Beginning of Decline

							Although the 5th Dynasty maintained prosperity with extensive
foreign trade and military incursions into Asia, signs of decreasing
royal authority became apparent in the swelling of the bureaucracy
and the enhanced power of no royal administrators. The last king of
the dynasty, Unas, who reigned about 2428-2407 BC, was buried at
sakkara , with a body of religious spells, called Pyramid Texts,
carved on the walls of his pyramid chamber. Such texts were also
used in the royal tombs of the 6th Dynasty. Several
autobiographical inscriptions of officials under the 6th Dynasty
indicate the decreasing status of the monarchy; records even
indicate a conspiracy against King Pepi I, who reigned about 2395-
2360 BC, in which the ruler's wife was involved. It is believed that
during the later years of Pepi II, who reigned about 2350-2260 BC,
power may have been in the hands of his vizier (chief minister).
Central authority over the economy was also diminished by decrees
of exemption from taxes. The Nomes (districts) were rapidly
becoming individually powerful, as the monarchs—governors of the
districts—were beginning to remain in place rather than being
periodically transferred to different Nomes