Egypt’s Golden Age

The New KINGDOM

Key Time Periods of Egyptian History

Generally, three distinct time periods define the Egyptian time period, but there is more to this story.

- Old Kingdom

- Middle Kingdom

- New Kingdom

Predynastic- unification of Egypt by Narmer

- Late Dynastic

- Greek Period

- Roman Period

1st Intermediate Period

2nd Intermediate Period

The First Intermediate Period2134-2040 BCE

- occurred at the end of the Old Kingdom after the death of Pepi II (ruled for 94 years…the longest reign of any monarchy in history).

- he left a power vacuum…

-Nile River’s predictable flooding was non-existent for several years compounded by drought conditions. This lead to…

What Happened?

-poor crop production led to widespread famine and food shortages…

The Second Intermediate Period1640 BCE- 1550 BCE

-occurred at the end of the Middle Kingdom.

-Large groups of people known as the Hyksos (from Phoenicia, Syria and Palestine), infiltrated Egypt during the Middle Kingdom.

-Hyksos kings now had a base to gain control of Egypt which they inevitably did during this period.

-Although “non-Egyptian” many didn’t mind their control. They did introduce modern weapons to Egypt:

- Chariots

- Compound Bow

- Scimitar (sword with curved blade)

“Rulers of Foreign lands”

The Hyksos and Hittites

• Hyksos (foreign rulers) likely originated from modern day Israel and Lebanon.

• Hittites ruled the southeastern areas of Turkey

The New Kingdom Begins

• Ahmose I (Ahmosis) defeats the Hyksos and Hittites in ~ 1550 BCE…sets the stage for the reunification of Egypt.

Ahmose defeating the Hyksos and Hittites

Ahmose I

• Ruled for 25 years (1550-1525BCE) and set the stage for Egypt’s golden age.

Dagger of Ahmose I (with inscription)

(source: The ROM)

New Kingdom1550 BCE-1070 BCE

• The GOLDEN AGE of Egypt.

• Great cultural, political advancement during this time.

• The most widely studied Egyptian time period

• Well known figures of this time period:

• Ahmose I

• Thutmoses (I, II and III)

• Ramses II

• Tutankhamun

• Amenhotep IV(Akhenaten) & Nefertiti

• Hatshepsut