Egyptian and Nubian Empires After the Middle Kingdom

Egyptian and Nubian Empires

After the Middle Kingdom Egypt experienced a series of weak leaders and power struggles amongst nobles. � War and violence overtook the region � Asiatic invaders, called Hyksos, came to Egypt in Chariots, a new weapon to the Egyptians � Hyksos ruled from 1640 – 1570 BC. � During this time Hebrews settled in Egypt. �

Expulsion and Slavery �Around 1600 BC, warlike rulers came to power and began restoring Egypt’s control. �Queen Ahhotep began to drive out the Hyksos and the rest left under Pharaoh Kamose. �The Hebrews remaining in Egypt were enslaved.

The New Kingdom � 1570 -1075 BC. � The Egyptians became conquerors • Bronze weapons • 2 wheeled chariots • Archers, charioteers, and infantry

Hatshepsut � Declared herself pharaoh c. 1472 BC. � Encouraged trade rather than waged war � Sent five ships to Punt in search of materials used in religious ceremonies. � They brought back gold, ivory, plants, and animals.

Thutmose III � Stepson to Hatshepsut May have killed for crown � Invaded east into Palestine & Syria and south into Nubia � Became mighty empire with boundless wealth

Akhenaten � Introduce monotheism and worshipped ATEN � Married Nefertiti � Created the new capital of Amarna � Forced realistic art forms � Virtually erased from Egyptian history

Tutankhamun � Restored the traditional religion � His tomb was found fully intact in 1922 by Howard Carter � “King Tut”

Ramses II � Reigned 1290 - 1224 BC � Most prolific of all the Egyptian Pharaohs. � Widely believed to be ruler during the Exodus � Erected Grand Building, temples, and decorated statues. � Battle of Kadesh • Fought Hittites • 1 st international peace treaty

An Age of Builders

Decline of Empire � Invaded by the “Sea Peoples” � Palestine rebellions and Libyan raids � Egypt never recovered its power � However, those that took control, adopted the Egyptian way of life

Nubian Empire � Nubian kingdom of Kush emerged as a regional power as Egypt fell into decline. � Nubia established a Kushite dynasty on the throne of Egypt � Kush spread Egyptian culture to its trading partners in Africa.

Egypt’s 25 th Dynasty � The Kushite viewed themselves as more suitable guardians of Egyptian values than the Libyans and wanted to guard those values by conquering Egypt. � Under the Kushite king Piankhi, the Nile Valley was united.

The Golden Age of Meroë In 671 BC, the Assyrians attacked and conquered Egypt. � The Kushite’s retreated south to Meroë. � There were many natural resources and flourishing trade in Meroë and the Kushite had a Golden Age. � After four centuries of prosperity, Meroë began to decline 250 BC- AD 150 