During his reign centralized government was achieved again and the mineral wealth of the king continued to grow rapidly.  Large collections of jewellery have been discovered in burials of 12th dynasty royals.  The Egyptian middle class at this time became much wealthier than before.  Feudal armies were used against Asiatics in the Delta by Amenemhat I, although little is known about these battles.  He then constructed a wall known as the "Walls of the Ruler" across Egypt`s north eastern border.  This building has not yet been found.  Other fortresses were built to protect the outposts of Semna and Quban in Nubia and a building known as "Rawaty" at Mendes.  Amenemhat I began the conquest of parts of Nubia during his reign to protect Egypt's access to trade and mineral resources.  His son, Senusret, undertook a campaign against the Libyans during which time Amenemhat had died.

Senusret I reigned for 45 years during which expeditions into Nubia were made.  The site of Buhen became Egypt's southern border where a victory stele was laid and a fort was constructed.The Egyptians obtained gold, amethyst, turquoise, copper and gneiss from Upper Nubia (also known as Kush).There were trading caravans that exchanged goods with Syria in the north.

Senusret I had many monuments built throughout his land from Heliopolis and Tanis in northern Egypt down to lower Nubia.  In order to obtain the materials needed to build and equip these monuments many expeditions were sent to stone quarries in Wadi Hammamat, Hatnub, Wadi el- Hudi and Sinai.  He established the temple of "Ipet sut" at Karnak and an alabaster bark shrine. Senusret I was the first king to have monuments built at the major cult sites throughout Egypt.This undermined the power of local temples and their priests.  He also had the Abydos temple of Khenti-amentiu-Osiris redesigned.  Many of the officials also erected memorial stele and cenotaphs at Abydos honoring the god "Osiris".  It was during this time that the beliefs that not only the king could be resurrected but also his subjects began to develop.  This is known as the "democratization of the afterlife".

Some letters known as the "Hekanakhte papers" have been found dating from the reign of Senusret I.  They were written by a farmer to his family while he was away from his land on business.  In the temple of Tod more records of events of the 12th dynasty have been discovered.  These are called genut or day books.  The process by which the king founded a new building is described in these, as are details of the daily life in the Egyptian palace.  These writings are believed to be from the reign of Senusret I`s son, Nubkaura Amenemhat II.  They also contain information about temple donations, lists of buildings and statues, details of expeditions for trade and military purposes and various royal activities.  Information about the relations with other countries is spoken about in these writings and seems to indicate that the peace was very fragile and there were occasional wars with Asiatic countries.  Ammenemhat II did not appear to have built many monuments apart from his "white pyramid" at Dahshur which was unusual by being built upon a platform.

The next 12th dynasty king was Khakheperra Senusret II whose reign was one of peace and tranquility.  Trade continued with their near eastern neighbours but there is no record of any wars.  In his reign the building of the Faiyum irrigation system was instigated. Canals and a dyke were constructed which linked the Faiyum to the Bahr Yusef waterway.  This removed some of the water that flowed into Lake Moeris allowing some of the surrounding land to be reclaimed for farming.  A statue shrine has been dated to this period in the north eastern desert area of the Faiyum.Senusret II built his pyramid complex at Lahun.  It was made from a mud brick structure filled with rock.  It was supported with large limestone cross walls and was cased in limestone.  Some of the finest jewellery of this period were found in a shaft tomb in the south of this pyramid enclosure.  It was the tomb of Princess Sathathoriunet.

Senusret III was involved in a brutal campaign against Nubia.  Many men were killed and their women and children were enslaved, their fields were burned and their wells were poisoned!  Trade then resumed between the Egyptians and the Nubians.  Many stele containing inscriptions which reminded the Nubians of this event were erected in the Semna and Uronarti fortresses.  There appears to be a general lack of tolerance towards foreigners in Egypt at this time as during Senusret III`s campaign to Palestine large numbers of Asiatics were taken prisoner.  His pyramid was built at Dahshur and was a mud brick pyramid again encased in limestone blocks.  Below the pyramid were galleries containing the burials of queens on one level and of princesses on another.  The burial chamber was built of granite and had a vaulted ceiling, but neither this nor the sarcophagus within appears to have been used.  It is thought that Senusret III was actually buried at another funerary complex at Abydos although no remains have as yet been found there.  A cult for the deceased king lasted there for some time.

Senusret III`s son, Amenemhat III succeeded his father and his reign was also one of peace. Some of the fortresses at the Semna border were enlarged to further protect this border.  He built a number of shrines and temples along with a large structure at Biahmu (northern Faiyum) with two large statues of the king in quartzite.  The temple dedicated to Ptah at Memphis was expanded and another large temple was erected in honor of the god, Sobek, at Kiman Faras, otherwise known as Crocodilopolis, in the Faiyum area.  Large scale mining was carried out at many different sites to supply these building programmes.  The scale of this used up most of Egypt`s economic reserves and was unfortunately accompanied by lower than normal Nile floods.  A large number of the people called Hyksos began to settle in the Delta region which eventually contributed to the collapse of Egyptian self rule.

His pyramid was erected at Dahshur but faults in its construction appeared whilst it was being built.  Two royal bodies have been discovered in corridors within the structure one was of Queen Aat whose sarcophagus was the same as that of the king.  Amenemhat was actually buried at Hawara in the Faiyum.  Attached to this pyramid was a mortuary temple which was known as the Labyrinth due a large maze of corridors and rooms.

Maakherura Amenemhat IV had a very short reign following the death of Amenemhat III.  It is thought that he was married to Queen Sobekkara Sobekneferu, who is believed to have been his sister.  He appears to have finished off building projects started by his predecessors,  including the limestone temple to the harvest goddess, Renenutet at Medinet Maadi in the Faiyum region.
 

The final 12th dynasty ruler was queen Sobekneferu.  She used some masculine titles as well as feminine ones which was unusual at this time.  She added to Amenemhat III`s "Labyrinth" and also built at Herakleopolis Magna.  Her reign was very short and her tomb has not yet been discovered.  A few statues of the queen have been discovered in the Faiyum region.  One shows the queen wearing a "sed" festival cloak and a strange looking crown which appears to have been an attempt to combine elements of both male and female rulers.

To be continued

1-Tomb of Sesostris. Lintel with hieroglyphics. C 1971 - 1926 BC. From coptos now in Lyon mus b - a. middle kingdom architecture. 

2-Boat - tomb of masahiti. 12th dynasty middle kingdom sculpture. Now in Cairo,  Egyptian museum
 

3-Pectoral with the name of Senwosret II C 1897 - 1878 BC dynasty 12, reigns of Senwosret II - Amenemhat III, middle kingdom.Egyptian
 

4-Sphinx of Senwosret III C 1878 - 1841 BC. Dynasty 12, reign of Senwosret III, middle kingdom. Egyptian 

5-Face of Senwosret III C 1878 - 1841 BC. Dynasty 12, reign of Senwosret III, middle kingdom. Egyptian

6-Pharaoh Aamenemhot III ( Amenemhat III / Nimaatra ) C 1830 BC. Middle kingdom sculpture. In Copenhagen , 

7-Antet son of Sa - Mechtis. 12th dynasty C 1780 BC. Middle kingdom sculpture. in the Berlin Egyptian museum.