The First Intermediate Period was a time of political fragmentation in ancient Egypt after the collapse of the Old Kingdom. The central power of the pharaohs weakened as provincial governors, the nomarchs, gained independence and passed their offices to their sons. Famine, probably linked to a series of low Nile floods and a dry climate, and conflict between local rulers added to the disorder, and later Egyptian writings looked back on it as a time of chaos. Two rival power centres emerged, Herakleopolis in the north and Thebes in the south. The Theban king Mentuhotep II defeated the northern kings and reunited the country, founding the Middle Kingdom.
Before and after
- from c. 2,300 BCE to 1,000 BCEAndronovo culture
- c. 2,300 BCEEruption of Blanco, Cerro
- from c. 2,205 BCE to 1,600 BCEXia dynasty (traditional dates)
- from c. 2,200 BCE to 1,700 BCEBactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex
- from c. 2,181 BCE to 2,055 BCEFirst Intermediate Period of Egypt
- c. 2,181 BCERise of Seventh Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,180 BCE to 350 CEKingdom of Kush
- from c. 2,160 BCE to 2,050 BCENinth Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,150 BCE to 1,991 BCEEleventh Dynasty of Egypt
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- c. 1,200 BCEIron Age
- c. 700s BCEConstruction of Great Wall of China
- 6th century BCEConstruction of Parthenon
- 81 CEConstruction of Colosseum
- 11 May 330 CEConstantine dedicates Constantinople
- from 476 CE to 1492Middle Ages
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 22nd century BCE.