The Middle Kingdom 2134–1782 BCE |
Fact 21 on Egyptian History: | Internal and External power struggles. The Middle Kingdom Empire was overthrown by the invasion of the Hyksos, or shepherd princes from Asia, who ruled over Egypt, for several centuries. The Hyksos introduced the horse and the chariot to ancient Egypt. |
Fact 22 on Egyptian History: | Military campaigns in Nubia. |
Fact 23 on Egyptian History: | Fortresses were built and standing armies established. |
Fact 24 on Egyptian History: | Feudal organization established, overseen by Nomarchs. Nomarchs were appointed to rule the 42 administrative and religious districts of ancient Egypt, called Nomes. |
Fact 25 on Egyptian History: | Religion of ancient Egypt focused on funerary and mortuary religious beliefs. |
Fact 26 on Egyptian History: | The Coffin Texts were created for ordinary Egyptians. 2nd Intermediate Period 1782 -1550 BCE |
The New Kingdom 1550–1069 BCE |
Fact 27 on Egyptian History: | Ancient Egypt reached the height of its power |
Fact 28 on Egyptian History: | Military expeditions: Eastern coast of the Mediterranean under Egyptian rule. The ancient Egyptians fought the Hittites for control of the highly lucrative trade routes to Mesopotamia. |
Fact 29 on Egyptian History: | The Pharaoh Akhenaten (the father of Tutankhamen) established a new religious order at Armana worshipping the sun god Aten and banned the worship of other gods. |
Fact 30 on Egyptian History: | The revolutionary changes of the Armana period of Akhenaten lasted for only for 16 years and the Egyptians revert back to the 'old' religion. |
Fact 31 on Egyptian History: | Egypt conquers the African land of Nubia. Viceroys were appointed to control and collect tributes from the Nubians. |
Fact 32 on Egyptian History: | Nubians retaliate & conquer Egypt but their stay in power lasted for less than one hundred years. |
Fact 33 on Egyptian History: | Ancient Egyptians experienced the influences & cultures of foreign civilizations including their successful use of the chariot in ancient Egyptian warfare. |
Fact 34 on Egyptian History: | The Pyramid Texts and the Coffin Texts evolve into the collective texts known as the Book of the Dead. |
Fact 35 on Egyptian History: | There was a surge in funerary and mortuary religious beliefs of ancient Egyptians. |
Fact 36 on Egyptian History: | Egyptian Priests acquire unprecedented power, and more religious cult centers emerged during this period. |
Fact 37 on Egyptian History: | Period of great wealth, luxury and power, a new age of experiment and invention. |
Fact 38 on Egyptian History: | A period of new ideas but ultimately led back to the culture of 'old' Egypt |