Middle Kingdom — 2050 - 1750 B.C.

Around 2150 B.C., the power of the Pharaohs was challenged by feudal lords and the once-unified Egypt fell into a state of Civil War which lasted a century — the first intermediate period.  Eventually, Egypt was united again and this event marked the beginning of the Middle Kingdom.  

Rock-cut tombs, Beni Hasan, ca. 1950-1900 B.C.

By this time, the Egyptians began to realize that the large pyramids were very obvious targets for tomb robbers. They continued to build pyramids, but on a much smaller scale so that they did not draw the attention of plunderers. They also built rock-cut tombs, such as the ones seen here at Beni Hasan, and developed more elaborate and hidden passages.  In addition, they designed heavier, granite coffins which were more difficult to rob.  As Gardner's points out, some of these entrance columns were fluted (that is, ornamented with vertical, rounded grooves).  These probably reflected the aesthetic that was achieved for columns made from soft wood that had the bark stripped away by scraping along the vertical length of the log.  This is interesting because we will see that the Ancient Greeks adopted this architectural ornament.   

The Middle Kingdom fell with an invasion of foreign peoples — the Hyksos or shepherd kings.  This was the second intermediate period.  The Hyksos introduced the military innovations of horses and chariots, but, after two centuries, were eventually overthrown by the native Egyptian Kings.  And so began the New Kingdom .