Welcome back to Ancient Egypt! This chapter addresses the period of the New Kingdom, from about 1540 BC to about 1070 BC. The Age of Conquest!
The New Kingdom is characterized by power and influence gained, lost, gained, and finally lost again. There were wars with the Hittites, Mitanni, Assyrians, and a vague collection of peoples known as the Sea People. Kamose’s relative Ahmose succeeded him and rapidly expanded Egypt’s sphere of influence and Egypt became the most powerful nation in the Ancient Near East. A Viceroy of Nubia was named and answered only to the Pharaoh.
Tuthmosis I and III expanded the empire as far north and east as the Euphrates River and south to the 4th cataract of the Nile. The building of new temples, the reconstruction and restoration of old temples was financed by the gains in territory and wealth came to Egypt in the manner of gold, ivory, precious and semi-precious stones, ebony, cattle, gums, and resins. The favored god Amun was honored by the construction of the vast Temple of Karnak complex. The complex was added to by each succeeding pharaoh of the era. A female pharaoh named Hatshepsut built many temples and monuments during her peaceful reign and added to Egypt’s wealth by initiating trading with the Punt.
A period of turmoil and national distress followed Hatshepsut when Amenhotep IV (Akenaten) became pharaoh. He moved the capital to a newly built city, banned all gods except for a single god named Aten, closed temples, destroyed his ally the Mitanni, and began other wars in Asia and Nubia. As a result of these dramatic changes, the pharaoh lost power, influence, and more importantly, rich lands and trading agreements. The Egyptian empire shrank back to the Nile Valley and only as far south as the 2nd cataract. Never again would Egypt extend its power and control past the 2nd cataract.
Seti I and Ramses II reclaimed territories in the Near East, facing their foe the Hittites. Later the Hittites came to Ramses II seeking help against the attacking Assyrians. Ramses II took the lead in diplomacy establishing a non-aggression pact with the Hittites and supported them. A peaceful and very prosperous 67 years followed until Ramses II death in 1224 BC. By the time of Ramses III corruption, social turmoil, and political conspiracy was rampant in the central government. Between 1163 BC and 1070 BC Theban priests became the de facto leaders of Upper Egypt and the pharaoh was relegated to Lower Egypt. Former Libyan prisoners of war took control of the military arm of government, as well lands to the west. By the end of the reign of Ramses XI Egypt had once again been torn asunder, the 20th dynasty and the New Kingdom collapsed.
Visit again and follow the history of Egypt through the 3rd Intermediate Period.
by Vicki Gardner
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