The Middle and New Kingdoms

The Middle and New Kingdoms Section Three Chapter Four

VIPS (Very Important Points) Using your three sticky notes, go back through the chapter on your own to select the three most important points from this section. Be ready to argue why THESE are the most important ideas in the section!

VIPS (Very Important Points) 1. As population grew, society became more complex and social classes developed. 2. The New Kingdom was a period of time when Egypt reached the height of its glory. 3. Egypt would never regain its power at the end of the New Kingdom.

Fall of the Old Kingdom • The cost of building pyramids bankrupted the pharaohs • Ambitious nobles used their government positions to take power from the pharaohs • By 2200 B.C. the Old Kingdom had fallen • For the next 160 years Egypt was ruled by nobles; there was no central ruler

The Middle Kingdom • Begins around 2050 B.C. when a powerful pharaoh, Mentuhotep, defeated his rivals • This period of order and stability lasted until about 1750 B.C. • Towards the end, the Middle Kingdom fell into disorder once again, making it vulnerable • The Hyksos conquer Lower Egypt and rule for 200 years

Hyksos used Chariots and advanced weapons to conquer Lower Egypt

The New Kingdom • In the mid-1550s, Ahmose of Thebes drives out the Hyksos • This marked the beginning of the eighteenth dynasty and the New Kingdom • The New Kingdom lasted from 1550 to 1050 B.C.

Building an Empire • To prevent more invasions, they decided to take control of all possible routes into the land • They first conquered Syria • Then they moved south into Kush • By the 1400s Egypt was the leading military power in the region • Military conquest made Egypt rich

Boundariesof the New Kingdom

Egyptian Trade • The Egyptians developed profitable trade routes • Traded for gold, precious stones, leopard skins, turqoise, copper • Queen Hatshepsut sent traders to the kingdom of Punt

Egyptian trade in the New Kingdom

Ramses the Great • He reigned in the late 1300s and early 1200s B.C. • He was a great soldier, increasing the size of the kingdom • He was a great builder, including the temples of Karnak and Luxor • The pharaohs that followed him could not maintain his achievements

The Temple at Karnak

The Temple at Luxor

Ramses fought off many threats, including the Hittites and the Tehenu • However, soon after his death,the Sea Peoples invaded. • Only after 50 years of fighting were the Egyptians able to turn them back

Egyptian Work and Daily Life

Scribes • Highly honored • Kept records and accounts • Copied religious texts • Did not have to pay taxes; many became wealthy

Artisans, Architects • Jobs required advanced skills • Most worked for the government • They were admired • Helped design and build royal tombs and temples

Merchants and Traders • Only a small group became traders • They traveled great distances • They were usually accompanied by soldiers and scribes

Soldiers • Military offered people a chance to rise in social status • Soldiers received land as payment • Also could keep treasure captured in war

Farmers and Peasants • Made up the vast majority of Egypt’s population • They grew crops such as wheat and barley • Had to give part of crop in taxes

Slaves • There were few slaves in Egypt • Lower than farmers • Usually criminals or captured in war • Unlike most other ancient societies, in Egypt slaves had rights

Family Life • Family life was very important • Most Egyptians lived in their own homes • Most Egyptian women were devoted to their homes, but some worked outside the home • Egyptian women had some rights • Children played with toys, such as dolls and figurines. Boys started work at 14

The Middle and New Kingdoms