Hatshepsut
- female ruler around
- 1470 BCE
- wore beard to symbolize power
- husband was Tutmosis II
- Tuthmosis III was her stepson
- first powerful female leader
- ruler in own right
- peace & prosperity
- expanded trade
- built massive tomb & 2 obelisks
- death-unknown
Tuthmosis III
- inherited throne from father through stepmom
- around 1450 BCE
- training in military
- “Napoleon of Egypt”
- gained wealth because of military and conquering background
- expanded empire to its greatest state
Akhenaton
- aka Amenhotep IV
- around 1350 BCE
- changed god from Amon-Re to Aton
- closed temples
- new capital of Egypt Akhenaton (city)
- oddly shaped head and pot belly (actually portrayed flaws in his art)
- made monotheistic religion with Aton
- responsible for decline of Egypt > neglected duties as so concerned with religion
Tutankhamum
- son of Akhenaton
- around 1334 BCE
- aka Tuankaton
- came to “power” age 9
- age 18-dead
- moved capital back to Thebes
- restored polytheistic religion
- Howard Carter discovered tomb in 1922
- biggest find of tomb and treasures still intact
- wasn’t really great pharaoh but b/c of find, we know more about him
Ramses II
- around 1290 BCE
- ruled for 67 years!
- constructed many huge statues, buildings
- ruled during Moses
- used Jewish slave
- last truly great pharaoh
- last period of peace and stability
- built more than any other king
Cleopatra
- around 30 BCE
- not of Egyptian lineage; from Ptolemy who was general in Alexander’s army (Greek)
- last independent ruler of Egypt
- seduced Caesar and then fell in love with Mark Antony
- committed suicide with Antony with Octavian forces invaded Egypt
- after her death Egypt ruled as Roman
