16th century BCE – 11th century BCE
Nile Valley, Nubia, Palestine, and Syria
The New Kingdom was Egypt’s third great phase of imperial and cultural power. Beginning with Ahmose I and the Eighteenth Dynasty, it brought renewed expansion into Nubia and western Asia, monumental building, and the short-lived Atonist revolution of Akhenaton. The Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties defended Egyptian territory, fought the Hittites and Sea Peoples, and eventually faced internal instability and the growing power of the Amun priesthood.
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The Story
Ahmose I, remembered as the founder of the Eighteenth Dynasty and the father of the New Kingdom, restored Egyptian strength after the expulsion of the Hyksos. Amenhotep I consolidated the kingdom internally and extended Egyptian control in Nubia as far as the Third Cataract. Under Hatshepsut, Egypt enjoyed two prosperous decades marked by internal administration, major construction, an expedition to Punt, and the erection of obelisks at Karnak.
Thutmose III transformed Egypt into a far-reaching imperial power. After taking sole control, he campaigned against the coalition assembled at Megiddo by the city states of Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. The surrender of Megiddo brought the region as far as southern Lebanon under Egyptian control, while seventeen foreign campaigns established Egyptian military authority in Syria and northern Mesopotamia.
The reign of Amenhotep III represented the high point of Egypt’s political power, prosperity, and cultural development. He sponsored Luxor temple, major works at Karnak, and buildings at Soleb in Nubia, while maintaining influence over northern vassals through gifts of Nubian gold. His son Amenhotep IV, later Akhenaton, instead pursued a religious and political revolution centered on Aton and founded Akhet Aton at Tell-el-Amarna.
Akhenaton proclaimed Aton the sole true god, attacked the authority of Amun’s priesthood, dissolved temple estates, and promoted a naturalistic style of royal representation. The movement collapsed after his death, as successive rulers restored Amun’s position and eventually persecuted Atonism. Under Seti I and Ramses II, Egypt again pursued military expansion in Syria, fought the Hittites at Kadesh, and concluded a peace treaty with Hattusilis.
The later New Kingdom was increasingly defensive. Merneptah defeated an alliance of Libyans and Sea Peoples in the western Delta and recorded Israel among the peoples and states associated with his campaigns. Ramses III repelled Libyan invasions and a major land-and-sea attack by the Sea Peoples, but labour unrest, inflation, and the rising power of the Amun priesthood weakened the royal house. Heri-Hor’s accession marked the emergence of a new dynasty.
16th century BCE – 11th century BCE
Nile Valley, Nubia, Palestine, and Syria
The New Kingdom was Egypt’s third great phase of imperial and cultural power. Beginning with Ahmose I and the Eighteenth Dynasty, it brought renewed expansion into Nubia and western Asia, monumental building, and the short-lived Atonist revolution of Akhenaton. The Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties defended Egyptian territory, fought the Hittites and Sea Peoples, and eventually faced internal instability and the growing power of the Amun priesthood.
Continue exploring
The Story
Ahmose I, remembered as the founder of the Eighteenth Dynasty and the father of the New Kingdom, restored Egyptian strength after the expulsion of the Hyksos. Amenhotep I consolidated the kingdom internally and extended Egyptian control in Nubia as far as the Third Cataract. Under Hatshepsut, Egypt enjoyed two prosperous decades marked by internal administration, major construction, an expedition to Punt, and the erection of obelisks at Karnak.
Thutmose III transformed Egypt into a far-reaching imperial power. After taking sole control, he campaigned against the coalition assembled at Megiddo by the city states of Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. The surrender of Megiddo brought the region as far as southern Lebanon under Egyptian control, while seventeen foreign campaigns established Egyptian military authority in Syria and northern Mesopotamia.
The reign of Amenhotep III represented the high point of Egypt’s political power, prosperity, and cultural development. He sponsored Luxor temple, major works at Karnak, and buildings at Soleb in Nubia, while maintaining influence over northern vassals through gifts of Nubian gold. His son Amenhotep IV, later Akhenaton, instead pursued a religious and political revolution centered on Aton and founded Akhet Aton at Tell-el-Amarna.
Akhenaton proclaimed Aton the sole true god, attacked the authority of Amun’s priesthood, dissolved temple estates, and promoted a naturalistic style of royal representation. The movement collapsed after his death, as successive rulers restored Amun’s position and eventually persecuted Atonism. Under Seti I and Ramses II, Egypt again pursued military expansion in Syria, fought the Hittites at Kadesh, and concluded a peace treaty with Hattusilis.
The later New Kingdom was increasingly defensive. Merneptah defeated an alliance of Libyans and Sea Peoples in the western Delta and recorded Israel among the peoples and states associated with his campaigns. Ramses III repelled Libyan invasions and a major land-and-sea attack by the Sea Peoples, but labour unrest, inflation, and the rising power of the Amun priesthood weakened the royal house. Heri-Hor’s accession marked the emergence of a new dynasty.
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