The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

by Susan Wise Bauer

But these peaceful times didn’t last. The pharaohs of Egypt became weaker and weaker. They lost control of their armies. They even lost control of their own courts and temples. Priests and palace officials fought over who would be in charge. Egypt’s power started to vanish. For a little while, it seemed that Egypt might fall apart, just like the kingdom of Sargon did. But then, around 1991 BC/BCE, a new ruler came to the throne of Egypt. His name was Amenemhet. Amenemhet wasn’t a pharaoh—he just worked for the government. But he was determined to make Egypt strong again. He seized the throne and became the new pharaoh of Egypt. This was the beginning of a new time in Egypt’s history—the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. During the Middle Kingdom, Egypt became a powerful country once more.