Once the government of Egypt was solidified, the Middle Kingdom could emerge. The Pharaohs of this time realized that the people could rule the country without the permission of the pharaoh.

One of the first things the pharaohs did was permit the lower classes to become mummified. This was very significant because according to the Egyptians, your soul only lasted as long as the body existed. People take religion very seriously. Even today people will go to the extremes in the name their God or gods.

Mummification

The process of mummification was a very elaborate and sacred practice. Mummification was done to preserve a body. Egyptians believed that the body followed the soul to the other side.

When a pharaoh died, there was a time of official mourning. Government was not allowed to operate for 90 days. Of course, emergencies were taken care of. People mourned too, men were not allowed to shave for 90 days, and women were not allowed to work with their hair or wear make-up in that time period too.

The first incision on the dead was sacred. The first thing that the Egyptians did was take out all the internal organs. This was done because of all the water our organs retain. The brain was then taken out too. The brain was picked out through the nose in little pieces.

After the body was emptied of all it's organs and blood, the process of drying out continued. The body is filled with paper and linen. Then, the body is submerged in natron for a number of days. Natron is another name for salt. This dried out the skin.

Once the skin and body is died out, layers upon layers of wrappings are applied. While the wrappings are being applied, another crew of people are creating the sarcophagus is being built and decorated.

This again was a time of land improvement. The Egyptians found new ways of making land productive. They learned how to drain swampland. They also made a canal to the Red Sea. This also helped expand their borders.

This kingdom did not end because of internal problems. Rather, Egypt entered the Second Intermediate Period because of foreign invaders. A Mesopotamian tribe called the Hyksos invaded Egypt. This smaller culture was able to conquer the Egyptians because they had the ability to use war chariots and calvary. The Second Intermediate Period lasted for 300 years. Once the Egyptians learned their secrets, they were able to overthrow the Hyksos.