The New Kingdom, also known as the Egyptian Empire, spanned from the 16th to the 11th century BCE, encompassing the Eighteenth to Twentieth Dynasties. It followed the Second Intermediate Period and preceded the Third Intermediate Period. This era, established between 1570 and 1544 BCE^[58] through radiocarbon dating, was Egypt's most prosperous and powerful phase.^[59]

The Eighteenth Dynasty featured renowned pharaohs like Ahmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten, and Tutankhamun. Ahmose I, considered the dynasty's founder, reunified Egypt and campaigned in the Levant.^[60] His successors, Amenhotep I and Thutmose I, continued military campaigns in Nubia and the Levant, with Thutmose I being the first pharaoh to cross the Euphrates.^[61]

Hatshepsut, Thutmose I's daughter, emerged as a powerful ruler, reinstating trade networks and commissioning significant architectural projects.^[62] Thutmose III, known for his military prowess, expanded Egypt's empire extensively.^[63] Amenhotep III, one of the wealthiest pharaohs, is notable for his architectural contributions.

One of the best-known eighteenth dynasty pharaohs is Amenhotep IV, who changed his name to Akhenaten in honour of the Aten, a representation of the Egyptian god, Ra. By the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Egypt's status had changed radically. Aided by Akhenaten's apparent lack of interest in international affairs, the Hittites had gradually extended their influence into the Levant to become a major power in international politics—a power that both Seti I and his son Ramesses II would confront during the nineteenth Dynasty. The dynasty concluded with rulers Ay and Horemheb, who rose from official ranks.^[64]

The Nineteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt was established by Vizier Ramesses I, appointed by the last ruler of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Pharaoh Horemheb. Ramesses I's short reign served as a transitional period between Horemheb's rule and the era of more dominant pharaohs. His son, Seti I, and grandson, Ramesses II, were particularly instrumental in elevating Egypt to unprecedented levels of imperial strength and prosperity. This dynasty marked a significant phase in Egyptian history, characterized by strong leadership and expansionist policies.

The Twentieth Dynasty's most notable pharaoh, Ramesses III, faced invasions by the Sea Peoples and Libyans, managing to repel them but at great economic cost.^[65] His reign ended with internal strife, setting the stage for the decline of the New Kingdom. The dynasty's end was marked by weak rulership, eventually leading to the rise of local powers like the High Priests of Amun and Smendes in Lower Egypt, signifying the onset of the Third Intermediate Period.