Betsy Bryan – Emerita Professor of Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Johns Hopkins University

The Egyptian empire built during the early New Kingdom was the result of wealth accumulation from the gold of Nubia, combined with small and large wars with the Mitanni in Syria and their vassal states in the rest of the Levant.

As Egypt’s rulers became accustomed to campaigning in the north, they created a loose but highly promoted imperial structure made up of southern vassal city states held since early in the 18th Dynasty together with northern Mitanni vassals won over by Thutmose III and his successors. Yet holding this confederation together proved far harder than winning them had been, even after a peace treaty with the Mitanni rulers.

Already in the Amarna era the Hittites were pressing the northern vassals to change their fealty. This discussion will survey the entire period and demonstrate how nearly inevitable was the one of the most famous clashes of the ancient world: the Battle of Kadesh between Pharaoh Ramses II and the Hittites.

Contact Donald Kane for more information: baf.jccgw@gmail.com

All Bender JCC programs are open to everyone. Contact Kate Falls, Director of Inclusion, at kfalls@benderjccgw.org or 301.348.3767 to discuss support and accommodations.