The Egyptian History Podcast, The Enduring Car.

Welcome back. Last 15, the Enduring Car.

Welcome back.

Last time, the reign of Niusare came to an end after some three decades on the throne.

In his lifetime, the Royal Family had been strengthened by the introduction of new blood.

Elite families began to participate more and more in the highest levels of administration, in some cases marrying into the royal family

as a way of joining their households with the divinity of the king.

The enormous shift from a culture dominated by sons, brothers, nephews and cousins of the king,

to one in which wealthy but non-royal persons could share in government was a massive one.

It took decades to reach maturity and decades more to really impact the social fabric in a recognizable fashion. the culture of the administrators, which I call elite culture began to flourish.

In the reign of Niusore and his second successor Jed Kaurae,

the culture of the administrators, which I call elite culture, began to flourish.

As mid-level administrators, not as important as the king or vizier,

but more important than simple scribes and accountants.

These men are one of the key windows into the Egyptian worldview

beyond its focus on the royal household.

It was perhaps only natural that this social group began to develop its own identity

distinct from its role as servants of the king.

In time, they began to rationalize their own place in the world and

discuss ideals and behavioral codes that suited their unique position between the

king and the majority of the population.

As the middle class of Egypt, it is these elites who will come to dominate the Egyptian

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