Egypt new Kingdom is a period that is called “The Egyptian Empire” that starts from the 16th century BC. till the 11th century BC. This period witnessed some ancient Egyptian dynasties starting from the 18th through the 20th dynasties.
During that period, Egypt was in its ultimate power and it witnessed its utmost prosperous stages and during this time Egypt attained its greatest territorial extent.
The History of Egypt New Kingdom
Because of the majestic pharaohs who ruled Egypt during the New Kingdom, Egypt has passed through some important stages that shaped its history just like Pharaoh Thutmose III, who expanded Egypt’s army and wielded it with great success to consolidate the empire which created by his predecessors, which led to a peak in Egypt’s power.
Amenhotep IV “Akhnaten” was the best-known pharaoh during the 18th dynasty whose worship is often interpreted as history’s first instance of monotheism and his wife, Nefertiti, contributed a lot on the Egyptian religion. During the reign of Akhenaten, Egyptian art flourished a lot but at the end of the 18th century, the state of Egypt has totally changed.
The Pharaohs of Egypt New Kingdom
Egyptian Monarchs were used to be called before the New Kingdom of Egypt with “Kings” but during the Egypt New Kingdom, ancient Egyptian monarchs started to be called “Pharaohs”. Here are the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom and their ruling period:
| Pharaoh Name | Ruling Period | Pharaoh Name | Ruling Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmose I | 1570 – 1544 BC | Ramesses II | 1279 – 1213 BC |
| Amenhotep I | 1541 – 1520 BC | Merenptah | 1213 – 1203 BC |
| Thutmose I | 1520 – 1492 BC | Amenmesse | 1203 – 1200 BC |
| Thutmose II | 1492 – 1479 BC | Seti II | 1203 – 1197 BC |
| Hatshepsut | 1479 – 1458 BC | Siptah | 1197 – 1191 BC |
| Thutmose III | 1458 – 1425 BC | Twosret | 1191 – 1190 BC |
| Amenhotep II | 1425 – 1400 BC | Setnakhte | 1190 – 1186 BC |
| Thutmose IV | 1400 – 1390 BC | Ramesses III | 1186 – 1155 BC |
| Amenhotep III | 1390 – 1352 BC | Ramesses IV | 1155 – 1149 BC |
| Amenhotep IV | 1352 – 1336 BC | Ramesses V | 1149 – 1145 BC |
| Smenkhkare | 1335 – 1334 BC | Ramesses VI | 1145 – 1137 BC |
| Neferneferuaten | 1334 – 1332 BC | Ramesses VII | 1137 – 1130 BC |
| Tutankhamun | 1332 – 1324 BC | Ramesses VIII | 1130 – 1129 BC |
| Ay | 1324 – 1320 BC | Ramesses IX | 1129 – 1111 BC |
| Horemheb | 1320 – 1292 BC | Ramesses X | 1111 – 1107 BC |
| Ramesses I | 1292 – 1290 BC | Ramesses XI | 1107 – 1077 BC |
| Seti I | 1290 – 1279 BC | Smendes I | 1077 – 1051 BC |
The Capital of Egypt New Kingdom
The capital of Egypt new Kingdom was at Thebes, which is called “Luxor” today where the great temples of Karnak and Luxor were built and the ancient Egyptian pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings that was mainly during the reign of Thutmose I.
The rulers of the 19th Dynasty established an administrative capital near their home in the Delta but Thebes remained an important center for religion & culture.
King Akhenaten in 1353 B.C, moved the capital to be in Amarna but Horemheb relocated the capital back to Memphis in 1319 B.C.
See How Did Egypt Develop in The New Kingdom
Egypt New Kingdom has expanded from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (2040-1782 BCE) and Second Intermediate period through which more people started in sending letters and also they started a well-organized writing system.
That is not all as Egypt during that time had many diplomatic relationships and trade based on written contracts, treaties, letters between kings, and bills of sale.
Egypt New Kingdom Timeline (1567 B.C – 1085 B.C)
In 1550 BC. It was the beginning of the 18th dynasty with Ahmose I who built some pyramids in Egypt and founded the great New Kingdom in Egypt.
In 1532 BC. Ahmose I was able to win victory over the Hyksos and he also restored power in the lands of Canaan and Nubia.
In 1530 BC. Ahmose has constructed some important building projects similar to the ones that have been built during the second Intermediate Period just like the great temple of Amun in Karnak.
In 1525 BC. After the death of Ahmose, Amenhotep I started his ruling period and he became the pharaoh of Egypt.
In 1504 BC. After the death of Amenhotep I, his brother in law “Thutmose I” reached the throne in Egypt and he made Thebes the most imposing city of the kingdom and erects the Obelisk at the Karnak temple that leads the Egyptian Empire to reach its greatest expansion.
In 1492 BC. Thutmose I died and he was the first pharaoh to be buried in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.
