The New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
The New Kingdom, also known as the Egyptian Empire, spanned from 1570 to 1070 BCE. It is the most famous period in ancient Egyptian history. During this time, historians discovered many royal tombs and histories. These include the tombs of pharaohs like Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, and Akhenaten, as well as his wife, Nefertiti.
After the Hyksos’ conquest, Egyptian rulers realized they needed strong borders. So, they focused on expanding their territory. They built a powerful army and created a true empire. This period saw many wars to expand the empire and a great increase in wealth and power. There was also a significant religious change during this time; monotheism was introduced, and the central religious authority was altered.
The New Kingdom ended with the beginning of the Third Intermediate Period. Threats came from all directions. The Kushites arrived from the south, and the Assyrians from the north. Later, foreign dynasties ruled Egypt. These included the Nubian, Persian, and Greek dynasties, led by Alexander the Great. These rulers built many temples and tombs. You can see these monuments on tours throughout Egypt.
The New Kingdom: Key Facts
Ahmose I reclaimed all of Egypt’s territory in Canaan and Nubia. He created a buffer zone to prevent future conflicts. He also reorganized management, established mines and trade routes, and began major engineering projects. This put Egypt on the path to becoming a great empire.
Amenhotep I
(1526–1506 BC) continued this legacy. He brought Egypt into the “great powers club” with Babylon, the Hittites, and Mitanni. Egypt maintained commercial and diplomatic ties with these nations.
Thutmose I (1506–1493 BC):
He succeeded Amenhotep I. During his reign, Egyptian power and prosperity reached their peak.
Next came Queen Hatshepsut (1479–1458 BC). She was a very successful pharaoh. Hatshepsut was the longest-reigning female pharaoh, ruling for 20 years. She launched an expedition to the country of Punt, which became a trading partner.
Thutmose III (1479–1425 BC):
Known as the “Napoleon of Ancient Egypt,” he came to power. He extended the Egyptian Kingdom to its highest point of power and prosperity. His army was skilled and formidable, as shown at the Battle of Megiddo. His success allowed all future pharaohs to make the empire truly great.
The New Kingdom: Arts and Achievements
Amenhotep IV was the first pharaoh to practice monotheism, the worship of one god. He changed his name to Akhenaten to honor his god, Aten. His wife was the beautiful Nefertiti. During his fourth year of rule, Egyptian art flourished. This included literature, music, drama, and sculpture.
After his death, his son Tutankhamen (1333–1324 BC) was worshiped as a god. Tutankhamen died at only 18 years old.
Next came Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC), also known as “The Great.” He worked to reclaim Egypt’s territories in the Levant. One of his most famous battles was the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites. This battle resulted in the world’s first recorded peace treaty. Ramesses II had this treaty inscribed on the walls of his temple at Abu Simbel.
Ramesses II had many wives and children. One of his sons was Ramesses III. Ramesses III is most famous for his war with the Sea Peoples at Djahy.
Final Days
Following the third intermediate period, the golden days of the new kingdom of Egypt came to an end, with the high priests of AMUN seizing power and eroding the central authority. All of this culminated in the demise of the Pharaoh dynasty when the Egyptian Empire fell to the Persian Empire at the Battle of Pelsuim, ushering in a new period of foreign control.
