Amenemhat III - Part 2
Jun 2nd, 2007 by Lee (admin)
Amenemhat III was a much more peaceful ruler than his father. He built and strengthened a few fortresses along the border with Nubia but no military campaigns have been recorded.
Instead, he would appear to have focussed on economics, with mining taking priority, expecially at Wadi Hammamat, Aswan and Tura.
Amenemhat III also pursued a policy of preventing common people from becoming too powerful whilst increasing the power and wealth of central government. This was achieved by limiting property ownership rights, amongst other things.
His eonomic policies worked well and Egypt flourished. Many works were commissioned and workers were imported from Asia to complete them. Ironically, this would eventually lead to the downfall of the Middle Kingdom - power would be seized by a group of Asiatics who would then go on to form their own dynasty.
Amenemhat III had two funeral complexes built. The first, at Dashur, was overlooked, two of his queens eventually were buried in this pyramid complex.
The second, at Hawara had a mortuary temple attached that was so large and complex that it became known as The Labyrinth.