When the Pyramids Fell: Egypt's First Collapse

About This Podcast

What happens when a superpower collapses? We uncover how prolonged drought and low Nile floods, likely linked to a massive climate event, shattered ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom and plunged it into a century of turmoil. This episode examines the rise of powerful regional lords, the bitter civil war between Herakleopolis and Thebes, and the surprising 'democratization of the afterlife' that emerged from the chaos. We investigate the evidence to answer: how did Egypt's golden age so completely unravel?