New Kingdom of Egypt
Ahmose I drove the Hyksos out of Egypt around 1570 BC. He continued campaigns started by his father Seqenenre Tao and brother Kamose. This reunification ended the Second Intermediate Period. Ahmose then pushed into the Levant to stop future invasions from that region. His actions established the Eighteenth Dynasty as a new power center.
Thutmose I crossed the Euphrates River during a campaign in the Levant. Syrian princes declared allegiance to him before he returned home. They later stopped paying tribute and began fortifying their cities against Egyptian attacks. Thutmose III expanded the army significantly over twenty years. He conducted at least sixteen military campaigns to consolidate the empire. Historians consider him a military genius who captured three hundred fifty cities.
Amenhotep III built the Luxor Temple and the Mortuary Temple in Thebes. He constructed the Malkata palace, which was the largest building ever made in Egypt. This wealth marked the peak of power for the dynasty. Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhenaten to honor the god Aten. Nefertiti performed rituals to this deity alongside her husband. Their religious reforms created a distinctive art style known as the Amarna Period.
Hatshepsut re-established trade networks disrupted during foreign rule. She funded a mission to the Land of Punt to bring back valuable goods. Her reign saw extensive building projects at Karnak temple in Luxor. Thutmose III assumed full rule after her death. He continued expansion into Nubia and the Near East from the Euphrates river down to that region.
Akhenaten worshiped the Aten as his personal deity. This shift is often called history's first instance of monotheism. His wife Nefertiti contributed greatly to this new direction in religion. They were subsequently written out of Egyptian history due to their fervor. Art flourished under his reign with a unique new style.
The Hittites extended influence into the Levant while Akhenaten showed little interest in international affairs. Seti I fought wars in western Asia and Libya. He captured the Syrian town of Kadesh from the Hittite Empire. Egypt had not held Kadesh since Akhenaten's time. A victory stela was erected there but soon reverted to Hittite control.
Ramesses II led armies against the Hittite king Muwatalli II at the Battle of Kadesh. He survived history's first recorded military ambush by rallying his troops. The Ne'arin mercenaries arrived to turn the tide of battle. Both sides claimed victory, leading to a peace treaty between governments. Ramesses later campaigned in the Levant capturing Edom and Moab.
He built extensively throughout Egypt and Nubia on a monumental scale. The Ramesseum in western Thebes and rock temples at Abu Simbel stand as evidence. Pi-Ramesses served as a new capital city in the Delta region. Ramesses II erected more colossal statues than any other pharaoh. His tomb for sons became the largest funerary complex in Egypt.
Sea Peoples invaded Egypt by land and sea during the eighth year of Ramesses III's reign. Two great battles occurred at Djahy and the Delta river. Ramesses defeated them but incorporated these people as subjects. Heavy warfare costs drained the treasury slowly over decades. Air pollution from volcanic eruptions affected agricultural production for almost two full decades until 1140 BC.
A secondary wife plotted to assassinate the king to place her son on the throne. A special court of twelve judges tried the conspirators who were sentenced to death. CT scans revealed a deep knife wound in the mummy's throat years later. Droughts and below-normal Nile flooding caused famine across the kingdom. High Priests of Amun became de facto rulers while Smendes controlled Lower Egypt.
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Common questions
When did Ahmose I drive the Hyksos out of Egypt to end the Second Intermediate Period?
Ahmose I drove the Hyksos out of Egypt around 1570 BC. This action ended the Second Intermediate Period and established the Eighteenth Dynasty as a new power center.
How many military campaigns did Thutmose III conduct to consolidate the Egyptian empire?
Thutmose III conducted at least sixteen military campaigns over twenty years to expand the army and capture three hundred fifty cities. He is considered a military genius who expanded the empire from the Euphrates river down to Nubia.
What religious reforms did Akhenaten implement during the Amarna Period?
Akhenaten changed his name to honor the god Aten and worshiped him as his personal deity. His wife Nefertiti performed rituals alongside him, creating a distinctive art style known as the Amarna Period.
Who defeated the Sea Peoples during the eighth year of Ramesses III's reign?
Ramesses III defeated the Sea Peoples in two great battles at Djahy and the Delta river. He incorporated these people as subjects but heavy warfare costs drained the treasury slowly over decades.
Why did High Priests of Amun become de facto rulers after Ramesses III died?
Droughts and below-normal Nile flooding caused famine across the kingdom while Air pollution from volcanic eruptions affected agricultural production for almost two full decades until 1140 BC. These crises allowed High Priests of Amun to become de facto rulers while Smendes controlled Lower Egypt.