Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom ruled to glorify themselves while Pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom took on the responsibility of caring for the people of Egypt. The shift in responsibility for the Pharaohs was largely influenced by the new role Egypt found itself playing in the outside world, , the much wider distribution of wealth in the Middle Kingdom, and the decline of the Pharaohs power at the end of the Old Kingdom.
Middle Kingdom Pharaoh Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II of the Eleventh Dynasty
Old Kingdom Egyptians kept themselves largely isolated from the outside world. Middle Kingdom Egyptians were brought into this world by the necessities of trade to support a growing Empire and restore a weakened economy. Egypt was a unique culture civilization that feared and misunderstood the outside world. The Pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom built massive fortifications along the borders of the country to protect the Egyptians from the outside world.
During the Old Kingdom, all of the wealth of Egypt belonged to and was used for the Pharaoh. During the intermediate period, Egypt became fractured and the wealth of the country became much more widely distributed. Art and culture moved from the Pharaohs courts to the cities of Egypt and became accessible to many more Egyptians. The decentralization of wealth and power played a significant role in transforming Egypt from an Empire that served the Pharaoh to an Empire served by the Pharaoh.
While the Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom built pyramids to glorify themselves, the Pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom built massive fortifications to protect Egyptians. The ability of Pharaohs to derive power from ma’at was lost during the harsh intermediate period and the people of Egypt began to look to their leaders for solutions rather than justifications. The Pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom remained powerful rulers, but in order to maintain that power, they had to serve the needs of Egypt.
The Middle Kingdom Pharaoh led a transformed Empire facing new dangers and challenges. The Pharaoh was now responsible for ensuring that Egypt prospered in the wider world without compromising safety. To lead effectively the Pharaoh had to develop new strategies for government that recognized the wealth of Egypt was no longer concentrated into the royal purse. The Middle Kingdom Pharaoh must serve Egypt, and according to many of the “Instructions”, should expect nothing in return.