As Egypt lost land to Palestine and Nubia, it also lost its status as an Empire. Eventually, Egyptian leadership fell to the Assyrians, Persians, Arabs, and other groups.
A group of sea raiders, whose origin is debated, began making serious attacks against Egypt around 1200 BC. Although they were largely defeated, they destroyed surrounding areas, such as Syria and Palestine. They sapped much of the strength and power that Egypt had gained, and helped lead to its decline.
Ramesses II is generally considered the greatest pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire. He led military expeditions into the Levant, Canaaan, and Nubia. He founded his own city, pi-Ramesses, a temple complex known as Ramesseum, and the temple of Abu Simbel.
Despite having a very short reign, Tutankhamun in one of the most well known Egyptian pharaohs of all time. His tomb was the only one which had not been raided by the time it was discovered, which made it invaluable to modern archaeology.
Akhenaten is often blamed for the decline of the Egyptian empire's Golden Age. He attempted to make religious reforms to take power away from the priests of Amon, who retaliated by spreading discontent amongst the common people. This created great amounts of internal strife which were never fully resolved.
Hatshepsut was one of Egypt's few female rulers. She established trade networks which brought in great wealth, and organized an expedition to Punt. She commissioned hundreds of building projects throughout Egypt, many of which were claimed or vandalized by successive pharaohs. She actually ruled alongside her son, Thutmose III, until he became old enough to rule on his own.
Thutmose III is best known for the military campaigns he undertook, which brought Egypt to its greatest size as an empire. He also made innovations in art and architecture, building grand tombs, and creating the first known building in the basilica style.
Thutmose I established Egypt as an empire, by extending into Nubia, Palestine, and Syria. He also organized many building projects, most notably the Temple of Karnak, and was the first king who was definitely buried in the Valley of the Kings.
The New Kingdom of Egypt is arguably the greatest period in Egyptian history. During this time, Egypt expanded to the point where it was recognized as an empire. It enjoyed a Golden Age under great leaders, but eventually fell into decline due to political struggles, and foreign invaders.
Ahmose I rebelled against the Hyksos rulers and removed them from the delta region. He restored Theban rule in Egypt, founded the 18th dynasty, and began the New Kingdom, the greatest age of Egyptian prosperity.
The Valley of the Kings is an area where the tombs for Pharaohs and nobles were constructed during the New Kingdom. It contains 63 tombs and chambers, and houses the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramesses, and many others.
Like the first, the Second Intermediate Period saw the decentralization of government in Egypt, largely due to foreign invaders. The invaders ended up ruling over Egypt during this time, though not as one large entity.
The Hyksos were a West Asian people who first appeared in Egypt in 1800 BC. They introduced the chariot and the compound bow to Egypt. After claiming the eastern part of the Nile Delta, they took advantage of the de-centralization of Egyptian power and began establishing their own rulers. They conquered Avaris and Memphis, thus ending the 13th and 14th dynasties, and starting their own, they 15th.
Senusret III is known as the warrior Pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom. He engaged in various campaigns into Nubia, and then fortified the Egyptian border with forts. He was able to take power away from provincial monarchs and keep it centralized. His successor and son, Amenemhat III, exploited the natural resources of the lands he had conquered, and used them to fuel the Middle Kingdom Egyptian economy. Their reigns are considered the height of the Middle Kingdom.
Egypt was eventually reunited by Mentuhotep II. It then entered a period of economic prosperity, empirical expansion, and cultural advancement.
Mentuhotep II was a pharaoh of the 11th dynasty who reunited Egypt, by defeating the King of Thebes. This event marked the end of the First Intermediate Period. He then continued to consolidate his power across Egypt until it was once again under a single ruler. He also began depicting himself as a god, so that the authority of the monarch would become recognized again.
Funerary masks in ancient Egypt were made of a material called Cartonnage, which consisted of layers of linen or papyrus and plaster. Its use marks the transition of mummification being reserved for pharaohs, to becoming a more common burial practice.
This period was characterized by a lack of central authority in Egypt. Due to low crop yield and the influx of Libyan raiders, it was a very chaotic and violent time.
A decrease in precipitation stopped the annual flooding of the Nile river, which led to huge crop failures. This ended the period of the Old Kingdom.
Pipi II was a Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty (and the longest-reigning monarch in history), who is largely held responsible for the decline of the Old Kingdom. He allowed for governors to take more power from the Pharaoh by giving them tax immunity and allowing their positions to become hereditary. Thus, they began to feel largely independent, which characterizes the state of Egypt during the First Intermediate Period.
The Pharaoh Unas, who died in 2345, was the first to have religious texts inscribed in his pyramid, to protect him in the afterlife. This is a trend that continued throughout the Old Kingdom.
During this time, trade expanded greatly, and expeditions were sent to Sinia, Abu Simbel, and Punt.
The fifth dynasty saw increasing importance given towards Ra. Thus, less efforts were dedicated towards great pyramids, and more towards temples. This also resulted in power being taken from the pharaoh and given to the priests.
The Sphinx is a limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a man. It was built by the Pharaoh Khafra, and is the largest monolith statue in the world. The name sphinx was actual given to the statue in reference to a similar Greek mythological beast.
The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu/Cheops) was built as a tomb for the Pharaoh. It was designed by his vizier, Hemon, and was originally 146 meters high, making it the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time, and also a Wonder of the Ancient World. How it was able to be constructed remains up to debate.
The earliest known Egyptian pyramid was built by an architect named Imhotep. It consists of six mastabas (tombs) placed on top of each other in order of decreasing size. It once stood 62 meters tall, and was encased in white limestone.
The Old Kingdom was the period in which most of Egypt's most well known architecture was created. It came into being with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, and ended when the country once again began to split up.
The most notable event during this time was the creation of papyrus. Papyrus was made by soaking reeds in water, and was used in government institutions to record information.
The ancient Egyptian pharaoh Narmer is considered the founder of the First Dynasty and Early Dynastic Period. The Narmer Palette is an engraving, depicting Narmer with the insignia of Upper and Lower Egypt, symbolizing that he had united them.
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