The First Intermediate Period is the period from the end of the VI Dynasty to the reunification of Egypt by Mentuhotep II, a Theban prince. Historically speaking, it supposes the collapse of the political scheme of the Old Kingdom, the rise to power of the nomarchs, the appearance of a kingdom in the north with its capital in Herakleopolis and another in the south around Thebes, and finally, the reunification of the country by the Thebans. Culturally, there was a very important change, both in mentality and in its literary expression, as well as in religion and possibly in society.
Features
This period was characterized by feudalism or independence from the nomes, where the nomarchs assembled local troops and there were High Priests of the gods who also administered their property. Another characteristic of this period was Confucianism, during which a prince of Heracleópolis took his residence to the theoretical capital of the Country (Memphis). We can distinguish several stages:
Dynastiesofthefirstintermediateperiod
This first period is characterized by foreign invasion and civil war. In it, positions such as Vizier and Nomarch are made hereditary.
This period is subdivided into two epochs, which correspond, respectively, to each of the Dynasties:
Dynasties VII
This Dynasty begins in 2181 BC, it is considered the beginning of the first intermediate period of Egypt, it had seventy kings in seventy days, but it probably has not existed.
Eighth Dynasty
Of Memphite origin, it seems to be a continuation of the VI, and therefore the VII would have to be eliminated as a proper Dynasty and the most acceptable explanation is that it was an interregnum. Seventeen kings can be attributed.
The founder of the Eighth Dynasty was a king, perhaps the son or grandson of Pepi II. He was assigned a reign of four years and was buried at Saqqara south. Information about his successors is almost completely lacking. The only one that can be identified with precision is Kakura Aba or Ibi, to whom the Turin Canon attributes two years of reign and places it in fourteenth position in this Dynasty, which ended around the year 2160, in which we find Egypt divided into three parts .
- The Delta :In the hands of Asian invaders.
- Middle Egypt :Unified under the authority of Herakleopolis, capital of the 20th nome of Upper Egypt, where the IX and X Dynasties will rule.
- The South :Grouped under the authority of the kings of Thebes, who form the XI Dynasty, with which the Middle Kingdom begins.
Dynasties IX
As the authority of the Heracleopolitan government increased, so did that of the Theban dynasty, after the collapse of Memphis, as the provinces began to vie for power and the power of their nomarchs grew.
During this period, the IX Dynasty emerged, a family of nomarchs from Herakleopolis, possibly founded by Nerybra Khety.
Dynasty X
The 9th Dynasty ruled the entire country at the beginning of the 10th Dynasty, some thirty years later. A strong government already existed in Thebes, where the Eleventh Dynasty would have been established.
Dynasty XI
In this Dynasty the kings were Inyotef or Antej and Mentuhotep. The growing hostility between the two rivals led to frequent clashes, until one of the kings of Thebes unified Egypt. The first Antef proclaimed himself king under the name of Hotus of Seheru-Tauy, He who has restored calm .