Abstract
Traditional studies of Egypt's relations with Palestine in the Middle Kingdom (1991-1786 B.c.) have usually concluded that there was a significant and extensive Egyptian presence in Palestine at this time; many scholars have followed the lead of W. F. Albright, who argued for a Middle Kingdom political or military empire in the Southern Levant.' Such archaeological and historical data as the Story of Sinuhe, the Execration Texts, the Nesumont and Khusobk stelae, the Djehutihotep statuette from Megiddo, and numerous Middle Kingdom antiquities found in Palestine have often been quoted as evidence either for this empire or at least for a strong Egyptian commercial or diplomatic presence in Palestine in the 12th Dynasty.2 It is my conviction that no such empire existed, and the supposedly close political and economic relations have been much exaggerated. The primary data for this study will be the Egyptian imports and Palestinian copies of Egyptian objects which have been found in Middle Bronze IIA burials and occupational deposits.3 While there has been considerable disagreement among scholars regarding the absolute chronology of the MB IIA Period, it now seems likely that this period encompasses most of the 12th Dynasty,4 while the semi-nomadic MB I Period is
Published Version
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