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