DECLINE OF ANCIENT
EGYPT
New Kingdom
unprecedented prosperity
Securing borders/strengthening
diplomatic ties
Military campaigns waged under
Tuthmosis I and his grandson
Tuthmosis III extended
influence of pharaohs into Syria
and Nubia
opening access to critical imports
such as bronze and wood
large-scale building campaign to
promote the god Amun, in
Karnak.
Social Changes

During the New Kingdom,
society grew more fluid as
trade and warfare increased

Trade-new opportunities to
merchant class

Foreign conquests-riches to
Egypt result:

More business for artisans
Hatshepsut
female pharaoh Hatshepsut
used propaganda to legitimize
her claim to the throne.
successful reign marked by
trading expeditions to Punt,
mortuary temple, a colossal
obelisks and chapel at Karnak
nephew-stepson Tuthmosis III
sought to erase her legacy near
the end of his reign, possibly in
retaliation for usurping his
throne.
Queen Hatshepsut

Married her half brother
Thutmose II

Ruled with Thutmose III,
Thutmose II son by
another wife

Appointed herself
pharaoh

Disappeared when
Thutmose III led a revolt
to gain power
Thutmose III
 Destroyed as much evidence
as possible of his stepmother/
aunt
 Known as great military
leader
 “Napoleon of Ancient Egypt”
 In his 54 years of rule, he
captured over 350 cities
 Buried in the Valley of the
Kings (KV 34)
Amenhotep IV - Akhenaten
Around 1350 BC - Amenhotep IV Akhenaten, believed obscure sun
god Aten as the supreme deity
attacked the power of the priest
establishment.
Moving capital to Amarna
Ignored foreign affairs and
absorbed himself in new religion
and artistic style.
After death, the cult of the Aten
quickly abandoned
subsequent pharaohs
Tutankhamun, Ay, and Horemheb
erased all mention of Akhenaten's
heresy, (Amarna Period)
Tutankhamun
o Known as the “Boy King”
o Married one of his half sisters
o Helped to restore the Ancient
Egyptian belief in polytheism
o Took over the throne when he
was only 9
o Died around the age of 19 due
to a head injury
o Buried in the Valley of the
Kings
Ramesses II
1279 BC - Ramesses II - built more temples,
erect more statues and obelisks, and sire
more children than any other pharaoh in
history.
bold military leader, led army against the
Hittites - Battle of Kadesh
after to stalemate, agreed to the first
recorded peace treaty around 1258 BC
After death no strong military power
Egypt's wealth tempting target for invasion
(Libyans and Sea Peoples)
Egypt eventually lost control of Syria and
Palestine.
Valley of the Kings
 Used from the 18th
Dynasty to 20th Dynasty
 Common burial ground for
kings/ pharaohs
 Often robbed by common
thieves
 Recent discoveries have
occur in KV 5, this is
Ramesses II tomb of his
sons
Mummification
 The preservation of the dead (wealthy citizens who
could afford the pricy burial practice)
 Skilled embalmers removed vital organs, then dried
and wrapped the body in strips of linen
 This process could take months to complete
 At first this was a privilege reserved for rulers and
nobles. Eventually, ordinary Egyptians were able to
mummify their dead
(A) ANUBIS
The priest in charge of the mummification wore the mask of
Anubis (the god of mummification).
(B) INCENSE
A priest stands by, holding sweet-smelling incense.
(C) WRAPPING THE BODY
The body, or mummy, was wrapped in layers of linen before being
placed in the coffin.
(D) NATRON
Natron, a kind of soda, was placed in the body to dry it out before
it was wrapped in linen.
(E) SOAKING THE BANDAGES
Sometimes, linen strips were soaked in plaster so they would
harden when dry.
Third Intermediate Period
Egypt's far-reaching prestige declined
considerably
south controlled by High Priests of
Amun at Thebes,
did not recognize new pharaoh
linage
Libyans in delta, increasing their
autonomy
Temple, cities and villages sacked by
foreign invaders from north and east
No central political or cultural center
Persian ruler Mazaces handed Egypt
over to Alexander the Great without
resistance
Ptolemaic Dynasty – Alexander
the Great
In 332 BC, Alexander the Great
conquered Egypt with little resistance welcomed by the Egyptians
administration established by
Alexander's successors, the Ptolemies,
based on Egyptian model in the new
capital city, Alexandria
city - power and prestige of Greek rule
became a seat of learning and culture,
centered of famous Library of
Alexandria
Lighthouse of Alexandria lit the way
for the many ships which kept trade
flowing through the city
Ptolemaic Dynasty Continued
Ptolemies made commerce and
revenue-generating enterprises top
priority – eg. papyrus manufacturing
Greek culture did not replace native
Egyptian culture -effort to secure the
loyalty of populace.
built new temples in Egyptian style,
supported traditional cults, and
portrayed themselves as pharaohs.
Rome soon relied more heavily on
imports of grain from Egypt –as a
result - Romans took great interest
Ptolemaic politics
Roman Domination
Egypt became a province of the Roman
Empire in 30 BC
following the defeat of Marc Antony and
Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra VII by
Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) in the
Battle of Actium.
Egypt’s final Collapse of
Power
Romans relied heavily on grain shipments from Egypt resulted in harsh Roman rule of Egyptian people
strictly enforced the collection of heavy taxes
Alexandria City became increasingly important center on
the trade route with the orient, as exotic luxuries were in
high demand in Rome.
Local administration became Roman in style and closed to
native Egyptians
Power of Egypt now solely in the hands of a Stronger
Empire.