1. The Egyptian Empire
2400 BCE-800 BCE

2. The Egyptian Empire: The Middle Kingdom
2300 BC – pharaohs lost control of Egypt as nobles battled each other for power; led to 200 years of confusion
New dynasty came to power and led from Thebes (south of Memphis) 
Order restored during new time called Middle Kingdom – golden age of stability, prosperity and achievement
The Egyptian Empire: The Middle Kingdom

3. *The Drive for More Land
Soldiers captured Nubia and attacked modern day Syria
Conquered people sent tribute to Egyptian pharaoh
Pharaohs added more waterways and dams
Increased amount of land farmed and built canal btw Nile and Red Sea
*The Drive for More Land

4. Painters covered walls of tombs and temples with colorful scenes of deities and daily life
Sculptors created large wall carvings and statues of pharaohs showing them as ordinary people, not godlike figures
Poets wrote love songs and tributes to pharaohs
New form of architecture – tombs cut into cliffs west of Nile River – the Valley of the Kings
The Arts Blossom

5. Hyksos – people from western Asia who attacked Egypt
Hyksos – people from western Asia who attacked Egypt. Mighty warriors; crossed desert in horse- drawn chariots and used weapons made of bronze and iron.
Egyptians were no match for them, they ruled Egypt for 120 years
Egyptian prince Ahmose led an uprising that drove Hyksos our of Egypt
Who Were the Hyksos?

6. The Egyptian Empire: The New Kingdom
Ahmose’s reign began the New Kingdom when Egypt reached the height of its ancient glory.
The Egyptian Empire: The New Kingdom

7. Queen Hatshepsut ruled with her husband, then nephew and then made herself pharaoh – one of few woman to rule Egypt
She focused on trade along east coast of Africa – exchanged beads, metal, tools and weapons for gold, ivory, ebony and incense
Great need for wood; few trees in the Nile so Egyptian traders went to eastern Mediterranean where the Phoenicians were famous for their wooden furniture
Trading brought great wealth to Egypt – Hatshepsut used some of wealth to build monuments. One of greatest projects was huge temple and tomb in Valley of Kings
A Woman Ruler

8. Expanding the Empire Thutmose III (Hatshepsut’s nephew) became pharaoh
Armies expanded Egypt’s borders north to Euphrates River in Mesopotamia and moved south to regain control of Nubia
Empire grew rich from trade and tribute; Egypt claimed gold, copper, ivory and other valuables
Enslaved many prisoners of war who rebuilt Thebes, filling the city with beautiful palaces, temples and monuments,
Slavery became common; they did have rights to own land, marry and eventually be granted freedom
Expanding the Empire

9. The Egyptian Empire: The Legacies of Two Pharaohs
Amanhotep IV came to throne in 1370 BC; tried to lead Egypt in new direction with help of wife, Nefertiti
Amanhotep realized priests were gaining power at expense of pharaoh
Introduced new religion in which only one god, Aton, was to be worshiped
As priests resisted change, he removed many from their positions, seized their lands, closed temples
Changed his name to Akhenaton, “Spirit of Aton” and ruled from a new city
The people refused to accept Aton as only god.
He became so devoted to religion that he neglected duties as pharaoh- Egypt lost most of its land in western Asia
The Egyptian Empire: The Legacies of Two Pharaohs

10. Tutankhamen (“King Tut” took over the throne when his father- in- law (Akhenaton)- died at 19
was only ten years old and relied on help from palace officials and priest who convinced him to restore old religion
The Boy King

11. The Egyptian Empire: The End of the New Kingdom
British archaeologist, Howard Carter, found his tomb in AD 1922 which contained the king’s mummy and treasures including gold mask. This is unique as most royal tombs were looted
Ramses II was one of most effective pharaohs
Reigned for 66 years
Egyptian armies regained lands and Ramses launched ambitious building program (new temples)
The Egyptian Empire: The End of the New Kingdom

12. Why Were Temples Built? Most magnificent was Karnak at Thebes
Temples did not hold services, most Egyptians prayed at home
Temples were houses for the gods and goddesses
Priests and priestesses performed daily temple rituals
Washing statues of deities and bringing them food
Temples served as banks – used to store valuable items
Why Were Temples Built?

13. Egypt’s Decline and Fall
Power began to decline after Ramses II
Groups from eastern Mediterranean attacked Egypt by sea, using strong iron weapons
Egyptians had similar arms, but had to pay a lot for it because they did not have iron ore
1150 BC – Egyptians only controlled the Nile delta
Came under rule of one outside group after another
Conquered by Libyans
Then conquered by Kush
Then taken over by Assyrians
Egypt’s Decline and Fall