second intermediate period (1720-1540)

Second Intermediate Period(1720-1540)

13th Dynasty continues Middle Kingdom culture of 12th Dynasty

Kush (Nubia)

Kush (Nubia)

Middle Kingdom – heavy trade with Nubia brought prosperity to region

Powerful kingdom developed at Kerma; from start of 12th Dynasty it is called “Kush”

12th Dynasty pharaohs construct fortresses at cataracts as protection against Kush

Inability of 13th Dynasty pharaohs to upkeep forts, turns them into permanent settlements-1720 – collapse of unified Egypt meant no support for forts

Kush (Nubia)

Some rulers in Lower Nubia claim pharaonic status

Unable to hold of Kush; by 1650 – all of Lower Nubia peacefully accepts Upper Nubian takeover

Hyksos(15th Dynasty, 1650-1540)

Egyptian term: hekau khasut “chieftains of foreign lands”

Josephus quoting Manetho:

… incredibly out of parts of the east men of despicable ethnicity marched boldly against the land, and seizing it easily by overwhelming force without fighting a battle. And having taken prisoner those who were the leaders here, they thereafter savagely burned the cities and demolished the gods’ shrines. They treated all the inhabitants most hatefully, slaughtering some, and leading into slavery the children and wives of others.

Hyksos

Canaanites already entering into Egypt; collapse in 1720 probably allowed even more to flow into Delta region.

1650, one group of newcomers able to take over Delta, defeating local rulers - Capitol at Avaris

Shortly after 1650 – 13 Dynasty in Thebes dies out and is replaced by local dynasty (17th Dynasty)

- Paid tribute to Hyksos

- Likely had marriage ties

Hyksos

2. Military : horse-drawn chariots with spoked wheels; bronze helmets, armor of bronze scales

1. Metal technology – ability to make bronze

3. Composite bow

Hyksos vs. Thebes

Theban dynasty is subordinate to Hyksos and isolated

Kush (Nubia) and Hyksos form alliance

Thebes builds up army and strike before Kush and Hyksos can attack it

Hyksos capital at Avaris

Egyptians control Upper Egypt from Thebes

Nubia (Kush) controls far south

Began the Theban attempt to expel Hyksos from Egypt

Seqenenre II (1559-1554) of the 17th Dynasty

Khamose – son of Seqenenra

Stele commemorating his successful campaigns in the north against the Hyksos

Manages to get all the way to Avaris, but doesn’t take the city

Ahmose (1550-1525)

Brother of Khamose

First king of eighteenth dynasty

After 4 attempts, kick Hyksos out of Avaris and out of Egypt.

Campaigns in Nubia

Married to his sister Ahmose Nefertari

Son of Ahmose

Campaigns in Nubia

First pharaoh buried in the Valley of the Kings

Memphis – political capitalThebes – religious capital

Amenhotep I (1525-1504)

Valley of the Kings

Extensive work on the Temple of Amun at Karnak

Thutmosis I (1504-1491)

Not related to Amenhotep by blood – possibly married into royal family

Began with campaigns in south against Nubia

Then moved north against Syria.

Thutmosis I

• Ahmose son of Ebana: “His majesty [Thutmosis I] arrived at Naharin (N’-h’-ry-n’ = Mittani in N. Syria)… his majesty made a great slaughter among them.”

• Ahomse-pen-nekhbet: “Again I served for King Okheperkere [Thutmosis I], triumphant; I captured for him in the country of Naharin (N’-h-ry-n’), 21 hands, one horse, and one chariot”

• Ineni: “[Thutmosis I] the Good God, who smites the Nubians, lord of might, who overthrows the Asiatics”

Thutmosis II (1491-1479)

Younger son of Thutmosis I

Married his half-sister Hatshepsut

Thutmosis III (1479-1425)Hatshepsut (1479-1458)

Hatshepsut (1479-1458)Half-sister and wife of Thutmose II ; aunt of Thutmose III

Originally named regent for Thutmose III, but takes throne and becomes pharaoh

Djeser-Djeseru“The Holy of Holies”

Thutmose (c. year 47)

Year 24: “The tribute of the chief of Assur…”

Year 33: “Behold, his majesty went north capturing the towns and

laying waste the settlements of that foe of wretched Naharin… His majesty arrived at the city of Niy, going southward, when his majesty returned, having set up his tablet in Naharin, extending the boundaries of Egypt”

“The tribute of the chief of Shinar [i.e. Babylon]…” “The tribute of Hatti the Great…”

Amenhotep II (1428-1397)

“Then the ruler of Naharin, the ruler of Hatti, and the ruler of

Sangar (Babylon) acknowledged the great victory which I had performed, everyone imitating his neighbor with every present of every foreign country. They spoke from their hearts on behalf of their ancestors, in order to request gifts from his Majesty and in quest of the giving of the breath of life to them.”

Thutmosis IV (1397-1388)

Dream Stele – justifies his accession to (or usurpation of?) the throne

Amenhotep III (1388-1350)

Tiye

Mittani Marriage Scarab

“The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the cult act, Nebmaatre, chosen of Re, the son of Re Amonhotep, ruler of Thebes, given life; the great royal wife Tiye, may she live. The name of her father is Yuya; the name of her mother is Tuya. Marvels which were brought to his majesty, (life, prosperity, health), the daughter of the Chief (wr) of Nahrin, Shuttarna, Kelu-Heba, and the choicest of her female entertainers: 317 women.”

Amenhotep IV / Akhenaten (1350-1334)

During reign of Amenhotep III, the pharaoh began to increasingly focus religion on the Aton, the solar orb; his son Amenhotep IV follows suit Year 4: began to build city for his god, calling it Akhetaton “Horizon of the Sun Disk” or “The Transfigured Spirit of the Solar Orb”

Moved capital from Thebes to AkhetatonYear 8 or 9: changed writing of the name Aton, removing hieroglyphs symbolizing sun as falconBegan to have names of other gods removed from stele, especially Amun.

Akh – “glorified being of light”

Akhetaton – “place where Aton is transformed into the glorified being”

Amenhotep IV changes name to:Akhenaton – proclaiming that he is the transfigured form of the Aton

Religious RevolutionComplete change in religious beliefs.

Aton was the highest god, and the only other gods were the king and his wife Nefertiti

Afterlife could only be bestowed by the divine royal coupleSpecial favors could only be asked for from the Aton through the divine royal couple

Worship of no other god was allowed, including all household deities. Evidence that the royal couple became a substituted source of veneration.

Smenkhkare (1336-1334)

Names Smenkhkare (a son?) as co-regent with Akhenaton

Takes Nefertiti’s place as third divinity (along with the Aton and with Akhenaton)

Nefertiti disappears from records around year 14 or so (very likely died)

Akhenaton marries Meritaton, one of his daughters and raises her to her mother’s position

Akhenaton dies in his year 17, less than year later, Smenkhkare dies too

Tutankhaton/Tutankhamun (c. 1334-1325)9 or 10 when he gets throne; Ay, father of Nefertiti rules as regent

Tut marries his half-sister

Restoration of old religion.

Dies at age of 18 or 19