The New Kingdom

Ahmose I was to reign over a unified Egypt for a quarter of a century. His reign marked the beginning of a period of enormous prosperity and imperial expansion, and it was during this era that the power of ancient Egypt was at its greatest. Historians call this period the New Kingdom. Ahmose also founded a new dynasty, the 18th (1550—1307 BCE), which was to include such rulers as Hatshepsut (the only woman pharaoh), Thutmose III, Akhenaton, and Tutankhamen. This period is particularly noted for the great military achievements of its pharaohs, but it is also renowned for its art, which became less bound by tradition and more open to influences from the Asiatic and Aegean civilizations.

After ousting the Hyksos from Egypt, Ahmose I pursued them into Palestine,

This wall painting of the falcon-headed god Horus is found in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the burial site of many New Kingdom pharaohs.

EGYPT DURING THE NEW KINGDOM

Establishing a base for an Egyptian presence in western Asia. The region was of vital importance because of the copper mines located there—as one of the two key ingredients of the alloy bronze, copper was a valuable metal. Ahmose then turned his attention to the southern borders of Egypt, where he subjugated the kingdom of Kush. For these campaigns, he recruited a standing army. His soldiers were well paid and were often rewarded with the spoils of battle, both loot and prisoners. They also received grants of land, which eventually gave rise to an important military class.

Ahmose ran his new empire as a military state. His administration was based on that of the Middle Kingdom, with a vizier as the head administrator. Many officials were appointed by the king from among the army officers who had campaigned with him.

This black granite statue is believed to depict the pharaoh Thutmose I, who greatly expanded the borders of Egypt’s empire.

One day, according to a temple inscription, Ahmose, who had just passed through Thebes, was forced to return because of a sudden storm. He believed that the storm was caused by the god Amon showing dissatisfaction with his residence, which had seen hardly any changes in a long time. To appease the god, Ahmose started a building program, restoring and enlarging Amon’s temples in Thebes, which became the empire’s capital city once more.

The king, who was considered to be the son of Amon, elevated his god-father to the position of principal deity of the dynasty. In this new religious concept, the queen also had a special place. She was no longer considered to be just the king’s wife, but also the wife of Amon. The Egyptians believed that, in a mystical marriage, she conceived a son by Amon. As a child of both Amon and the king, the boy was both a god and the rightful heir to the throne. This concept reinforced the continuation of the dynasty on a religious level.

Ahmose’s son and successor was Amenhotep I, who acted as co-regent with his father for five years before becoming pharaoh in 1525 BCE. Amenhotep extended the empire’s boundary to the south as far as the third cataract and introduced the office of “King’s Son of Kush” to govern the newly colonized region. He also campaigned in Syria and expanded Egypt’s borders in the Levant.