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NSWAncient HistoryQuick questions
Section II (Ancient Societies): New Kingdom Egypt to the death of Thutmose IV
Quick questions on New Kingdom Egypt context (HSC Ancient History Section II)
15short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is two lands?Show answer
Lower Egypt (the Nile Delta, the alluvial floodplain to the Mediterranean) and Upper Egypt (the narrow Nile Valley south to the First Cataract at Aswan). The two lands had distinct cultural traditions but were unified politically.
What is the Nile?Show answer
Annual flood (akhet, late June to late October) deposited fertile silt. Agriculture followed: peret (sowing, November to February), shemu (harvest, March to June). The Nile was the lifeline.
What is boundaries?Show answer
Western and Eastern Deserts provided natural defence. Sinai Peninsula connected to Palestine and Mesopotamia. Nubia to the south (across the First Cataract) was a long-term Egyptian concern.
What is second Intermediate Period?Show answer
Foreign Hyksos (Asiatic) rulers controlled the Delta from their capital at Avaris. Their political and military innovations included the horse and chariot, composite bows, and bronze weapons. Native Theban kings (XVII Dynasty) controlled Upper Egypt.
What is the war of expulsion?Show answer
Theban kings Sequenenre Tao II (who died fighting the Hyksos, possibly in battle, his mummy shows multiple axe wounds) and Kamose campaigned against the Hyksos.
What is ahmose I?Show answer
Completed the expulsion. Captured Avaris. Pursued the Hyksos into Palestine.
What is the pharaoh?Show answer
God-king. Horus-incarnate; Son of Ra; embodiment of maat. Held all formal authority.
What is the vizier?Show answer
Chief administrator. Two viziers under the New Kingdom (one for Upper, one for Lower Egypt). Reported daily to the pharaoh.
What is regional governors?Show answer
Each nome (province) had a governor (nomarch); in the New Kingdom these were typically royal appointees rather than hereditary local nobles.
What is the priesthood of Amun?Show answer
Amun, the Theban god, was promoted to chief deity (Amun-Ra) during the New Kingdom. The priesthood of Amun at Karnak accumulated land, wealth and political influence. This concentration would become problematic by the late New Kingdom.
What is the army?Show answer
A major institution after the Hyksos expulsion. Professional core (infantry, charioteers) plus seasonal levies. The army was an avenue for social mobility.
What is royal family?Show answer
Pharaoh, principal wife (Great Royal Wife), other wives and concubines, royal sons and daughters.
What is court and high officials?Show answer
Vizier, priests, generals, governors, royal stewards.
What is priesthood?Show answer
Hierarchical. Chief priests of major temples accumulated significant power.
What is scribal administration?Show answer
Literate bureaucrats running the administrative system. Trained in scribal schools.