TIMELINE OF THE NEW KINGDOM

Karnak

2040 BCE

First recorded during the Middle Kingdom, Karnak is the modern name for the ancient site of the Temple of Amun in Thebes. It was considered an honor to contribute to the temple, and almost every Pharaoh in the New Kingdom contributed to it. Ahmose I built on it as a thank you to the Gods for defeating the Hyksos. Amenhotep III also contributed during his luxurious era. Akhenaten banned contribution and closed it off, but his successors, significantly Horemheb, reinstated it's religious value.

Hyksos Dynasty

1782 BCE

Semetic-speaking people who grew to power at the city of Avaris (lower Egypt), initiating the Intermediate Second Period (1782-1570 BCE]. The Hyksos would later be characterised as the "invaders" in later scripts, before this being described as kings or nobility driven from their homes by invasion who found refuge in the port city of Avaris, managing to establish a strong power there. [https://www.ancient.eu/Hyksos/] Most information about the Hyksos was recorded by Manetho.

Hyksos End

1570 BCE

War initiated before the 18th Dynasty resulted in the first Pharaoh of such, Ahmose I continuing the war against the Hyksos. Eventually Avaris fell as Ahmose fought against them, and they were later chased out and "evicted" from the city they once ruled. From here on they were referred to as "invaders."

1. Ahmose I

1549 BCE

Frequently described as the 1st Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Helped end the Hyksos reign at the beginning of Dynasty 18, in turn ending the Second Intermediate Period and beginning the New Kingdom.

The 18th Dynasty Begins

1549 BCE

Dynasty 18 would continue for another 250 years. the 18th Dynasty marks the end of the Middle Kingdom and the beginning of the New Kingdom in Ancient Egypt.

2. Amenhotep I

1524 BCE

Ahmose I dies, 2nd Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty

3. Thutmose I

1503 BCE

Amenhotep I dies, Thutmose I is the 3rd Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Some believe Thutmose I is the true founder of the 18th dynasty, as he is the real beginning of the bloodline. The Thutmosid line would become one of the most influential in New Kingdom history.

4. Thutmose II

1493 BCE

Thutmose I, II's father dies, Thutmose II becomes the 4th Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Hatshepsut will later marry her half brother.

5. Hatshepsut

1479 BCE

Hatshepsut ruled as Pharaoh 5 of D18. She's daughter of Thutmose I, wife and half sister to Thutmose II. Hat was regent as her step son wasn't of age, but later maintained the role of Pharaoh. Hat as Pharaoh was controversial, and she was portrayed as a male in most artwork (by her orders). She's celebrated for her extensive trading expeditions for leopard skins, gold etc. in Punt. Amazing structures were built (memorial temple at Deir el-Bahri) during her reign. After death, Thutmose III ruled.

6. Thutmose III

1458 BCE

Hatshepsut dies, her step son Thutmose III reigns as Pharaoh in the 18th Dynasty for another 30 years. Thutmose III tried to erase Hatshepsut from records, possibly to not break the streak of male ruling. Thutmose III developed skills in archery, horsemanship, hand-to-hand combat, and athletic ability - and was later considered by Hat fit enough to be in command of her armies. Thutmose III would lead 17 successful military campaigns in 20 years, like in the Battle of Megiddo.

Megiddo War

1457 BCE

Thutmose III tried to fight off neighboring cities during a revolt in his reign. The King of Kadeesh teamed up with the Canaanites, Mitanni, and Amurru along with King of Megiddo in a rebel alliance against Thutmose III. Megiddo was strategic and controlled the main trade route between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Megiddo won the war, which enabled him to conquer other cities in the region - securing an Egyptian Empire. [https://www.warhistoryonline.com/ancient-history/battle-megiddo-beginning.html]

7. Amenhotep II

1425 BCE

Thutmose III dies post Megiddo War (not during), Amenhotep II becomes Pharaoh 7

8. Thutmose IV

1398 BCE

Amenhotep dies, Thutmose IV becomes Pharaoh 8. IV culminated a peace treaty with the Mitanni in response to the growing threat of the Hittites, ancient rivals and married their empires princess to secure it. He showed personal devotion to Aton, who his grandson would later worship solely. He was succeeded byhis son Amenhotep III after roughly 9 years.

