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Dynasty 18

King Ahmose reconquers Memphis and destroys Avaris, thus ending the Hyksos rule. Thutmosis I reconquers Nubia, which becomes a colony of Egypt. Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh, sponsors fine works of art and architecture, such as her temple at Deir el-Bahri. Egypt controls large parts of the Near East. The court has luxurious international tastes, especially under the reign of Amenhotep III.

In the Amarna period, Akhenaten and Nefertiti break with the traditional religion in favor of the sole worship of the Aten (light). During their reign, distinctive art is created and the literature begins to reflect a version of the language nearer to everyday speech.

Tutankhamun restores worship of traditional gods, but he leaves no royal heir. Haremhab becomes the last king of the dynasty, completes the return to traditional religion and art and names as his successor Ramesses I, first ruler of Dynasty 19.

Dynasty 19

This dynasty is a great era of temple building. Campaigns in the Near East take place against the Hittites, and a peace treaty is signed in the reign of Ramesses II. Traditional time of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.

Dynasty 20

Ramesses III repels the "sea peoples" (displaced tribes mainly from Asia Minor). This is a period of political decline and economic difficulties.


Hippopotamus (ca. 1450 B.C)	Menna and his family fishing and fowling (ca. 1400 - 1350 B.C.)	Ivory hunting dog (1400 - 1350 B.C.)	Sakhmet (ca. 1390 - 1353 B.C.)

Akhenaten sacrificing a duck (ca. 1353-1336 B.C.)	Canopic jar with a lid in the shape of a royal woman's head (ca. 1349 - 1336 B.C.)	Haremhab as scribe (ca. 1337-1323 B.C.)