Ancient Egyptian Leadership

Ancient Egyptian Leadership

Answer the following questions below:

Check our essay writing services here

Ancient Egyptian Leadership

1. The last pharaoh of the Old Kingdom was Pepi II. What weaknesses does Pepi II’s reign reveal about a system of government which centers on an absolute monarch?

2. Hatshepsut served as a pharaoh in her own right and was also co-ruler with her son Thutmose III. It was not a secret that she was a woman. Research (and cite!) the significance of the fact that she is depicted as having a beard (there is an image of her in the Topic 04 Part 2 Egypt slides). Hint: consider that in the palette of Narmer that Narmer was shown as being tremendously taller than anyone else. How are these depictions related?

3. Akhenaten started a monotheistic religion and denied the existence of any other gods. Research (and cite!) the scholarly discussion over his motivation for this radical change: was it political (describe the political reason(s) in detail) or personal (research and cite!) or both?

4. Research the origins of the Hyksos, who ended Egypt’s Middle Kingdom. There is a brief article from Smithsonian magazine. Do additional research and explore the events that ended the Middle Kingdom of Egypt.

One page only

Answer

Pepi II’s Reign and Absolute Monarchy
- Weaknesses: Pepi II’s long reign (possibly over 90 years) exposed vulnerabilities in a system centered around an absolute monarch. His age and potential physical or mental frailty led to a weakened central authority, as local governors gained power. This decentralization eroded the pharaoh’s control, contributing to instability and the eventual collapse of the Old Kingdom. The dependency on a single ruler’s health and strength underlined the unsustainable nature of an absolute monarchy, especially over extended periods. Ancient Egyptian Leadership
Hatshepsut’s Depiction with a Beard
- Significance: Hatshepsut’s depiction with a pharaonic beard, despite her well-known identity as a woman, served as a symbolic alignment with male rulers and their divine authority. Similar to how Narmer was portrayed as larger than others to signify dominance, Hatshepsut’s beard signaled her legitimacy and…