Dynasty Notes

The Twelfth Dynasty brought the pharaohs back to some of their former glory, comparable to the Old Kingdom that had produced the pyramid builders. Most of the pharaohs were excellend administrators, supporting the development of industry and architecture in the MIddle Kingdom. There was even some return to the Old Kingdom artistic styles

Important literary works emerged in this period, many of them found on paprii from the Ramesseum in 1896. Some of the stories uncovered are the Precepts of Amenemhet, Tale of Sinuhe, Story of the Shipwrecked Sailor, the Eloquent Peasant, and many others.

The first pharaoh, Amenemhet, was the vizier for the Mentuhotep III. He moved the capital back to Memphis. Co-regency was common in this kingdom, and it made the often contentious process of succession a bit easier to follow.

The standard chronology for the 12th Dynasty is:

Amenemhet I
Senusret I
Amenemhet II
Senusret II
Senusret III
Amenemhet III
Amenemhet IV
Neferusobek

pharaohs

Amenemhet I
Senusret I
Amenemhet II
Senusret II
Senusret III
Amenemhet III
Amenemhet IV
Neferusobek