Imperial Egypt

THE 350 YEARS OF DYNASTIES 18 AND 19 WERE THE WORLD’S first great empire. A series of brilliant military pharaohs extended Egypt’s domain from the fourth cataract deep in Nubia in the south, to the Euphrates River in the Near East. Egypt’s empire was much smaller than the later Persian and Roman empires, was built up gradually, and took shape not entirely by design. Egypt’s greatest general-kings appeared when much of the rest of the Mediterranean world was unstable and weak. Still, Egypt was the world’s first superpower.

The imperial age brought vast wealth and a new, cosmopolitan outlook to Egypt. Previously isolated in their narrow valley, Egyptians now subdued a multitude of nations, adopted their gods and goddesses, and imported their fashions and technologies.

Sons of the leaders of conquered territories in Nubia and Asia were compelled to live in Egypt, study in temple schools, and learn Egyptian ways. Foreign princesses joined the royal harem—the king’s group of wives. Harems could be quite large, with hundreds of wives. Although these foreigners lived in luxury, their marriages were strictly diplomatic—their presence kept the tribute and gifts flowing, and discouraged revolt.


Trade, always important, became more varied and extensive. Finely made products—weapons, furniture, faience (glazed earthenware), linen, jewelry—from the workshops of Egypt’s skilled artisans were in demand everywhere. Goods and materials Egyptians had always craved poured in from abroad.

From Nubia and further south came gold, ebony, ivory, amethysts, carnelian, jasper, diorite (a hard, grayish-green stone used for statues), leopard skins and other exotic animal pelts, incense, oils, ostrich eggs and feathers, and monkeys. From the mountainous deserts to the east came carnelian, garnets, jasper, rock crystal, obsidian, green and multi-hued feldspar, alabaster, copper, and rare emeralds. The copper and turquoise mines of Sinai were in constant production. Silver and lapis lazuli came from the far reaches of the Near East.

With Ahmose’s triumph over the Hyksos, the The bans reigned supreme. In a series of military campaigns, Ahmose secured Egypt’s borders. To build support for his central government, he gave the nomarchs and provincial nobles a great deal of authority and responsibility—backed up with land grants and rich gifts. He also started major temple-building projects all over the country. His son, Amenhotep I, ruled for 21 years, continuing his father’s military campaigns in Nubia and Syria, and founding the great temple of Karnak, near Thebes.

The next king, Thutmose I, was a non-royal general who gained the throne by marrying a princess. During his 11-year reign, the priests of Amun-Re at Thebes became fabulously wealthy and powerful.

Thutmose II was the son of a royal harem woman. He found it prudent to strengthen his claim to the throne by marrying his half-sister. Like Thutmose I, he conducted successful military campaigns in Nubia and Syria.

Thutmose III was also the son of a minor harem wife. He became king as a small child. His aunt Hatshepsut, ruling as his regent, seized the throne within two years. A talented and ambitious woman, Hatshepsut became one of Egypt’s most powerful female pharaohs. She built and restored many temples, and built a splendid mortuary temple of unique design for herself at Deir el-Bahari near Thebes. With her lavish royal support, the Amun-Re priesthood became even richer.

Hatshepsut was not much concerned with military matters, but she was very interested in trade. She sent almost continuous expeditions to the turquoise mines of Sinai, and to Punt, down the African coast. Meanwhile, Thutmose III was in the army, studying military strategy and plan- ning his comeback.

There is much historical evidence that Thutmose III disliked his aunt Hatshepsut. As soon as she died (some scholars speculate that Thutmose actually had a hand in her death), he destroyed many of her monuments and those of her supporters. He scratched her name off inscriptions and made sure she was left off the official king lists. His  revenge complete, he proceeded to earn his modern title, “The Napoleon of Egypt.”