Download Chapter 2, Section 3 – The Egyptian Empire The Middle Kingdom

Chapter 2, Section 3 – The
Egyptian Empire
The Middle Kingdom
•
•
•
The Drive for More Land
•
•
•
•
•
The Arts Blossom
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Who were the Hyksos?
•
•
•
•
•
•
The New Kingdom
•
•
A Woman Ruler
•
•
A period of peace, prosperity, and advances in the arts and
architecture in Egypt, lasting from about 2050 B.C. to about
1670 B.C.
Followed a period of about 200 years of confusion as nobles
battled for power.
During this time, the capital was moved south from Memphis
to Thebes.
Egypt took control of new lands.
Soldiers captured Nubia and attacked what is now Syria.
Demanded tribute from conquered people, which enriched
the kingdom.
More dams and waterways were added.
Increased amount of land being farmed.
Arts, literature and architecture thrived.
Walls of tombs were painted with scenes of deities and daily
life.
Sculptures created large wall carvings and statues.
Poets wrote love songs and tributes to Pharaohs.
New form of architecture created:
Tombs cut into cliffs west of the Nile River.
Area became known as the Valley of the Kings.
The Middle Kingdom came to an end in 1670 B.C.
Amid unrest of nobles, the Hyksos, from western Asia,
attacked Egypt.
Mighty warriors in horse-drawn chariots
Used weapons of bronze and iron to defeat Egyptians.
Ruled Egypt for about 150 years.
Around 1550 B.C., Egyptian prince Ahmose led an uprising
that drove them out of Egypt.
Ahmose’s reign began a period known as the New Kingdom,
from about 1550 B.C. to 1080 B.C.
Egypt grew richer and more powerful.
Queen Hatshepsut came to power about 1473 B.C.
She first ruled with her husband; upon his death, she ruled
on behalf of her young nephew.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Expanding the Empire
•
•
•
•
•
•
Finally declared herself Pharaoh.
Hatshepsut’s reign was peaceful.
Built up trade
Began to find and import wood for boats and the furniture
the upper class liked to have.
The search for wood took Egyptians to Lebanon, inhabited
by the Phoenicians.
Phoenicians made beautiful furniture and were among the
first people to learn how to make glass.
Egypt traded wheat, paper, gold copper, and tools for the
Phoenician wood and furniture.
As Phoenicians traded Egyptian goods with others, Egyptian
goods spread across the Middle East and enriched Egypt’s
trade, making the kingdom wealthier.
Thutmose III came to power when Hatshepsut died.
His armies expanded Egypt’s borders north to the Euphrates
River and south to regain control of Nubia.
Thutmose’s empire grew rich from trade and tribute.
Egypt also began to enslave prisoners of war, who were put
to work rebuilding Thebes.
Slavery became common during New Kingdom.
Slaves did have some rights:
o Could own land
o Marry
o Eventually be granted freedom
Legacies of Two Pharaohs
A Religious Reformer
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Amenhotep IV came to throne about 1370 B.C.
With his wife, Nefertiti, tried to lead Egypt in a new
direction.
Realized priests were gaining power and wealth at expense
of the pharaohs.
To stop this, he wiped out Egypt’s system of gods and
goddesses and said only one god, Aton, was to be worshipped.
Changed his own name to Akhenaton, which means “Spirit of
Aton.”
Began ruling from a new city far from Thebes.
Neglected his duties as Pharaoh
Appointed new administrators who were not as experienced
as the priests.
When the Hittites attacked, Akhenaton took no action, and
Egypt lost most of its lands in western Asia, greatly
shrinking the empire.
The Boy King
•
•
•
The End of the New Kingdom
•
•
•
•
Egypt’s Decline and Fall
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tutankhamen, or King Tut, was only 10 years old when
Akhenaton died.
Relied on help from palace advisors
Died after only 9 years … did he fall, or was he murdered?
Ramses II reigned from 1279 B.C. -1213 B.C.
During his reign, Egyptian armies regained lands in western
Asia and rebuilt the empire.
Launched ambitious new building program, constructing
several major new temples.
Temples were considered homes for the gods and goddesses;
they also served as banks for storing valuables such as gold
jewelry, sweet-smelling oils, and finely woven cloth.
After Ramses II, Egypt’s power began to fade.
Other pharaohs had trouble keeping Egypt’s neighbors under
control.
Attacked by Mediterranean countries using strong, iron
weapons.
Egypt’s weapons could not prevail against strong iron
weapons.
By 1150 B.C., Egypt had lost their empire and controlled only
the Nile Delta.
Beginning in the 900s B.C., Egypt came under the rule of a
series of outside groups—first Libyans, then Kush (about
750 B.C.), and finally the Assyrians in 670 B.C.