Editing Ancient Egypt (section)

===Middle Kingdom (2134–1690 BC)===
{{Main|Middle Kingdom of Egypt}}

[[File:GuardianStatueofAmenemhmatII.jpg|thumb|A figure wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt, most probably [[Amenemhat II]] or [[Senwosret II]]. It functioned as a divine guardian for the [[Imiut fetish|imiut]]; the divine kilt suggests that the statuette was not merely a representation of the living ruler.{{sfnp|Guardian Figure 14.3.17|2022}}]]
[[File:Stone pyramidion of Middle Kingdom pharaoh Amenemhat III.jpg|thumb|[[Pyramidion of Amenemhat III]], capstone of the [[Pyramid of Amenemhat III (Dahshur)|Black Pyramid]]]]
[[File:Coffin of Nakhtkhnum MET DP354909.jpg|thumb|Coffin of Khnumnakht in 12th dynasty style, with palace facade, columns of inscriptions, and two Wedjat eyes{{sfn|Grajetzki|2007|pp=41–54}}]]

The kings of the Middle Kingdom restored the country's stability, which saw a resurgence of art and monumental building projects, and a new flourishing of [[ancient Egyptian literature|literature]].{{sfnp|Shaw|2003|pp=142, 171}} Mentuhotep II and his [[Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt|Eleventh Dynasty]] successors ruled from Thebes, but the vizier [[Amenemhat I]], upon assuming the kingship at the beginning of the [[Twelfth dynasty of Egypt|Twelfth Dynasty]] around 1985{{nbsp}}BC, shifted the kingdom's capital to the city of [[Itjtawy]], located in [[Faiyum Oasis|Faiyum]].{{sfnp|Clayton|1994|p=79}} From Itjtawy, the kings of the Twelfth Dynasty undertook a far-sighted [[land reclamation]] and irrigation scheme to increase agricultural output in the region. Moreover, the military reconquered territory in [[Nubia]] that was rich in quarries and gold mines, while laborers built a defensive structure in the Eastern Delta, called the "[[Walls of the Ruler]]", to defend against foreign attack.{{sfnp|Shaw|2003|pp=148–152}}

With the kings having secured the country militarily and politically and with vast agricultural and mineral wealth at their disposal, the nation's population, arts, and religion flourished. The Middle Kingdom displayed an increase in expressions of personal piety toward the gods. Middle Kingdom literature featured sophisticated themes and characters written in a confident, eloquent style.{{sfnp|Shaw|2003|pp=169–171}} The [[relief]] and portrait sculpture of the period captured subtle, individual details that reached new heights of technical sophistication.{{sfnp|Robins|2008|p=90}}