New Kingdom Egypt - Ancient Mediterranean

New Kingdom lasts almost 500 years

1550-1080

Apex of Egyptian power and control

empire reaches greatest extent around 1450 BCE

1500-1000

Egypt is fully interacting with the rest of West Asia, previously was fairly isolationist, in territorial expansion encounters kingdoms of the Mitanni and the Hittites

Ramses II

fights various battles against Hittites, concluding at Battle of Qadesh at end of 1200s BCE where Hittites prevent further Egyptian expansion 

Consolidation of royal/religious power

institution of control was very tightly ingrained and monarchy was stable, but also meant that anyone who rose to power that didn’t fit conventional mold was very disruptive

Hatshepsut

Many achievements of New Kingdom take place during her reign, such as conquest in Nubia and lots of monumental building