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Episode 35: From Father to Son
Senuseret I (Part II) and the Teachings of Amenemhat. In the wake of his father's unexpected murder, Senuseret I ascends the throne as sole ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt. His early years must be...
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Episode 36: The White Chapel
Senuseret I (Part III) and Karnak Temple. The building projects of Senuseret I were the most widespread and splendid of any ruler since the Old Kingdom. Buildings up and down the Nile valley were...
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Episode 37: Imperial Projects
Senuseret I (Part IV) and the Gold of Nubia. Gold! Gold! Gold! The driver of empires and warfare since time immemorial. For the Egyptians, gold is a valuable resource to embellish temples and state...
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Episode 38: Burial Rites
The International Fame of Nubkaure Amenemhat II. Life is good in Egypt: Nubkaure is the third ruler of Dynasty XII to live a long life (ruling 35 years) and to lead the country capably. He despatches...
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Episode 39: The Wealth of Asia
The Wealth and Splendour of Nubkaure Amenemhat II. Trade missions to and from the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine) bring wealth and exotic goods into Egypt. Goods even arrive from as far...
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Episode 40: Feasting, Laughing and Dancing
Interlude: Celebrating the Divine. In a short break from our historical narrative, we visit two types of Egyptian festivals: the raucous celebrations in honour of Hathor, the sombre re-enactment of...
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Episode 41: The Oasis
The Faiyum Oasis and Senuseret II. A new king is on the throne in 1892 BCE - Kha-kheper-Re Senusret II, son of Amenemhat II. Moving his pyramid south, to Lahun, the king initiates a series of...
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Episode 42: Underworld
The Secret Tomb of Senuseret III. One of Egypt's most legendary kings has taken the throne. Kha-kau-Re Senuseret III begins his 20+ year reign, with an incredibly ambitious building program. No less...
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Episode 43: Dominion Over All
Senuseret III (Part II): Death and Society The literary golden age of Dynasty 12 is beginning, and the courtly part of society is adapting itself to conditions under the King of Upper and Lower...
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Episode 44: The Shipwrecked Sailor
A Fable of the Sea. Sometime during the 12th Dynasty, a folk-tale was composed (or became popular) that carried with it far more philosophical content than might be expected. We explore the tale of...
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Episode 45: The Book of Two Ways
Senuseret III (Part III): The Coffin Texts. Circa 1867 BCE Egypt is flowering, and the aristocracy are taking a greater share in its rewards than ever before. By painting spells, hymns and stories...
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Episode 46: Crushing Our Enemies
Senuseret III (Part IV): Fortifying Our Borders, Destroying Our Foes. 1864 BCE, regnal year 16 of Kha-kau-Re Senuseret III. The king launches another campaign into Nubia, which sees the border set at...
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Episode 47: Strong Ruler(s)
Senuseret III (Part V): Bean Counters, Surveyors and Gossips From 1865-45 BCE Egypt is quiet. Senuseret III comes to the end of his reign in either regnal year 19, or regnal year 35(ish). The throne...
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Episode 48: End of an Era
The Approaching End of Dynasty XII. Ny-ma'at-Re Amenemhat III is the last all-powerful ruler of Dynasty 12. In his 46 years of rule (1845-1798 BCE) there are notable expeditions and settlements in...
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Episode 49: From One Era to Another
From Byblos to Nubia The nine-year reign of Maacheru-Re Amenemhat IV are unremarkable, but Egypt is entering into a fascinating period of international visibility. Foreigners from Canaan are moving...
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Episode 50: Between Two Worlds
Political and Personal Crisis in 1776 Dynasty 12 ends with Egypt's first fully-fledged female King. Neferu-Sobek rules three years, ten months and twenty-four days, dying in 1776 BCE. With her death,...
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Episode 51: Everywhere and Nowhere
Invisible Kings of Dynasty 13 The 13th Dynasty begins in 1786 BCE, with the reign of Sobek-Hotep I. This king, like the fifty who follow him, is nearly invisible in the archaeological record. Why? We...
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Episode 52: Two Dynasties at Once
Canaanites in the North, Egyptians in the South. In 1700 BCE, Egypt is suddenly riven in two. The Delta, populated by a mixture of native Egyptians and second/third-generation Canaanite immigrants is...
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Episode 53: Rulers of Foreign Lands
The Hyksos - Invaders c.1650 BCE, Egypt is invaded from the East. They come from an unknown region of Arabia/Palestine/Syria, and have overthrown the Canaanites of the Delta. They subjugate the lands...
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Episode 54: The Three Kingdoms
A Game of Chess The Hyksos remain supreme over Egypt, along with their allies the Nubians of Kerma. In Thebes, the Kings of Dynasty Sixteen are struggling to resist the invaders and reclaim their...
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