The Middle Kingdom
Middle Kingdom – The Golden Age
• Expansion of the Empire
– Captured Nubia(Sudan) to the South and what is
today Syria – tribute( forced payments) had to be
given to Egypt
– Within Egypt farmland was expanded to increase
the surplus
– Pharaohs added dams and more irrigation
– A canal was built between the Nile and the Red
Sea – increase trade
Arts
• Temples and tombs were covered with colorful
paintings of deities and murals about daily life
• Sculptors created large carvings and statues of
the pharaohs
• Poets wrote songs and tributes to the pharaohs
• Architecture changed from pyramid building to
cutting tombs into cliffs
• Temples were built to praise the gods and
goddesses who brought prosperity and peace
The End of the Middle Kingdom
• Invaded by the Hyksos who were from
western Asia
• 150 years under foreign control
• Ahmose led a revolt and forced out the
invaders and became Pharaoh
• This is the start of the New Kingdom1550 B.C.- 1080B.C.
Hatshepsut- 1480 B.C.
-Ruled with husband, behalf of her nephew and
finally made herself pharaoh
– She was more interested in trade than conquest
• Built new boats
• Started trading in eastern Africa
• Traded beads, metal tools and weapons for gold, ivory ,
incense and ebony
Used wealth to build temples and monuments in the
Valley of the Kings
Thutmose III
• Fought series of aggressive wars
– Expanded the empire
– Egypt grew rich from tribute
• Gold, copper, ivory and other valuable goods
– Started a new practice – Slavery
• POW’s used to build temples , palaces and tombs
Amenhotep( Akhenaton)& Neferititi
• Changed Egypt’s religion
• One god - Aton
• Priest were forced out and replaced by
unqualified administrators
• Neglected his duties , because he was devoted to
his new religion
• Egypt lost much territory to the Hittites
• Art and culture were reflected by the religious
changes
Ramses II
• 66 year reign
• Empire building through a series of wars and
conquests
• Built a large army to retain lost lands
• Launched a rebuilding program- constructed
many new temples and monuments
• Emphasis on art, literature, and architecture