I find it interesting that ancient states are able to function on a large regional scale, and once some states have reached their end- few are able to reform and reestablish control over the region. It’s intriguing to me that states were able to come back from almost completely collapsing. Egypt is no exception of this amazing phenomena. This ancient state was able to last, “for a better part of three millennia” (Wegner 2012). I find this to be an incredible feat. This ancient state undertook many years of internal and external conflicts and Egypt was able to adapt to these major events and survive and thrive for the better part of its existence. Various types of evidence, such as mortuary analysis, written sources, and the archaeological record, show the political power of the state being decentralized and being under provencal authority. I find it intriguing that a state can endure such a change and still thrive underneath such a change. Wegner states that, “scholars have emphasized
the degree to which the daily life of the average Egyptian did not change significantly as a result of the shifting relationship between central and provincial elites.” While I’m sure a few aspects of life did occur from this political shift, the daily life of the Egyptians did not change significantly. It’s interesting to think that a state can undergo this type of change but the life of the citizens stay the same. Comparing that change to today’s world, I’m sure our life in the U.S. would significantly differ if the States had more political power than our centralized government. This thought makes me wonder how ancient egypt was able to thrive underneath a decentralized government. After being decentralized, Egypt was able to reunite underneath a centralized government. For example, during the Middle Kingdom, centralizing arose due to, “military and political expansion initiated by a line of provincial rulers” (Wegner). Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II was able to unite the provinces under his rule due to his military advancements. The middle kingdom lasted well over a century (Dynasties 11-13). During the Middle Kingdom, advancements in material culture , and the change in funerary traditions are both shown throughout the archaeological record. These changes include written text, such as the depiction of childbirth (Wegner 2012), and the material culture found within mortuary context. I found it intriguing that an ancient state such as Egypt was able to further advance while going through the shifting of government power.