Osprey Elite 40 : New Kingdom Egypt

Builders of the Pyramids and most ancient of all the powers of the biblical world, the Egyptians remain one of history's most fascinating and enigmatic peoples. During the New Kingdom era, Egypt reached the peak of its power, wealth, and territory. The government was reorganised into a military state with an administration centralised in the hands of the pharaoh and his chief minister. Through the intensive military campaigns of Pharaoh Thutmose III (1490-1436 B.C.), Palestine, Syria, and the northern Euphrates area in Mesopotamia were all brought within the New Kingdom. This territorial expansion involved Egypt in a complicated system of diplomacy, alliances, and treaties. After Thutmose III established the empire, succeeding pharaohs frequently engaged in warfare to defend the state against the pressures of Libyans from the west, Nubians and Ethiopians (Kushites) from the south, Hittites from the east, and Philistines (sea people) from the Aegean-Mediterranean region of the north. Mark Healy outlines the history, organisation and dress of the New Kingdom Egyptians in this book packed with accompanying illustrations and photographs, including 12 full page colour plates by Angus McBride.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• The Rule of the Hyksos
• The Limits of Conquest
• The Military State
• The New Kingdom Army at War
• The Battle of Megiddon
• The Hittite Threat
• The Battle of Qadesh The Sea Peoples
• The Plates