Western Civilization I / Unit 2 WC1 0106 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Middle Kingdom: Shepherd Kings, Nubia, Papyrus
Captions available
The idea
Mentuhotep II of Thebes reunified Egypt about twenty sixty. Middle Kingdom kings stressed their humanity as shepherds of the people while nobles grew stronger. Egypt took northern Nubia for gold, ivory and slaves; papyrus became an Egyptian monopoly.
In practice
No more pyramids; literature about fairness and ordinary people.
Where people slip
Captives and immigrants were settled among Egyptians to assimilate. Expansion meant absorption, not extraction.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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