Download The Egyptian Empire

The Egyptian Empire
The Middle Kingdom
• About 2300 BC, the pharaohs lost control
of Egypt as nobles battled for power.
– 200 years of confusion followed.
The Middle Kingdom
• Finally, a new dynasty of pharaohs came
to power.
– They moved the capital to a city called
Thebes.
• There they restored order and stability
– Ushered in the Middle Kingdom (2050 BC to
1670 BC)
The Drive for More Land
• During the Middle Kingdom, Egypt took
control of new lands
• Conquered peoples sent tribute to the
Egyptian pharaoh enriching the kingdom.
– forced payments
Who Were the Hyksos?
• The middle Kingdom
came to an end in
1670.
– people known as the
Hyksos, from Western
Asia, attacked Egypt
• Mighty warriors.
– They ruled Egypt for
about 150 years
The New Kingdom
• Ahmose's reign began a
period known as the New
Kingdom.
– Egypt became even richer
and more powerful during
this time
• About 1473 BC, a queen
named Hatshepsut came
to power in Egypt.
The New Kingdom
• After her husband died, Hatshepsut made
herself pharaoh.
– She was one of the few women to rule Egypt
The New Kingdom
• Hatshepsut was more
interested in trade than
conquest.
– She promoted the trade
journeys
• Incense was one of the
popular goods traded at
this time
– A material burned for
its pleasant smell.
• These trade journeys
brought even greater
wealth to Egypt
Expanding the Empire
• When
Hatshepsut died, her
nephew Thutmose III
became pharaoh
• Thutmose's empire
grew rich from trade
and tribute
Egyptian Slavery
• Egypt enslaved many prisoners of war
during this time.
• Slavery had not been widespread in
Egypt before
– During the new Kingdom however, it became
common.
A Religious Reformer
• Amenhotep created a
new religion in hopes
of taking power away
from the priests
• He then changed his
name to Akhenaton
– "Spirit of Aton"
A Religious Reformer
• Most Egyptians refused to accept Aton as
the only God.
• Meanwhile Akhenaton became so devoted
to his new religion that he neglected his
duties as pharaoh.
The Boy King
• Tutankhamen was the next pharaoh
– He was only 10 years old
• He relied on help of palace officials and
priests to help him rule
The Boy King
• At the age of 19, Tutankhamen mysteriously died
• King Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922
– The mummy was still preserved
The End of the New Kingdom
• Ramses II was a
pharaoh who
attempted to make
Egypt great again
– He regained lands lost
to the Hittites and
rebuilt the empire
Egypt’s Decline and Fall
• After Ramses II, Egypt’s power began to
fade
• By 1150 BC, Egyptians had lost their
empire and only controlled the Nile delta
Egypt’s Decline and Fall
• In 760 BC, the people of Kush seized
power
• In 670, The Assyrians took over Egypt.