Land reform in ancient Egypt

Land ownership in ancient Egypt cycled between private, monarch and feudal. A strong king could take advantage of harsh situations such as famine, buy lands from private owners and make them a property of the crown. A weaker king would have to buy services from strong lords by giving them gifts of land. Pirenne distinguishes three such cycles:

Two land reforms are documented: one involving land concentration and the other attempting land re-division.

In the middle of Cycle 2, at about 1500 BC, shortly after the beginning of the New Kingdom, a land-concentration reform was carried out by Joseph the vizier of the pharaoh:

The farmers of Egypt could not stand a long famine. Joseph suggested to help them, but in return, he bought all their lands.

Egyptian farmers turned from free workers to serfs of pharaoh. They had to pay 20% of their income as a tax to pharaoh.

In the middle of Cycle 3, at about 720 BC, near the end of the New Kingdom, a land-division reform was attempted by king Bakenranef (Bocchoris). After capturing the reign in Sais, he initiated the following reforms:

Feudal lords and clergy combined to overthrow Bakenranef. He was burned alive, and his reforms were undone.

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