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
All About Reading
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Snapshots in Time: Ancient Egypt, the 2nd Intermediate Period
Welcome back to Ancient Egypt! This chapter addresses the period of the 2nd Intermediate Period, from about 1783 BC to about 1550 BC. Since this is such a significant era, followed by an even more important era, we will cover the 2nd Intermediate Period by itself.
The 2nd Intermediate Period is characterized by an overall state of stability and progress, however it did not begin, nor did it end, under those favorable auspices.
Exiting the Middle Kingdom era, Egypt came under the control of Canaanites called Hyksos, “ruler of the foreign land”. The Hyksos ended the 13th dynasty of Upper Egypt and the 14th Dynasty of Lower Egypt to form a single 15th dynasty. However their real control only reached as far as Thebes. Thebans re-gathered their elite and founded a 16th dynasty which the Hyksos took another 30 years to conquer. It was a fruitless battle of resources as after a few short years the Hyksos once again lost control of Lower Egypt and the Thebans formed the 17th dynasty around 1640 BC. From that point until the end of the 2nd Intermediate Period, the Hyksos maintained trade functions and peaceful political relations with Lower Egypt.
The Hyksos had other concerns for the lands they controlled in Upper Egypt. Famines were frequent due to lower than expected Nile flooding. In response, the Hyksos imported new plants and vegetables from Palestine and cattle (zebu) from Nubia to be raised. They also supported these new species by developing new irrigation methods to get the most out of what flooding the Nile was providing. In the field of textiles, a significant progression was the importation of the vertical loom. Bronze working was introduced, enabling the development of stronger tools and weapons. The first chariots are also seen during this era.
Along with providing new skills and knowledge to the conquered Egyptians, the Hyksos revitalized a dying culture while still maintaining its most sacred institutions. Learning and experimentation became a prime directive of this period - how to obtain the most from limited resources.
The 2nd Intermediate Period came to a nasty end when the Pharaoh of Upper Egypt insulted the Pharaoh of Lower Egypt, igniting all out war. The Pharaoh of Lower Egypt was killed but after three years his son Kamose was successful in routing the Hyksos, forcing them to return to Palestine.
Visit again and follow the history of Egypt through the New Kingdom.
by Vicki Gardner
The 2nd Intermediate Period is characterized by an overall state of stability and progress, however it did not begin, nor did it end, under those favorable auspices.
Exiting the Middle Kingdom era, Egypt came under the control of Canaanites called Hyksos, “ruler of the foreign land”. The Hyksos ended the 13th dynasty of Upper Egypt and the 14th Dynasty of Lower Egypt to form a single 15th dynasty. However their real control only reached as far as Thebes. Thebans re-gathered their elite and founded a 16th dynasty which the Hyksos took another 30 years to conquer. It was a fruitless battle of resources as after a few short years the Hyksos once again lost control of Lower Egypt and the Thebans formed the 17th dynasty around 1640 BC. From that point until the end of the 2nd Intermediate Period, the Hyksos maintained trade functions and peaceful political relations with Lower Egypt.
The Hyksos had other concerns for the lands they controlled in Upper Egypt. Famines were frequent due to lower than expected Nile flooding. In response, the Hyksos imported new plants and vegetables from Palestine and cattle (zebu) from Nubia to be raised. They also supported these new species by developing new irrigation methods to get the most out of what flooding the Nile was providing. In the field of textiles, a significant progression was the importation of the vertical loom. Bronze working was introduced, enabling the development of stronger tools and weapons. The first chariots are also seen during this era.
Along with providing new skills and knowledge to the conquered Egyptians, the Hyksos revitalized a dying culture while still maintaining its most sacred institutions. Learning and experimentation became a prime directive of this period - how to obtain the most from limited resources.
The 2nd Intermediate Period came to a nasty end when the Pharaoh of Upper Egypt insulted the Pharaoh of Lower Egypt, igniting all out war. The Pharaoh of Lower Egypt was killed but after three years his son Kamose was successful in routing the Hyksos, forcing them to return to Palestine.
Visit again and follow the history of Egypt through the New Kingdom.
by Vicki Gardner
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Snapshots in Time: Ancient Egypt, the 1st Intermediate and Middle Kingdoms
Welcome back to Ancient Egypt! This chapter addresses the period of the 1st Intermediate Period, from about 2200 BC to about 2040/50 BC followed by the Middle Kingdom from about 2040/50 BC to 1783 BC.
The 1st Intermediate Period is characterized by somewhat more than a century of widespread chaos and warfare. As we saw earlier, the demise of the central government due to climate conditions brought about the rise of local governments controlled by nomarchs. Some of these nomarchs were more successful politicians than others and proclaimed themselves king of their own regions, while some still recognized the failed central government.
