Download Chapter 2 / Section 3

Chapter 2 / Section 3
The Egyptian Empire
The Middle Kingdoms (pgs. 59-67)
 About 2300 B.C., pharaohs lost control of
Egypt due to nobles fighting over power.
 Finally, a new dynasty of pharaohs came to
power and moved the capital south, from
Memphis to Thebes (theebz).
 This began the Middle Kingdom which lasted
from about 2050 B.C. to 1670 B.C. and was a
time of stability, prosperity, and
achievement.
Drive For More Land
 Egypt took control of other lands.
- captured Nubia to the south
- attacked what is now Syria
 Forced conquered people to send tribute,
forced payments.
 Pharaohs added:
- more waterways and dams
- increased amount of farmed land
- built canal between Nile River and Red Sea
The Arts Blossom
 During the Middle Kingdom, arts, literature, and
architecture thrived.
- painting
- sculpting
- poetry
- song
 A new form of architecture emerged. Instead of
building pyramids, pharaohs had their tombs cut
into cliffs – Valley of the Kings
End of Middle Kingdom
 The Middle Kingdom came to an end in 1670
B.C. when the Hyksos (hihk*sahs), from
western Asia, conquered Egypt.
 Hyksos ruled Egypt for about 150 years.
The New Kingdom (pgs. 61-62)
 Around 1550 B.C., an Egyptian prince
named Ahmose (ahm*ohs) drove Hyksos out of
Egypt.
 Ahmose’s reign began the period known as the
New Kingdom, 1550 B.C. to about 1080
B.C.
 During the New Kingdom, Egypt was at the
height of its glory and grew richer and more
powerful.
A Woman Ruler
 About 1473 B.C., a queen named Hatshepsut
(hat*SHEHP*soot) came to power in Egypt.
 First woman to rule Egypt.
 Hatshepsut was more interested in trade than
conquest. Trade journeys brought great wealth
to Egypt.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9jmZiy_T-c&feature=related
Thutmose III
 Thutmose III (thoot*moh*suh) became pharaoh
after Hatshepsut’s death.
 Under Thutmose’s reign:
* aggressive wars of conquest
* empire grew rich from trade and tribute
*enslaved many prisoners of war
The Legacies of Two Pharaohs (pgs. 64 & 65)
 About 1370 B.C., Amenhotep IV (ah*muhn*hoh*tehp) came to
the throne.
 Helped by his wife, Nefertiti (nehf*uhr*teet*ee).
 Amenhotep thought priests had too much power so introduced
new monotheistic (belief in one god) religion – Aton (ah*tuhn)
 Most Egyptians refused to accept new religion.
 Changed his name to Akhenaton (ahk*nah*tuhn).
 Akhenaton neglected his duties as pharaoh and Egypt’s empire
greatly diminished.
The Boy King
 Tutankhamen (too*tang*kah*muhn), better known as
King Tut, inherited the throne when Akhenaton died.
 The new pharaoh was only about 9 years old and only
ruled for 9 years before dying unexpectedly (suffered
a fall or murdered?).
 Became most famous of all pharaohs after a
British archaeologist found his tomb in 1922.
 The tomb had not been looted or robbed and
contained incredible treasures, including a brilliant gold
mask of the young pharaoh’s face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3F4dEEQ
OzE&feature=related
The End of the New Kingdom (pgs. 65-67)
 Ramses II (ram*seez) was one of the most
effective pharaohs of the New Kingdom.
 He reigned for 66 years, from 1279 B.C. to
1213 B.C.
 Under Ramses II, Egyptians regained lands in
western Asia and many temples were built.
 The most magnificent was Karnak at Thebes.
Egypt’s Decline and Fall
 After Ramses II, Egypt’s power began to
decline.
 By 1150 B.C., the Egyptians had lost their
empire and controlled only the Nile delta.
 Beginning in the 900s B.C., Egypt was ruled
by:
- Libyans
- Kush (760 B.C.)
- Assyrians (670 B.C.)