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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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