New Kingdom timeline

Thebes

2081 BCE

After their invasion of Egypt and seizure of dynastic power in 1630, the Hyksos had little control over Thebes. Then began the era of greatest prosperity for Thebes. The 18th-dynasty pharaohs rebuilt it and made it their capital, embellishing its temples with the trade of Nubia. The main part of Thebes was situated along the Nile’s east bank. Along the west bank contained the royal tombs, mortuary temples, the houses of priests, soldiers and craftsmen, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak.

Karnak Temple

2055 BCE

The Karnak temple was the largest religious building ever constructed. The temple was built over 2,000 years and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. For the largely uneducated ancient Egyptian population, this could only have been the place of the gods. It is the largest religious building ever made, covering about 200 acres, and was a place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years.

Hyksos

1630 BCE

After the middle kingdom Egypt was left divided and weakened. The Hyksos invaded Egypt with horse, chariot and bronze weapons which the Egyptians later copied. They were peaceful rulers who took part in Egypt's culture. They were expelled from Egypt by pharaoh Ahmose I when he came of age to be pharaoh after his brother Kamose and his father had already died trying.

18th dynasty begins

1550 BCE

The 18th dynasty begins with Ahmose I's rule. Until he was of age to take control when his brother Kamose died, his mother took power. He laid the foundation of the new kingdom, finishing the last of the pyramids and spreading Egypt's boundary. He also defeated the Nubians to ensure a steady amount of gold.

Trading expeditions to Kush/Nubia

1550 BCE

The Kushites were the closest trading partners with Egypt. They bore the pharaohs with pharaohs with gold, ivory, ebony, ostrich feathers, doam (palm fruits), and exotic products, and animals like giraffes. The Kushites traded gold for Egyptian wheat. The period of the New Kingdom was the time of Egypt's empire when trade was most lucrative and contributed to the wealth necessary to build monuments like the Temple of Karnak, the Colossi of Memnon, and the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut.

New Kingdom

Period: 1550 BCE to 1070 BCE

Mortuary Temple

1539 BCE

Located on the West bank of the Nile the temple was a place of worship of a deceased king and the depository for food and objects offered to the dead monarch. The kings were buried in rock-cut tombs, but separate mortuary temples continued to be built nearby. All were provided with a staff of priests and assured of supplies through endowments of estates and lands, to ensure religious services and offerings in perpetuity.

Amenhotep I

1525 BCE

Amenhotep attacked Kush in Nubia to gain control of land and trade which lead to power, gold and wealth for Egypt. Nubia was also a great place to connect Egypt to other trading countries. He built many fortresses to claim the territory. He died without a living son.

Thutmose I

1504 BCE

Thutmose I was a military leader and took reign after Ametohep I although he had no relation to him and his mother was born a commoner. Thutmose I took control over Nubia and Western Asia and was a very powerful leader. Thutmose I made Thebes the most impressive city in Egypt and erects the new idea of the Obelisk at the Karnak temple. Thutmose I was the first pharaoh to be buried in the Valley of Kings in a tomb.

Thutmose II

1479 BCE

Thutmose II was the fourth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt. He built some minor monuments and initiated at least two minor campaigns but did little else during his rule and was probably strongly influenced by his wife/sister, Hatshepsut. He was the father of Thutmose III who was born to another wife.

Hatshepsut reign

1473 BCE

She was a female Pharaoh who hid behind her status to make sure people knew her as male to keep their loyalty. She did this by erecting statues and tapestries, designed to picture her as a male since the everyday person/slave wouldn't have ever seen her in person. She made many buildings and ensured wealth to Egypt by increasing trade routes in Punt. She ruled beside Thutmose III, keeping him from his reign by busying him in the military until she died and he took over.

Battle of Megiddo

1457 BCE

A famous battle between Thutmose III and the king of Kadesh. Thutmose III was a great military strategist and lead 17 successful campaigns. He wasted no time in gathering his forces and marching from Thebes toward the city. The list of loot carried back from the battle were prisoners of war, slaves, hostages, arms, armor, gold, silver chariots, jewels, precious metals and livestock. The battle ended the rebellion, enriched Egypt’s treasury and gave Thutmose III control over northern Canaan

Thutmose III

1423 BCE

Thutmose III rises to power and reorganises the bureaucracy of the military, making the largest Egyptian empire yet. He is most famous for the battle of Megiddo. He ruled with his aunt Hatshepsut for roughly 20 years until she passed and he took over for his final 2 before death. He was buried in the Valley of the Kings and his son Amenhotep II took over.

Luxor temple

1400 BCE

The temple of Luxor is situated on the east bank of the River Nile in the town of Luxor (Thebes). The temple is dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu and was the focus of one of the most important religious festivals in ancient Egypt - the annual Opet Festival. During this festival the cult statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu would travel from Karnak to Luxor. As a result, the temple is not aligned to the river (as is more usual) but to the temple complex at Karnak.

Hittites

1400 BCE

The Hittites were an enemy of the Egyptians. Egypt's prolonged interest in the region derived from their desire to dominate and exploit the economic resources and trade. This was what later lead to the battle of Kadesh

Amenhotep III

1391 BCE

His reign was a period of unprecedented prosperity and artistic splendour, when Egypt reached the peak of its artistic and international power. When he died his son took over and ruled as Akhenaten.

Amarna Period (Akhenaten)

1353 BCE

The Amarna period was an era of Egyptian history when Akhenaten took reign. It was marked by the reign of Amenhotep IV, who changed his name to Akhenaten (1353–1336 BC) in order to reflect the dramatic change of Egypt's polytheistic religion into one where the sun disc Aten was worshiped over all other gods. This caused uprisings and distress throughout Egypt. The Egyptian pantheon of the equality of all gods and goddesses was restored under Akhenaten's successor, Tutankhamun.

Tutankhamun reigns

1333 BCE

He becomes a child pharaoh, famous for an intact sarcophagus that wasn't buried in the pyramids like the other pharaoh's. When he dies he is buried in the Valley of Kings. He most likely died due to his disfiguration which often occurred as the noble family married within their own family

Horemheb

1319 BCE

Before he became pharaoh, Horemheb was the commander in chief of the army under the reigns of Tutankhamun. After his accession to the throne, he reformed the Egyptian state and official action against the preceding Amarna rulers began. Due to this, he is considered the man who restabilized his country after the troublesome and divisive Amarna Period. Horemheb demolished monuments of Akhenaten, reusing their remains in his own building projects, and usurped monuments of Tutankhamun.

The Lybians

1295 BCE

The Lybians had major conflict with Egypt during the period of the New Kingdom but later on they began to settle within Egypt and were known as "Meshwesh". They even gained temporary control over Egypt

The sea people

1276 BCE

The sea people were a major threat to the Egyptians and they travelled by boat to invade Egypt along the coast.

Battle of Kadesh

1274 BCE

The battle occurred between Ramesses II and the Hittite king where both parties claimed victory. The Hittites had been making incursions into Egypt and caused trouble for the Pharaoh Thutmose III. Kadesh was taken by the Egyptians but the Hittites had reclaimed and fortified it. Ramesses II resolved to take lasting measures against the Hittites and drive them from his borders. The battle lead to a peace treaty between both sides and they traded with each other.