Final answer:
Mentuhotep I established his capital at Thebes, which was further developed by his successor Mentuhotep II and subsequent rulers of the Middle Kingdom.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mentuhotep I established his capital at Thebes. Nebhepetra Mentuhotep II, a later ruler who is often credited with consolidating the Middle Kingdom and truly establishing Thebes as a cultural and political center, constructed his mortuary complex on the west side of the Nile at Thebes. Thebes was given considerable attention by the rulers of the Middle Kingdom because of the local god Amun, and the initial core for the temple at Karnak was constructed there. Thebes became the religious and administrative center during periods of both centralized power and division within Ancient Egypt.