The Egyptian Empire

The Middle Kingdom • Pharaohs lost control of Egypt in about 2300

B.C. (nobles battled one another for power)• About 200 years later, a new dynasty created a

capital at Thebes• This began the Middle Kingdom, a time of

stability, prosperity, and achievement • Lasted from about 2050 B.C. to 1650 B.C.

• Egypt took control of other lands and forced conquered people to send tribute, or forced payments to the Egyptian pharaoh

increased Egypt’s riches – Added more waterways

& dams– Increased farmland– Built a canal between

Nile River and Red Sea

• During the Middle Kingdom, the arts, literature, and architecture thrived – Colorful scenes of deities and daily life on

walls and tombs– Poets wrote love songs and tributes to

pharaohs – Statues and wall carvings – Instead of pyramids, tombs were cut into cliffs

(about 63 tombs) Valley of the Kings

• Middle Kingdom ended in 1670 B.C. • A people known as the Hyksos (HIHK-

SAHS) from western Asia, attacked Egypt- crossed desert in horse-drawn chariots, used bronze and iron weapons compared to Egyptians who were on foot using copper and stone weapons

• Hyksos ruled for 120 years• Around 1550 B.C., an Egyptian prince

Ahmose led a revolt to drive the Hyksos out

The New Kingdom

• From 1550 B.C. to 1080 B.C., Egypt grew richer and more powerful

• A queen named Hatshepsut (hat-shehp-

soot) was the first woman to rule Egypt (ruled with her husband died on behalf of her nephew made herself pharaoh)

• Trade grew under her reign– Traders exchanged wheat, paper, and

tools for wood and furniture with Phoenicians (east of Mediterranean Sea)

– Phoenicians traded Egyptian goods to other people– spread across Middle East

Made Egypt richer

• Thutmose III (thoot-moh-suh), her nephew, became pharaoh after Hatshepsut’s death

• Conquered more lands Egypt grew richer from tributes, enslaved prisoners of war- put to work rebuilding Thebes (built palaces, temples, monuments)

• Slavery became common in Thutmose’s reign– Had some rights (could own

land, marry, and eventually obtain freedom)