In 1479 B.C. Queen Hatshepsut reached the throne of Egypt with the help of her stepson Thutmose III as she was so young to rule on her own.
In 1473: 1458 B.C. Queen Hatshepsut proved to be a great pharaoh with her amazing ruling period through which Egypt witnessed a great period of total prosperity.
In 1458 B.C. Ancient Egypt reached the peak of its power & influence.
In 1391 B.C. Amenhotep III reached the throne of Egypt and he built Temple of Amun in Luxor.
In 1353 B.C. Akhenaten became the pharaoh of Egypt and after getting married to Nefertari, he relocated the new capital to Amarna and he dedicated it to the god of Aten and he also forbade references to all of the other deities.
In 1333 B.C. Tutankhamun became the ruler of Egypt but he died in 1323 B.C when he was just 19 years old and he was also buried in the Valley of the Kings.
In 1319 B.C. General Horemheb seized the throne of Egypt and he relocated the capital back to Memphis. He passed away in 1307 B.C but before he died, he had appointed his vizier, Ramesses I to be the next pharaoh. When Ramesses I died in 1306 B.C, his son Seti I reached the throne.
In 1300 B.C. An Egyptian canal has been constructed by the Egyptians to connect the Red Sea with the Nile River.
In 1250 B.C. Ramesses relocated the capital to be in Delta and he constructed some magnificent things like Colossi at Memphis, Abu Simbel temples, the hypostyle hall in Karnak, and much more. He died in 1224 B.C.
In 1180 B.C. The Sea People tried to invade Egypt but in 1178 B.C Rameses III was able to defeat them on the shores at Xois.
The Festivals In The Egypt New Kingdom
Among the most important festivals during the New Kingdom is “The Opet Festival”, which was celebrated for twenty days. The details of that festival are as following:
The priests first wash and dress the statue of Amun.
They used to carry it out of the temple and through the streets of Thebes.
Then the statue was transported to Luxor, by foot in earlier times, and later on a barge.
Once the statue reaches Luxor, the king would enter the presence of the god in the inner sanctum and emerge forgiven of sins and rejuvenated to continue his reign.
Interesting Facts About Egypt New Kingdom
– About eleven pharaohs had the name Ramesses (or Ramses) during the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties. And that is why that period is sometimes called the Ramesside period.
– Queen Hatshepsut was among the few women who became pharaoh and she ruled Egypt for around 20 years.
– The Egyptian Empire was at its highest points during the rule of Thutmose III and as a result, he is sometimes called the “Napoleon of Egypt.”
– Pharaoh Akhenaten converted from the traditional religion of Egypt to the worship Aten. That s not all as he built a new capital city named Amarna in the honor of his god Aten.
Egypt New Kingdom Art
At the beginning of the New Kingdom, the paintings & the sculptures weren’t much different from those which have been created during the Middle Kingdom. The pharaohs of the new Kingdom developed a new style in 1300 B.C called “The Amarna Style”. This style allowed creating less-looking sculptures that were somehow exaggerated.
Around 1200 B.C, Ramesses II and the ones who followed him followed a new style in the art which was mainly based on massive sculptures and the reliefs started to show more about wars and prisoners.
After the collapse of the New Kingdom, Egypt got so poor that no one could afford to buy massive statues & sculptures that is why artists and sculptors moved to other rich countries like Assyria so that they could buy their art.
An abundance of artistic masterpieces created for use by non-royal individuals has been produced during the New Kingdom of Egypt.
Height of The New Kingdom of Egypt
Vizier Ramesses I was the one who started the 19th dynasty in Egypt who was chosen by the last pharaoh of the 18th century Horemheb.
Ramesses II was the one who claimed victory at home after finishing the Battle of Kadesh. As a sign of victory, he established the great temples of Abu Simbel to commemorate his victory.
The Final Years of Power
Ramesses III was the last pharaoh of the New Kingdom who ruled through the 20th dynasty. He was able to defeat the Sea People who wanted to invade Egypt but he defeated them which led to a heavy cost.
The Egyptian Empire in Asia gradually declined and there is also a big problem with food as the sunlight couldn’t reach the Egyptian lands, crops, or trees.
The Decline Into The Third Intermediate Period
The sons of Ramesses III including Ramesses IV, Rameses VI, and Rameses VIII succeeded the throne from their father one by one after his death.
Because of droughts, the period during which the last pharaoh of the New Kingdom Ramesses XI was so weak and the High priests of Amun at Thebes became the rulers of Upper Egypt, and Smendes controlled Lower Egypt even before the death of Rameses XI.
Significant Historical Achievements During the New Kingdom
1- The building of the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.
2- Great Egyptian rulers seized the throne of Egypt including Queen Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun, Akhenaten, Ramesses II, and Thutmose.
3- King Akhenaten called for a new religion to worship Aten “The Sun God”.
4- Egypt reached its highest power under the reign of King Thutmose III.
Travel to Egypt and Discover Its History
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