New State (ok. 1567–ok. 1085 p.n.e.)
During the reign of the XIII-XX dynasty there was a reunification of Egypt, the capital was moved to Thebes and the country reached its apogee in importance and power. The rulers strove to increase the power of Egypt, they organized many expeditions and military operations, on the peoples of Asia: Hurytach, Hittites, They forced the Babylonians and Assyrians to respect their interests. Pharaohs such as Tuthmosis I and III and Queen Hatshepsut deserved particular merit in this period., which focused mainly on internal affairs – erected many magnificent buildings, like the Million Years Temple at Deir el-Bahari, and initiated the famous expedition to the land of Punt.
At that time, there was an incredible development in art, monumental and richly decorated tombs and temples were built. Temple complexes were established in Karnak and Luxor, rock temple in Abu Simbel built by Ramesses II and the famous Valley of the Kings, that is, rock tombs decorated with numerous murals and reliefs. However, despite the precautions and safeguards taken, almost all of them, full of precious items, the tombs were looted.
The ruler of Amenhotep founded the new capital of the state - Akhetaton. There have also been significant changes in religion. Amon became the supreme god, with the center of worship in Thebes, but whose cult Pharaoh Amenhotep IV tried to overthrow in favor of Aten. Pharaoh himself became the priest of his religion, striving - as many scholars believe - to monotheism. Unfortunately, he did not find support among the Theban priests of Amun, whose political influence and wealth were very large, hence his successor, Tutankhamun, was forced to return to the religious doctrine of Thebes and the name of the rebellious Pharaoh Ehnaton was erased from the pages of history.
After the religious reform and the reorganization of the state by Pharaoh Horemheb, During the nineteenth dynasty, Egypt became the leading power of the then world. At the time of the next ruler, Ramesses II, a great construction program on an unprecedented scale was launched. Though Ramesses II was one of the greatest rulers in Egyptian history, it left the state in a weakened state, which was especially dangerous, because soon a threat in the form of the so-called. Sea peoples. His successors, Ramesses III, admittedly they managed to repel their attack, but after his death, a gradual decline of the kingdom began.
Third transition period (ok. 1085–664 p.n.e.)
The period of decay of Egypt into smaller states, rule by priests and foreign dynasties. During this period, the Libyan dynasties seized power (XXII i XXIII) i kuszycka (XXV). Egypt was shattered politically – in Lower Egypt, with the capital in Tanisa, kings ruled, and in the Upper, around the religious center in Thebes, priests of Amun. W 671 p.n.e. The Assyrians took over Memphis, who 8 years later, they also occupied Thebes.
The declining period (664–332 p.n.e.)
Egypt was reunited and stabilized, which began with the reign of Psamtik I.. During this period, the country flourished in terms of culture and economy, Expeditions to the Middle East and Cyprus ended successfully, and the streak was interrupted by the defeat of the last ruler of the XXVI Dynasty in the battle with the Persian army. W 525 The Persians occupied Lydia and Babylonia, allied with Egypt against Persia, and Egypt itself, the reign of the Persian dynasty. Eleven years later, the Macedonian leader Alexander the Great entered the country on the Nile without a fight, opening his new period - the so-called. Greek era.
Greek era - (332–30 p.n.e.)
This era began with the conquest of Alexander the great and his seizure of power in Egypt. Under one of the commanders of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy (Lagid dynasty), and his successors, Egypt was Hellenized – Greek became the official language and the capital was moved to Alexandria. Despite this, traditional Egyptian temples were still erected in the country, and in religion animal cults flourished, as a result, entire cities of mummified animals have survived to this day.
It was not without the uprisings and rebellions of the Egyptians, but generally the country under Greek rule experienced the development and growth of its Middle Eastern possessions. W II w. p.n.e. there was a period of political and economic destabilization of the state, revolts shook the south of the country. Soon after, the weakened central government failed to defend Egypt from the power of Rome and 30 year BCE. the country fell under Roman rule.
Roman period (30 p.n.e. – 395 n.e.)
After Cleopatra VII's death, the last representative of the Lagid dynasty, Egypt was annexed by Octavian Augustus to the Roman Empire. Despite this, he was treated in a special way, and according to contemporary researchers, this country was even the emperor's political and economic base. He played a significant role among the Roman provinces, for he provided grain to the capital of the empire, mostly given away for free to the poorest people of Rome. Disruptions to the delivery of this product may have caused a major riot, which potential usurpers would not hesitate to use for their purposes.
