In the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Egypt was a unified and wealthy state ruled by a god-king. It had a semitropical climate, creating a large agricultural surplus. Papyrus grew wild and was used for building materials, food and paper. Even the desert provided useful goods such as salt, natron, other minerals, semiprecious stones and gold. Egypt had a highly organized government that was run by the scribal class, who were organized and carried out the details of the business of the state. They knew how to read and write and also had knowledge of the specific position they were to inherit, such as knowledge in agriculture.
The majority of the people were farmers. During the period of inundation, the three months when the fields were flooded, they participated in corvee. The farmers became a national labor force, which built and maintained large-scale public buildings. There was also a smaller group of nomadic cattle herders. Families were the basic social unit in Ancient Egypt, with groups of families forming villages. The people of Ancient Egypt followed a hereditary calling, and the whole family shared in the work. The army was the only place for people to step out of the caste system and achieve importance. The horse drawn chariot was also introduced during this period.
Important events occurring during this time period are the capture of Avaris, the Hyksos stronghold near Tanis and the expulsion of the foreigner from Egypt. The policy of safeguarding frontiers through large-scale raiding expeditions was also developed. By the time Tuthmosis III became ruler, Egypt was mainly a prosperous and well organized state. He fought problems in the North and made a rich empire in Palestine and Syria.
During this period, Thebes became the main residence city of Egypt, which advanced the fortunes of Amen the city god. Amen attained a position of great wealth and influence. Under Tuthmosis IV, Aten, a new god, appears and his cult becomes a fashionable court religion.
Amen-hetep and his queen Nefert-iti are fanatically devoted to Aten, and Amen-hetep changes his name to Akhenaten. He also founds a new city for Aten at the present day El-Amarna and moves his court there. Other cults were discouraged and changes in the Aten doctrine favor monotheism. Problems begin to occur during his reign. There is unrest in the northern empire, which leads to a reduced flow of valuable tribute and disgruntled soldiers. Temples were closed putting many out of work. Also, forbidding sacrifices and rituals demoralized people and took away the purpose to every day activities. The people did not like the new religion being imposed on them.
The new king, Tut-ankh-aten is only nine years old, and advisers probably governed the country, especially the Vizier Ay and Commander in Chief Horemheb. They immediately returned to the traditions of the reign of Amen-hetep III. Tut-ankh-aten changed his name to Tut-ankh-amen and the cults of the old gods were restored. Ay became king by marrying Tut-ankh-amen's widows. When he disappeared, Horemheb became king and worked on restoring law and order to an impoverished and demoralized Egypt.
Aldred, Cyril. Ankhenaten, Pharaoh of Egypt-a new study. .. Mcgraw-Hill Book Company. New York-Toronto-London-Sydney. 1968.
Aldred, Cyril. New Kingdom Art in Ancient Egypt During the Eighteenth Dynasty. Alec Tiranti Ltd. London. 1961.
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