began to decline, possibly due to droughts that limited food supplies. Around 1600 BC, the Hyksos, invaders from the north, began infiltrating Egypt with superior military technology, including horse-drawn chariots. Although the Egyptians adopted some of the Hyksos' innovations, the invaders eventually took control, leading to the end of the Middle Kingdom and the beginning of the Second Intermediate Period.
📅 Conclusion: The Fall of the Middle Kingdom
The final part of the video summarizes the fall of the Middle Kingdom, marked by internal unrest and external invasions by the Hyksos. The Hyksos' control over northern Egypt and their advanced military technology led to Egypt's entry into the Second Intermediate Period, a time of chaos and foreign rule that lasted over 200 years. The video closes with a recap, thanking viewers for watching and encouraging further engagement with the channel’s resources.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Middle Kingdom
💡Pharaoh
💡Thebes
💡Nubia
💡Sinai Peninsula
💡Punt
💡Standing Army
💡Cesostris
💡Golden Age
💡Sobekneferu
💡Hixos
Highlights
The ancient Egyptians were one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of the ancient world.
Historians divide Egyptian history into three major periods: the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom.
The Middle Kingdom began around 2050 BC, when Pharaoh Mentuhotep II unified Egypt after over 100 years of civil war and unrest.
Mentuhotep II established the capital of the Middle Kingdom in Thebes, located in Upper Egypt.
Mentuhotep II led military campaigns against Nubia to the south and gained control over the Sinai Peninsula.
Mentuhotep III, his successor, sent expeditions to Punt (modern-day Somalia), expanding Egypt's influence in the region.
Aminemhet I, who moved the capital near present-day Lisht, began a new dynasty and continued expanding Egypt into Nubia.
Sesostris I established Egypt’s first standing army, prioritizing military campaigns and border protection.
Sesostris III was one of the most powerful pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom, leading several military campaigns into Nubia.
The Middle Kingdom is considered the 'Golden Age' of Egypt, with a focus on arts, literature, and representations of common people.
Major building projects like the Temple of Mentuhotep II and the Temple of Amun at Karnak were initiated during this period.
Sobekneferu became the first female pharaoh of Egypt, ruling near the end of the Middle Kingdom.
A drought and food shortages likely contributed to the decline of the Middle Kingdom.
The Hyksos, invaders from the north, brought advanced military technology like horse-drawn chariots, which they used to gain control over northern Egypt.
The Middle Kingdom ended around 1800 BC with the Hyksos firmly in control, leading to the Second Intermediate Period.
Transcripts
today we're looking at the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt
hello welcome to the Daily bellringer world history please don't forget to subscribe and take
a look at the questions down in the description also don't forget to check out dailymailringer.com
where you'll find more resources that go with many of the bell ringer videos the ancient Egyptians
were one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of the ancient world historians
basically divide the history of the Egyptians into three major time periods the Old Kingdom lasting
from around 2700 BC to 2200 BC the Middle Kingdom from approximately 2050 BC to 1800 BC and the New
Kingdom from about 1550 BC to 1100 BC in between these periods were the first intermediate from
2200 BC to 2050 BC and the second intermediate from 1800 BC to 1550 BC the intermediate periods
were periods in which there was Civil War and unrest throughout Egypt at the end of the Old
Kingdom Period the central power of the Egyptian pharaohs faded it and the civilization broke into
several smaller kingdoms the Middle Kingdom is considered to begin somewhere around 2050 BC
when Pharaoh Man tootep II United the kingdoms of Egypt under his rule unifying Egypt after
over 100 Years of Civil War and unrest Mantua temp would established the new capital for the Middle
Kingdom in Upper Egypt at the city of Thebes matutep II LED military campaigns against the
Nubians of the south of Egypt and additionally took control of the Sinai Peninsula furthering
Egypt's reach mintua Tep's successor meant to attep III sent expeditions south on the Red Sea
to an area known as punt in present-day Somalia again furthering the influence of Egypt over the
region eventually mentuateep's line of pharaohs came to an end with the Ascension of a minimet
the first to become Pharaoh a minimat moved the capital from Thebes to near present-day El East
pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom continued to expand the bound of the Kingdom by pushing
further south into Nubia and conquering the People by force Nubia had a variety of resources such as
Granite iron ore and especially gold which the Egyptians wanted a minimet's successor
cesostris the first established Egypt's first standing army as military campaigns to conquer
new lands and protecting the borders of the Kingdom became a high priority
Pharos asosterous III who would become the most powerful pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom personally
LED armies into Nubia launching several violent campaigns into the region cesostris would have
a series of forts constructed that protected the southern border of Egypt and marked the edge of
the Kingdom from Nubia unlike the Old Kingdom which had been considered the age of pyramids
the Middle Kingdom is considered the classical or golden age of ancient Egypt as it is during
this time that there were great works of art and writings were done during the Old Kingdom artwork
and literature had basically been confined to inscriptions and statues created in honor of
pharaohs and gods during the Middle Kingdom much of the artistic expression began to be focused
more on Common People of Egypt paintings reliefs and sculptures of Egyptian people doing everyday
things such as fishing harvesting crops or walking next to the Nile River became common there were
significant building projects completed as well the tomb and temples of the Pharaohs became less
about Grand building projects in size as they did during the Old Kingdom but now we're more focused
on designs that Blended their temples and tombs into the existing landscape one example would be
the Temple of mentuateep the second near Thebes or saucerus the first construction of the Temple
of Amman at Karnak which much of it still stands today late in the Middle Kingdom Sobek nephru Rose
to power and would be the first female pharaoh in Egypt's history although her rule would be
relatively short as after her death the Middle Kingdom began to decline indications are that
a drought might have taken place that caused Food Supplies to become limited additionally
somewhere around 1600 BC outside Invaders from north of Egypt known as the hixos began to push
into the northern edges of the Kingdom the hixos brought with them Superior military technology
with horse-drawn chariots the Egyptians actually adopted much of the hexos technology as at the
same time the hixos also adopted many aspects of Egyptian culture nonetheless by 1800 BC the
hixos were firmly in control and the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt came to an end and
Egypt entered into the second intermediate which would be a period of unrest for over 200 years
so with that hopefully you learned something and thanks for watching
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