Late Old Kingdom climatic events, famines, and the political crisis leading to collapse (c. 2350–2181 BCE)

1. Ankhtifi’s tomb text describes famine and social breakdown

   Jan 1, 2150Labels: Ankhtifi, El-Mo alla

   • Ankhtifi
   • Old Kingdom

2. Royal monumentality contracts: Ibi’s small Saqqara pyramid

   Jan 1, 2165Labels: Qakare Ibi, Saqqara Pyramid

   • Ancient Egypt org
   • 8th Dynasty

3. Coptos Decrees show royal concessions to local elites

   Jan 1, 2170Labels: Coptos Decrees, Temple of

   • Coptos Decrees
   • Britannica Egypt

4. Political strain rises amid environmental stress

   Jan 1, 2175Labels: Nile Inundation, Political Instability

   • Britannica Egypt
   • NatGeo analysis

5. Ephemeral Memphite rulers proliferate (7th–8th Dyn.)

   Jan 1, 2181Labels: Memphis, Seventh Dynasty

   • Britannica Egypt
   • Manetho list

6. First Intermediate Period begins (conventional date)

   Jan 1, 2181Labels: First Intermediate

   • WHE
   • Ancient Egypt

7. Onset of the 4.2 ka aridification episode

   Jan 1, 2200Labels: 4 2

   • 4 2ka overview
   • Smith College

8. Nile flood and baseflow regime shifts detected

   Jan 1, 2200Labels: Nile Delta, Geoarchaeology

   • Stanley 2003

9. Pepi II dies; succession becomes unstable

   Jan 1, 2214Labels: Pepi II, Succession Crisis

   • Britannica Pepi II
   • Merenre II

10. Merenre Nemtyemsaf II rules briefly

    Jan 1, 2214Labels: Merenre II

    • Merenre II
    • Britannica Egypt

11. Late Sixth Dynasty decentralization accelerates

    Jan 1, 2250Labels: Late Sixth, Nomarchs

    • Britannica Egypt
    • Britannica Pepi II

12. Pepi II begins an exceptionally long reign

    Jan 1, 2278Labels: Pepi II

    • Britannica
    • Britannica Egypt