9. Amenhotep III

1388 BCE

Pharaoh 8 (Thutmose IV) dies, Amenhotep III reigns as Pharaoh 9. His name means for Amun to be satisfied. He came to power in a supreme Egyptian era. and ruled Egypt with his wife Queen Tiye for 38 years before death. His greatest achievements lie in preserving and improving on Egyptian culture, many cultural artifacts built in his reign, and through military campaigns, he extended Egypt's boundaries. He was a master of diplomacy and kept the peace during his reign. Egypt was at its finest after

Amarna BEGINS

1353 BCE

During the rule of Akhenaten (formerly Amenhotep IV before the Amarna Period), the priests had become more rich than the Pharaoh and had more wealth and land. Scholars believed this may have been the reason why Ak proclaimed the sun disk, Atem, and denied the existence of every god. This effectively cut off most sources of wealth/power from the priest. From here, Thebes lost importance and was subsequently abandoned for El-Amarna and the new city of Akhetaten. This made citizens very angry

10. Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV)

1353 BCE

Amenhotep III dies, Akhenaten (formerly Amenhotep IV) becomes Pharaoh 10. Akhenaten was responsible for attempting to change the Egyptian religion and erase all the gods from importance. He wanted to focus solely on the sun disk and Atem, and took down temples and structures of worship for any other god or belief. Akhenaten didn't want anyone to reside in the city of worship, he moved the capital city and it's population from Thebes and it was only reinstated as the capital much later.

HITTITES: King Suppiluliuma I

1344 BCE

Hittite King Suppiluliuma I takes the throne, arguably one of the most significant leaders of the Hittite period. Great unrest between the Hittites and the Egyptians begins here.

11. Smenkhkare

1335 BCE

Akhenaten dies, Smenkhkare becomes the 11th Pharaoh of Dynasty 18. Not a lot is known about Smenkhkare, even their gender, as successors after them attempted to erase the history post Akhenaten's era. He only lasted a year in the role.

12. (?) Nefertiti

1334 BCE

Pharaoh 11, Smenkhkare dies after just 1 year in power, Neferneferuaten COULD HAVE become the 12th Pharaoh (the second female). She was married to Akhenaten before his demise and was partially responsible for the religious revolution. Her dynasty, like Smen, was short-lived if it existed. Some believe she had a reign similar to how Hat came to lead, or presumed a "male alter-ego" of Smenkhare. If she posed as a male to come to power, she could have "married" her daughter to make her queen.

Amarna ENDS

1334 BCE

Tut ends the monotheist era and helps reinstate former religious values and other God existences.

13. Tutankhamen

1332 BCE

King Tut (son of Akhenaten), the youngest Pharaoh of the time becomes Pharaoh 13 in the 18th Dynasty. Formerly Tutankhaten, Tut changed his name to "Tutankhamun" ("em") to translate to "living image of Amun, helped restore the existence of the old gods and the temples. His period initiated the construction of even more shrines and temples, Thebes was capital once more. His decision reemployed those who were otherwise jobless (priests, craftsmen, scribes, merchants who sold religious artifacts).

14. Ay

1323 BCE

Tut dies, Ay reigns as the 14th Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Ay may have married Tut's widow to creep into power. His reign was short. Ay was Tut's vizier.

15. Horemheb

1319 BCE

Horemheb is the 15th/last Pharaoh of 18. He was born into the lower classes and spent his life working through the ranks of the army, became commander-in-chief of the Egyptian military, and finally pharaoh for his last 14 years. Horemheb threw a nation-wide campaign to erase his immediate predecessor’s names from history, especially Akhenaten. He wanted to restore Egypt to the grandeur it had during the Amenhotep III era. Never had kids, and chose his vizier to rule, beginning the 19th Dynasty.