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How did the weakening of the government at Memphis contribute to the First Intermediate Period?

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Memphis, Egypt: colossal statue of Ramses II — Memphis Colossal statue of Ramses II, carved from limestone, that once adorned the great temple of Ptah in Memphis, Egypt.

The weakening of the central government at Memphis was a primary factor in the transition to the First Intermediate Period, a time characterized by political fragmentation and social instability.1

During the 6th dynasty, the authority of the Memphite government began to wane, evidenced by the rising prominence of provincial cities and the construction of elite tombs outside the Memphis area. This decentralization accelerated after the 6th dynasty, as the old Memphite house lost its ability to control provincial princes. By the end of the 8th dynasty, the Old Kingdom system of control collapsed entirely.12

This political decay was likely exacerbated by environmental factors, including a series of low Nile inundations and the desiccation of northeastern Africa, which coincided with the loss of central authority. The resulting vacuum of power led to a period of generalized conflict, internal dissent, and local violence, as the country emerged from the collapse in an impoverished and decentralized state.23