The Egyptian Empire
Recall that the Egyptian dynasties
were divided into the Old
Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom,
and the New Kingdom.
The Old Kingdom, lasted from 2600
B.C. to 2300 B.C.; was also known
as the Pyramid Kingdom.
I. The Middle Kingdom
1. Around 2300 B.C., nobles began
to battle one another and a
whole new dynasty of pharaohs
ended up coming to power.
2. The capital of Egypt was moved
from Memphis to Thebes, further
South.
3. As a result, the Middle Kingdom
came about. Egypt enjoyed a
golden age of stability, prosperity,
and achievement. In other words,
they didn’t fight 24/7, they had
wealth, and they enjoyed success.
4. Egyptian Pharaohs were now
buried in tombs cut into cliffs
instead of big pyramids.
5. Egyptians pharaohs began to
become power hungry and took
over new lands. They forced the
people whose land they took to
pay $$, or tribute. As a result,
Egypt increased its riches.
6. During the Middle Kingdom, the
arts, literature, and architecture
blossomed.
• Statues of Pharaohs
• Walls of temples painted with
colorful scenes of deities and
daily life.
7. The Middle Kingdom ended when
the Hyksos attacked and
conquered Egypt. The Hyksos
ruled until around 1550 B.C., when
the Egyptian prince Ahmose led a
revolt to drive the Hyksos out of
Egypt.
II. The New Kingdom
• 1550 B.C. – 1080 B.C.
1. During the New Kingdom period,
Egypt grew richer and more
powerful.
2. Hatshepsut was the first woman
to rule Egypt.
3. Trade grew during her reign.
Traders exchanged beads, tools,
and weapons for ivory, wood,
leopard skins, and incense—a
material burned for its pleasant
smell.
Hatshepsut
• Co-ruled with her husband
• After his death, ruled on behalf of her
young nephew
• Interested more in trade than
conquest, or expanding the empire
• More trade meant more $$ for Egypt
• Built monuments with the wealth
including a great temple and tomb in
the limestone cliffs of the Valley of the
Kings.
Hatshepsut
• Had to prove she was a good
leader since she was a woman.
• Wore men’s clothing to convince
people she could handle a man’s
job.
• Ruled for 21 years
• Was overthrown by her stepson,
Thutmose III.
Thutmose III
4. Thutmose III became pharaoh
after Hatshepsut’s death. He
conquered more lands, and Egypt
grew richer from tributes.
5. Unfortunately, slavery became
common in Thutmose’s reign.
Slaves had some rights. They
could own land, marry, and
eventually be granted their
freedom.
Thutmose III
• More territory than ever before
• Slaves rebuilt Thebes
• They built many beautiful palaces,
temples, and monuments.
III. The Legacies of Two
Pharaohs
1. Amenhotep IV came to power in
1370 B.C.
2. Amenhotep felt priests were
gaining too much power. He
introduced a new religion with
only one god, named Aton.
Priests who did not follow the new
religion were removed from
power.
3. Most Egyptians refused to accept
the new religion.
4. Amenhotep, later changing his
name to Akhenaton, became so
devoted to his new religion that
he neglected his other duties. He
did not act when the Hittites
attacked Egypt. As a result,
Egypt’s empire suffered a great
loss.
5. Tutankhamen, now called King
Tut, was a boy ruler who took
power after Akhenaton
(Amenhotep) died. He ruled for
only nine years before his death.
In A.D. 1922, Howard Carter, a
British archaeologist found his
tomb.
IV. The End of the New
Kingdom
1. Ramses II was one of the most
effective pharaohs of the New
Kingdom.
He ruled for a remarkable 66 years.
1279 B.C. to 1213 B.C.
2. During Ramses’s rule, many
temples were built throughout
Egypt.
Rameses II
The Pharaoh Who Made
a Name for Himself
(1279-1213 BC)
Shared by Lin Donn
Illustrated by Phillip Martin
Rameses II
Each time a new pharaoh
came to power, each
neighboring civilization
sent an army or two to test
the new pharaoh.
The neighbors hoped that
perhaps this time they could
steal a piece of Egypt for
themselves.
Rameses II
When Rameses II became pharaoh, the
neighbors sent warriors to see what would
happen. Rameses II
was a brave man, a
good husband, and a
loving father. But he
was a terrible general.
Some people remember
him today because he
was such a poor general.
Luckily, he had great
helpers.
Rameses II
Some remember Rameses as the Pharaoh who
had 111 sons, 51 daughters, and many wives.
Others recognize his name because he ordered
the construction of the temple of Abu
Simbel, the huge temple that is 180
feet long, 90 feet high, and decorated
with four 60 foot high statues of
Rameses II.
Rameses II
But in ancient Egypt,
people knew his name
because Rameses
ordered his name
chiseled on everything.
He even had his name
put on statues that were
not statues of himself.
He did this to bolster
people’s confidence in
his leadership abilities.
Rameses II
Today, his name is still
found in Egypt on ancient
buildings. But it was not
his chiseling that kept
Egypt safe. Egypt was
strong enough to survive
his 60-year rule. Egypt was
an ancient world power.
Her reputation, supported by
capable leaders in the
military, kept Egypt safe.
3. After Ramses’s rule, Egypt’s rule
began to decline. Egypt was
attacked by their neighbors and
eventually controlled only the Nile
delta. Beginning in the 900s B.C.,
Egypt was ruled by the Libyans,
then the people of Kush, and
finally the Assyrians.