THE NEW KINGDOM: THE GLORY OF EGYPT

The New Kingdom

The New Kingdom begins with the Eighteenth Dynasty

Some of the most famous pharaohs in Egyptian history ruled in the New Kingdom

Egypt becomes the world’s first superpower

The Eighteenth Dynasty

Begins with Ahmose I in 1550 BC Re-conquered Egypt from the Hyksos

invaders

Hatshepsut, 1479-1458 BC: First female ruler in world history

Thutmose III, 1479-1425 BC: Expands empire into Nubia and Syria

Hatshepsut

Thutmose III

Family Matters

Thutmose III was the rightful pharaoh of Egypt

Hatshepsut ruled as a regent-a caretaker until her stepson Thutmose was old enough to rule

Hatshepsut was mysteriously murdered and Thutmose III attempted to erase her from history!

Akhenaten

Born Amenhotep IV, decides to change his name

Essentially “fires” the gods of Egypt in favor of the Aten- god of the sun disk

Attempts to institute MONOTHEISM – belief in one god

Akhenaten and Monotheism

Moves the capital from Memphis and Thebes to a brand new city called Amarna

His people rebel and his name is virtually wiped out from history

He is the first monotheist…but we know him because of his son…

Tutankhamun

King Tut

Became pharaoh at 9!

Married his sister

Mysteriously murdered at 18…and we still don’t know who did it or why!

World famous because his tomb was found undisturbed in the Valley of the Kings in 1922

The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings

By this time, the Great Pyramid is already over 1000 years old!

But they’re poor tombs…they get robbed ALL the time and nearly bankrupted the country

New Kingdom pharaohs built their tombs in the rock cliffs of the desert …the Valley of the Kings Yes…there is also a Valley of the Queens

The Curse of King Tut

When Howard Carter and Lord George Carnarvon opened Tut’s tomb in 1922: They found the following inscription:

“Death will come on swift wings to those who disturbs the pharaoh’s rest.”

4 months later Carnarvon dies At the exact moment Carnarvon dies,

Cairo goes dark from a power failure At the exact moment Cairo goes dark,

Carnarvon’s dog gives a weird howl and dies…in London