Collapse of the Old Kingdom

I.

It was during the Egyptian Old Kingdom (2613-2181 BC) that the institution of kingship was first consolidated. Out of tribal squabbles in the pre-dynastic era, the pharaoh emerged as commander of a vast state apparatus. Drawing on the divine right of kings, he could conscript labour, seize land and extract taxes at will. However, this seemingly limitless authority was constrained in numerous ways. Chief among these was the necessity of having to rely upon delegates to carry out the day-to-day management of the country. In theory, delegates were supposed to prioritise the interests of the pharaoh. However, these local rulers gradually developed their own power bases independent of the central government.

Whether delegates could be relied upon to carry out orders was dependent upon the prevailing economic conditions. As provincial lords gained increasing wealth at the expense of the central government, they saw themselves on par with the pharaoh, and this is reflected in their decorated monumental tombs that began to appear throughout Egypt. The collapse of the royal court and the onset of the First Intermediate Period was thus a product of increasing fiscal imbalance. Other factors - such as climatic change - no doubt exacerbated an already dire situation, yet they were not on their own sufficient to bring about sudden disorder at the end of the Old Kingdom.

II.

With the exception of the Hyksos period, the roots of historical change in Egypt can be traced to internal sources. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the domestic events preceding the Old Kingdom's collapse to understand what, if any, factors may have contributed to the weakening of the central government vis-vis the provinces.

One of the most important events was the construction of grandiose monuments such as the Sphinx and the Giza pyramids. These public works projects were for the benefit of the pharaoh and his chosen few, and can be contrasted with the flat-topped mastabas of lesser princes, courtiers and officials. The first king of Dynasty III, Djoser, was responsible for constructing the Step Pyramid at Sakkara overlooking the capital of Memphis. It is a massive structure rising in six unequal stages to a height of 204 feet. As Alan Gardiner observes, 'Egypt has no more remarkable spectacle to offer'. Other kings of the dynasty also left behind tombs of their own: for instance, the Layer pyramid a few miles south of Giza.

Dynasty

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