Egypt was ruled by a tsarist representative, prefect, and the role of nomarchs was significantly reduced in favor of strategists appointed by the prefect. Despite being under foreign rule, Egypt developed economically – administration was improved under the watchful eye of Roman officials, through, among others. cleaning of the channels increases the yield. There were no noticeable changes in religion, although the effects of the earlier stay under Greek rule were visible – many Egyptian gods acquired the characteristics of the corresponding Greek gods. Egyptian cults were still firmly entrenched in human consciousness and began to spread widely throughout the Roman empire during this period., which was not well received by Roman emperors.
Although the emperor's governors cared for Egypt, over time, serious problems arose from the excessive tax burden on the Egyptians. Besides, Christianity developed, which at the end of the Roman period began to fundamentally transform Egyptian culture. It was it that led to the beginning of the practice of transforming old temples into Christian churches and ended the civilization of ancient Egypt. The conventional and symbolic end date of the ancient Egyptian epoch is a year 395, in which the Roman state was divided by Theodosius into two parts, and in which the last entry was made in the traditional one, Egyptian Hieroglyphic Inscription.
Coptic-Byzantine period (ok. 395-641 neither.)
Egypt became part of the Byzantine Empire, whose bloody rule did not please the inhabitants of the state – hence the Egyptians succumbed to the Arab invasion without much resistance. In addition, the development of the Coptic Church in Egypt and an intensive building of religious orders took place in this period.
The period of the Egyptian Caliphate
Power was seized by the Caliphs of the Shiite Fatimid family, and Egypt became an Islamic religious state, kalifatem. It lasted until 1171.
Ottoman period (1517-end of the 18th century)
Egypt came under the rule of the Turkish state, The Ottoman Empire.
Mamluk Egypt (end of the 18th century - 1808)
The Mamluks seized power in Egypt, that is, military units made up of Circassian slaves, Georgian, Kipchat and Turkish, who from approx. In the 9th century, they were the personal guards of the sultans of medieval Egypt. W 1250 in the year they took over the ligarchic power in Egypt – soldiers captured the palace of Sultan Turan-Shah of the Kurdish Ayyubid dynasty and killed him, and they placed the child on the throne, Kamila, on whose behalf the sultan Shajar ad-Daur and Mameluk Turkmen Ajbak were in power.
The Mamluk state was conquered in 1517 years by the Ottoman Turks, however, the Mamluks kept their lands and privileges. In the 18th century, with the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, they again seized power in Egypt, but for a short time, i w 1798 they were defeated by Napoleon, which eventually took their lands and power.
Napoleonic period (1798-1801)
Napoleon's Expedition to Egypt, which was to serve as a future base for the invasion of India, it was only partially successful. The general managed to take Malta and Lower Egypt with Cairo, but in the later part of his campaign he encountered only difficulties (e.g.. spooky atmosphere, tropical diseases), as a result of which he was finally forced by Turkish-English forces to surrender in 1801 r.
Despite the failure, Napoleon's expedition was of great importance as a scientific and research expedition. At that time, numerous archaeological excavations were carried out, during which were found, among others. “Rosetta Stone”, a plate engraved with Greek and hieroglyphic inscriptions, which made possible in 1822 year reading Egyptian hieroglyphs.
International Control Over Egypt's Income (1876 – 1914)
The Sultanate of Egypt (1914 – 1922)
An Arab state that was created by declaring Egypt a British protectorate 5 of August 1914.
Kingdom (1922-1953)
28 February 1922 Egypt has officially declared its independence from Great Britain. Reigning then already 5 years the second sultan of Egypt (Hussein Kamil's brother) became the first modern king of Egypt.
Arab Republic (1952-1958)
United Arab Republic (1958-1971)
The risen state 1 February 1958 years from the merger of Egypt and Syria. 5 February 1958 its president was Gamal Abdel Naser. W 1961 year Syria withdrew from the union, but Egypt retained the name of the United Arab Republic until 1971.
Arab Republic (from 1971)
Egypt became a presidential republic with a multi-party system (according to the constitution of 1971 r., modified in the year 1980)