Week 6 Overview

Monday• Brief but chronological overview of NKE Pharaoh’s – from Amenhotep III

to Ramesses II. Who were they?Tuesday• Studied 9 sources, 3 each per Queen (Nefertari, Nefertiti and Tiye),

purpose = role of royal women in NKE. • PEEL Paragraph

Wednesday• Peer assessed PEEL Paragraphs• Consideration of HSC marking documentation• Source Analysis as a class• Documentary on Nefertiti

Online Resource: www.nkeamentoram.weebly.com

Background KnowledgeHighlight of the Reign

• Seti I embarked on a ambitious building program and military campaigns to demonstrate his legitimacy (family) through his deeds = return to 18th Dynasty standards• He also restored names, titles and figures of gods that

had been hacked out by Akhenaten (e.g. Amun, emphasis of Osiris, ‘Temple of Osiris’) • Resurgence of aggressive military activity in Asia, Libya

and Nubia (similar to Thutmose III) = secured Egypt’s borders, regain lost territory and made Egypt a powerful country.• Took personal interest in the conditions of workers =

raised rations of quarryman.

Highlights of the Reign• Roughly 30 years old at the time of Kingship = reigned

for 67 years (longest), considered the most prosperous (construction of temples, statues, obelisks).• “Battle of Kadesh” = peace treaty signed (one of the

first ever recorded), defence alliance and diplomatic marriages. [MILITARY & FOREIGN POLICY]• Ramesses was famous for recording histories of his

accomplishments and for embellishing the facts when they did not quite fit history as he wished it preserved.• Capital re-established in the Nile Delta at Pi-ramesse.• Queen Nefertari

Ramesses II (1279-1213BC)

Why the Battle of Kadesh?

Why is it so important?What did it achieve?

What evidence do we have?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BATTLE OF

KADESH??ALL IMPORTANT

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER!

Who was involved in the battle?

Why the Battle of Kadesh?

In order to understand the purpose and reasons for Ramesses II’s military campaigns, we must consider his influences and earlier experiences.

In short, Seti I encouraged Ramesses II (his son) early throughout his reign and provided opportunities for him to gain military experience.

Before Seti I’s death, Seti ensured that his dynasty was strongly established and that his son gained a strong and powerful Egypt, respected by other Near Eastern powers.

Would you agree that due to the expectations and the achievements made by Seti I, Ramesses II’s military campaigns reflect the responsibility to maintain and improve the conditions set at inheritance?

Why the Battle of Kadesh?

The site of Kadesh was crucial if Ramesses II wished to gain control of northern Syria. The walled city dominated a rich and fertile plain and was located on a main trade route east to Mesopotamia and west to the coast. If he was to control Northern Syria, the capture of Kadesh was essential.

Mapping the Empires

In the period from 2000 B.C. to 1200 B.C. the indisputable most powerful civilizations in the known world were the Egyptians, the Hittites, and the Assyrians. Secondary players in the same region were Amurru, a kingdom of united lands in coastal and central Syria; Canaan, the coastal land south of the Orontes River; the Hurrians of Mitanni in the east; and Babylonia.

Whichever empire could gain favourable relations with them or could control them would have a major advantage over the others. As rapid expansion of all three civilizations came to a head, there emerged border disputes.

The Battle of KadeshPrior military campaigns

In year 4, Ramesses II set off on a campaign to the north. He journeyed along the Southern Phoenician coast, perhaps through Tyre and Byblos, which were generally loyal to Egypt since Seti I’s earlier campaigns in the region. He attacked Amurru, destroying the agreement that Seti I had made and re-established the Egyptian influence there rather easily by forcing Prince Benteshina to sign a vassal treaty.

With no signs of slowing down, the Hittites under the kingship of Muwatallish, begun to arrange a massive army. The events that unfold after lead to the famous battle of Kadesh.

The Battle of KadeshOpposition

King Muwatallish or Muwatallis: Hittite King during the New Kingdom period. Arranged a massive army, calling in men from some 16 provinces of the Hittite Empire:

• Nahrin• Arzawa• Keshkesh• Masa• Pidasa• Arwen• Karkisha• Luka

• Kizzuwanda• Carchemish• The entire land of

Nukhashshe• Mushanet• Kadesh• Dardeny

The Battle of KadeshIn Year 5, Ramesses II’s most important campaign took place, against the new, Near Eastern power: the Hittites of the land of Hatti.

“The Battle of Kadesh is truly the mother of all battles, in every sense. Fought on the banks of the Orontes River in Syria, this is the earliest battle of which true military tactics are known. Pharaoh Ramesses II, led an army of 20,000 men in an attempt to maintain his crumbling empire. Muwatallish, the Hittite King, had set an ambush for the Egyptians, sending about 1,500 chariots, each holding three men (4,500 men).”

DRIVER

SHIELD BEARER

SPEARMAN

Hittite Chariot

The Battle of KadeshThe Ambush

Ramesses II divided the powerful Egyptian army up into four forces: • Amun Division, which Ramesses II himself led• Re Division, • Ptah Division, • Sutekh Division.

It is thought that the Ptah or Sutekh Division was ordered to mobilize Egypt's local and foreign allies and then join them at Kadesh. Included among the Egyptian armies were Nubians, Libyans, and Canaanites. Both these regiments remained followed at a distance away from the Amun and Re Corps.

Egyptian soldiers captured two Shoshu tribesmen lurking close to the camp. They told Ramesses that they were deserters of the Hittite army, and that a frightened Muwatallish had retreated to the north near Aleppo. Ramesses, flattered and deceived, proceeded to divide his forces.

The deserters were actually spies. Other Hittite spies were beaten and revealed that the Hittite King was nearby.

The Battle of KadeshThe Ambush

The inscription translates: “Lo, the king of Hatti [the Hittites] has already arrived, together with the many countries who are supporting him... They are armed with their infantry and their chariots. They have their weapons of war at the ready. They are more numerous than the grains of sand on the beach. Behold, they stand equipped and ready for battle behind the old city of Kadesh.”

Consequently, Ramesses II sent messengers to his other three divisions and his Nearin auxiliaries, urging them to come quickly to his aid. However, as the messengers rode off on their missions, the Hittite hammer-blow struck.

BC

PHASE ONE

The Battle of KadeshRead the excerpt from Rob Wanner. In your books or on MS Word, describe the events taking place in Phase Two & Phase Three.

PHASE TWO PHASE THREE