The New Kingdom (1567 B.C.-1085 B.C.)
Pharaoh Ahmose I came to power in 1570 B.C., founding Dynasty XVIII. His expulsion of the Hyksos from the eastern Delta in 1567 B.C. marks the reunification of Egypt and the beginning of the New Kingdom. Later Ahmose conquered Nubia, in the south.
Under later pharaohs of Dynasty XVIII, Egypt became a large empire. Thutmose I advanced into Palestine and Syria. Thutmose II reigned only briefly and was succeeded in 1504 B.C. by a young son, Thutmose III, whose stepmother, Hatshepsut, served as regent. The next year she assumed the title of pharaoh, officially sharing rule with Thutmose. She was the real ruler of Egypt for two decades. Upon her death, Thutmose continued his reign, and his rule was long and productive. He created an empire, with the rulers of Palestinian, Syrian, and Mesopotamian kingdoms as his vassals.
It was the beginning of Egypt's golden age. During the 15th century B.C. the country was the greatest power of the civilized world, the land of plenty, the center of a vast international-trade network, and the embodiment of luxury and culture. Nomadic tribes, such as the Israelites from Palestine, would travel to Egypt, where there was food, in times of famine. Amenhotep II, son of Thutmose III, reinforced Egyptian authority in the conquered territories. His grandson Amenhotep III ruled as a true emperor, receiving rich tribute from his vassal countries.
The god Amen-Re (as Amen had come to be known) had long been the principal god of Egypt. Amenhotep IV, however, believed the god Aton to be the one great divinity. The pharaoh changed his name to Akhnaton; built a new capital, Akhetaton (also called Tell el' Amarna); and with his queen, Nefertiti, attempted to change Egypt's religion. During his reign the Hittites from Asia Minor began expanding into Syria, and many vassal rulers regained independence. Akhnaton was succeeded by his young son-in-law Tutankhamen, who was quickly persuaded to restore the worship of Amen-Re and whose early death left Egypt badly disorganized.
After a high official and an army commander had served as pharaohs, Ramses I, another army commander, founded Dynasty XIX. All efforts were turned toward reestablishing the empire, but Syria remained under Hittite control. In the first quarter of the 13th century, the Egyptians under Ramses II fought the Hittites at Kadesh, Syria. Although Ramses had the battle recorded as an Egyptian victory, it was actually a stalemate. Egypt could not regain northern Syria; the Hittites could not win Palestine. As a result, one of the first international peace treaties in history was concluded.
Ramses' successors turned back an invasion from Libya, but gradually lost control inside Egypt. The Israelites, mentioned in a single inscription of about 1220 B.C., made their exodus from Egypt.
Under Dynasty XX, order was restored and new foreign attacks were repulsed by Ramses III. He won two victories against the Libyans, ending their attempted invasions, and about 1200 B.C. also repulsed an attack by the ``sea peoples,'' later known as Philistines. Egypt was becoming impoverished, however, from war, royal building projects, and a greedy priesthood. Ramses III was killed in a palace coup and was succeeded by a series of ineffectual rulers. The empire shrank, bit by bit, and finally the throne was usurped by the priests of Amen.
During the New Kingdom, the pharaohs built a profusion of colossal temples, dedicated to favorite gods or memorializing themselves. Temple complexes included gigantic statues as well as tall stone shafts known as obelisks. Many of the structures were quite far south, between Abydos and Abu Simbel, where temples of Ramses II and his queen were carved into solid rock. A number were located at Thebes near the barren Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs beginning with Thutmose I chose to have their tombs.
Portrait sculpture and painting changed greatly during the reign of Akhnaton. The long-established formal style gave way to one of naturalism. With the return to the old religion, however, art returned to its stylized form. The opulence of the goldwork and ornamental art of the New Kingdom were not truly appreciated until the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922.
