Egypt’s Powerful Kings and Queens

Chapter 3, Section 2

Hatshepsut

• Pharaoh the title of the kings (and queens) of ancient Egypt

• Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt during the New Kingdom.– Bold leader– Led army into battle when borders

threatened– Peaceful– Encouraged trade with faraway places– African expeditions (ivory, gold, spices)

Egypt’s God-Kings

• Egypt’s fortunes rested on the strength of its pharaohs.

• The history of Ancient Egypt is the history of each of its dynasties.– Dynasty a series of rulers from the

same family

From Dynasty to Dynasty

• Dynasties are grouped into three periods:– Earliest = Old Kingdom–Middle Kingdom– Latest = New Kingdom

• For most of ancient Egyptian history, there was stable rule.

Menes

• 1st dynasty began when a king named Menes united Lower and Upper Egypt.– Built a city named Memphis– Ruled over the two lands

• The uniting of Egypt began one of the most stable civilizations in history – lasted for more than 2,500 years.

All-Powerful Pharaohs

• The pharaohs had absolute power over their people – whatever he decided became law.

• Religious leader – belief that he provided his people with the Nile’s yearly floods and harvests that followed

Old Kingdom

• First 6 dynasties• Able rules• Well-run system of government• Kept peace and trade with Nubia• Sent merchants to eastern coast of the

Mediterranean for timber– Build houses, boats, furniture

• 2250 B.C. governors in the provinces began to challenge the power of the pharaoh’s government– Egypt’s unity crumbled dynasties grew weak

Old Kingdom

Pyramids at Giza

“During the Old Kingdom, Egyptian rulers grew in power and influence.

Their people began to consider them not just kings, but also gods.”

Middle Kingdom

• Early dynasties restored order and reunited the country

• Spent nation’s wealth on irrigation projects– Canal built between the Nile and Red

Sea

• Less able rulers followed• Lost control to foreign invaders

Irrigation

New Kingdom

• 1550 B.C. Egyptian princes drove out invaders

• Pharaohs wanted to build an empire.• Created huge armies of foot soldiers,

mounted warriors, and war chariots.• Bronze swords and body armor =

unbeatable

Chariots

A Powerful Queen, a Great Pharaoh

• 1500 B.C. a child named Thutmose III became pharaoh.

• Because of his youth, his stepmother was appointed regent.

• Regent someone who rules for a child until the child is old enough to rule

• Hatshepsut – not content to be regent so named herself pharaoh

• Ruled for about 22 years

A Powerful Queen, a Great Pharaoh

• Refused to yield the throne to Thutmose when he was of age

• He took over when she died and all of her statues destroyed.

Hatshepsut

Thutmose III• Thutmose III was one of the greatest

pharaohs of the new Kingdom.• Led army in wars against Syria and

Phoenicia• Educated, loved to study plants• Treated defeated people with mercy

Decline of New Kingdom

• Decline came around 1075 B.C.• Civil war left Egypt weak and poorly

defended.• The mighty kingdom fell to the

famous conqueror Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.– Egypt became part of the Roman

Empire.

• Egypt didn’t govern itself again for almost 2,000 years.