Egypt's Golden Age: Chaos, War & Rebirth

About This Podcast

Discover an Egypt torn apart by famine and civil war, where royal tombs were plundered and the social order collapsed so completely that texts describe cannibalism. This episode charts the bloody reunification under the warrior-pharaoh Mentuhotep II and the subsequent rise of the Middle Kingdom, a true golden age that produced masterpieces of literature, somber and realistic royal art, and massive military fortresses to control the wealth of Nubia. We reveal a more nuanced and human side of ancient Egypt, challenging the stereotype of the untouchable god-king by exploring the burdens of leadership. How did Egypt transform its pharaohs from distant gods into 'Good Shepherds' burdened by the w...