The 9th and 10th Dynasties were in control of an area from Heracleapolis in the Delta, south to Abydos where they were challenged by the 11th Dynasty in Thebes. Lesser nomarchs aligned themselves with either the Heraclepian or Theban dynasties. The two disparate dynastic areas clashed repeatedly both politically and militarily and resulted in civil war. Small regions west of the Nile were spared the effects of warfare but a great deal of the artistic achievements of the Old Kingdom paid the price of the civil war. Local nomarchs who could not afford to pay the formerly state-sponsored artisans turned to local talent for the building of structures, inscription of hieroglyphs, and artistic decoration. Much of the artifacts of this period reflect crudity and dis-proportionate depictions as well as less ornamentation.
However the impact on Egypt as a single culture was enhanced by this period of turmoil. The rise of the local governments and warring dynasties brought the Pharaonic culture to widespread areas outside of the royal court and the elite. All Egyptians regardless of caste were now indulging in the Pharaonic culture and adapting to the ways of Ra and his cohort of gods. This cultural development insured the survival of the Pharaonic culture through the decline of the Old Kingdom to the birth of the Middle Kingdom.
Mentuhotep II of the Theban dynasty won final victory and once again unified Egypt under a single ruler and the Middle Kingdom began in about 2040-50 BC. The years cannot be precisely dated due to the state of the country at the time.
Following the death of Mentuhotep II, his vizier Amenemhat I became Pharaoh. He led military campaigns in Nubia to further Egyptian control south of the first cataract of the Nile. With the fortunes claimed, he began a new building campaign for his new administrative center in Itj-Tawi, a location central to the two former warring dynasties, as well as temples and forts along the eastern frontier. The capital itself was relocated back to Memphis as it had been during the Old Kingdom. Later, Sesostris III eliminated all local governors to once again establish central control and then directed more military campaigns in Nubia, pushing all the way south of the 2nd cataract of the Nile. He also led the first campaigns in Syria and Palestine, possible as revenge for tribal incursions into Egyptian lands. However, with his heir’s royal blood in question, a foreign potentate from the eastern Nile region wrested control – once again dividing the country and the Middle Kingdom collapsed in 1783 BC.
Visit again and follow the history of Egypt through the Second Intermediary Period.
by Vicki Gardner
The 1st Intermediate Period is characterized by somewhat more than a century of widespread chaos and warfare. As we saw earlier, the demise of the central government due to climate conditions brought about the rise of local governments controlled by nomarchs. Some of these nomarchs were more successful politicians than others and proclaimed themselves king of their own regions, while some still recognized the failed central government.
The 9th and 10th Dynasties were in control of an area from Heracleapolis in the Delta, south to Abydos where they were challenged by the 11th Dynasty in Thebes. Lesser nomarchs aligned themselves with either the Heraclepian or Theban dynasties. The two disparate dynastic areas clashed repeatedly both politically and militarily and resulted in civil war. Small regions west of the Nile were spared the effects of warfare but a great deal of the artistic achievements of the Old Kingdom paid the price of the civil war. Local nomarchs who could not afford to pay the formerly state-sponsored artisans turned to local talent for the building of structures, inscription of hieroglyphs, and artistic decoration. Much of the artifacts of this period reflect crudity and dis-proportionate depictions as well as less ornamentation.
However the impact on Egypt as a single culture was enhanced by this period of turmoil. The rise of the local governments and warring dynasties brought the Pharaonic culture to widespread areas outside of the royal court and the elite. All Egyptians regardless of caste were now indulging in the Pharaonic culture and adapting to the ways of Ra and his cohort of gods. This cultural development insured the survival of the Pharaonic culture through the decline of the Old Kingdom to the birth of the Middle Kingdom.
Mentuhotep II of the Theban dynasty won final victory and once again unified Egypt under a single ruler and the Middle Kingdom began in about 2040-50 BC. The years cannot be precisely dated due to the state of the country at the time.
Following the death of Mentuhotep II, his vizier Amenemhat I became Pharaoh. He led military campaigns in Nubia to further Egyptian control south of the first cataract of the Nile. With the fortunes claimed, he began a new building campaign for his new administrative center in Itj-Tawi, a location central to the two former warring dynasties, as well as temples and forts along the eastern frontier. The capital itself was relocated back to Memphis as it had been during the Old Kingdom. Later, Sesostris III eliminated all local governors to once again establish central control and then directed more military campaigns in Nubia, pushing all the way south of the 2nd cataract of the Nile. He also led the first campaigns in Syria and Palestine, possible as revenge for tribal incursions into Egyptian lands. However, with his heir’s royal blood in question, a foreign potentate from the eastern Nile region wrested control – once again dividing the country and the Middle Kingdom collapsed in 1783 BC.
Visit again and follow the history of Egypt through the Second Intermediary Period.
by Vicki Gardner
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