What period followed the decline of centralized power in Egypt around 2200-2050 B.C.E.?

The period that followed the decline of centralized power in Egypt around 2200-2050 B.C.E. is known as the First Intermediate Period. This era marked a time of significant political instability and fragmentation in Egypt. Following the Old Kingdom, the central authority weakened, leading to a lack of strong leadership and the emergence of regional governors or nomarchs who asserted their autonomy. This resulted in a division of the country, where different regions were controlled by different rulers, and there was competition for power among local leaders.

During the First Intermediate Period, cultural and artistic expressions also evolved, as the populace began to respond to the changing socio-political landscape. This period is characterized by a significant contrast to the previous Old Kingdom's centralized state, leading to a time where local powers rose to prominence while the authority of the pharaohs diminished.

The subsequent periods, such as the Middle Kingdom, indicate a return to centralized power, but the First Intermediate Period is distinctly marked by the absence of a unified governance structure following the decline of centralized authority in the Old Kingdom.