A critical study of Ramesses II: His contributions to Egypt as the last great pharaoh

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

6 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

12/18/2008

Category :

History & geography

Sub category :

Ancient history

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Summary :

Introduction.
1. The dictionary definition of 'great'.
2. Events that led up to the nineteenth dynasty.
Standard set by the actions of Ramesses I and Sethos I in relation to Ramesses II.
1. Egypt: overcome by a series of conquests interjected by brief periods of regained Egyptian control.
2. Position as last 'great' king of Egypt.
Military endeavours.
1. Initial victory at Kadesh.
2. One unit stationed in Amor.
3. His vast military endeavours in comparison to those of Ramesses III.
4. The battle of Kadesh's uncertain outcome.
Little evidence of the financial status of the kingdom.
The workers commissioned into the service of their pharaoh and of religion for the building of the temples.
The vigour and dynamism by which he ruled his country.
Conclusion.

Abstract

The dictionary definition of "great" is: "of extraordinary powers; having unusual merit;" This definition fits with the interpretation of what it was to be great according to the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, especially those of the eighteenth and nineteenth dynasties. Sethos I and his predecessor ramesses I emulated the construction and foreign policy endeavours of their ancestors of the eighteenth dynasty such as Tuthmosis III and Amenophis III considering them to be the epitome of Egyptian grandeur. These eighteenth dynasty pharaohs had returned egypt to its more traditional roots after the reign of the Hyksos during the Second Intermediate Period, while the nineteenth dynasty had to do the same after the rule of Akhenaton. Following the reign of Amenophis III, his son Amenophis IV (later called Akhenaton) came to the throne of egypt. He destroyed the existing religious pantheon and made Aten (the sun) the principal god pushing the once great Amun to join the ranks of lesser gods establishing a quasi-monotheistic religion. Akhenaton was not interested in foreign policy as were his predecessors and during his reign the newly emerged Hittite kingdom took over egypt's allies, the Mittani.