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The New Kingdom (1567-1085BC) :
Ahmosis founded the
Eighteenth Dynasty (1567-1320BC) which
reigned over the first part of a prosperous and stable imperial period
during which Pharaonic culture flowered and Egypt became a world
power.
During the Eighteenth Dynasty Nubia was subdued and its wealth of
gold, ivory, gemstones and ebony flowed into Egypt. Pharaonic armies
conquered the Near East, Syria and Palestine and workers from these
new-established colonies, and a cultural cross-fertilization took
place as artisans and intellectuals transplanted their knowledge,
skills and culture onto Egyptian soil.
The temple of Karnak at Thebes grew with the expansion of
empire. Tuthmosis I constructed the first tomb in the Valley of
the Kings. His daughter reigned as pharaoh and built the temple of
Deir Al-Bahri. Tuthmosis III expanded the empire beyond
Nubiaand across the Euphrates to the boundaries of the Hittites.
Imperial expansion continued under Amenophis II and
Tuthmosis IV. The reign of Amenophis III was the pinnacle
of Egyptian Pharaonic power. Under Amenophis III the kingdom
was secure enough for the Pharaoh to build many of the greatest
Pharaonic structures including the Temple of Luxor.
His son Amenophis IV fought with the priesthood of the god Amun
and changed his name to Akhenaten in honour of the god Aten. With his
wife Nefertiti Akhenaten he established a new capital at Tel El-Amarna
dedicated to the worship of Aten, which many believe was the first
organized monotheistic religion. Both his predecessors and successors
denounced his beliefs as heresy.
During their short reign (1379-1362BC)
Pharaonic obsession with the afterlife was banished as was the old
idolatry. Art began to reflect human concerns. This was called the
Amarna revolution, which barely survived Akhenaten's reign. His
successor Smenkhkare upheld Akhenaten's ideals but died within
a year, leaving the child pharaoh Tutankhamen under the influence of
the priesthood who easily convinced him to renounce the monotheism of
his father-in-law and return to rule from Thebes.
This period has been called the Theban counter-revolution during which
time the priesthood destroyed any traces of Akhenaten's reign,
including the Temple of the Sun at Karnak.
Tutankhamen ruled for nine years until just before reaching manhood,
when he died. He is most remembered in modern times for the fabulous
and pristine treasures uncovered when his tomb was discovered in
1922. Tutankhamen was succeeded by Ay and
Horemheb, the last Eighteenth Dynasty kings, both of whom
worked to eradicate Akhenaten's revolutionary beliefs and
restore the status quo.
The Nineteenth Dynasty (1320-1200BC) was
established by the Horemheb's wazir, or minister, Ramses I who
reigned for two years. Ramses and his descendants were warrior
kings who recaptured territories lost under Akhenaten. His
successor Seti I regained control over Egypt's eastern colonies in
Palestine, Nubia and the Near East. Seti I also began construction on
a majestic temple at Abydos which was completed by his son Ramses
II who reconquered Asia Minor.
Ramses also constructed monumental structures like the Ramesseum
in Thebes and the sun temples of
Abu Simbel. His son Merneptah spent much of his reign
driving back invaders from Libya and the Mediterranean but he is
believed to be the biblical Pharaoh described in Exodus. Seti II was
the last king of the Nineteenth Dynasty.
The Twentieth Dynasty (1200-1085BC) was
to be the last of the New Kingdom and was first established by
Sethnakhte. By the reign of his successor Ramses III, the
kingdom was occupied with defending itself against Libyan and "Sea
People" invasions. Ramses III constructed the enormous palace
temple of Medinet Hebu but the empire had begun to disintegrate with
strikes, assassination attempts and provincial unrest.
His successors, who were all named Ramses, presided over the
decline of their empire until Ramses XI withdrew from active
control over his kingdom, delegating authority over Upper Egypt to his
high priest of Amun, Herihor, and of Lower Egypt to his minister
Smendes. These two rulers were the last of the New Kingdom.
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