Egypt from 1075 bce to the Macedonian invasion

Question 1

The Third Intermediate period (1075–656 bce)

The 21st dynasty

Answer 1

• At the end of the New Kingdom, Egypt was divided. The north was inherited by the Tanite 21st dynasty (1075–c. 950 bce), and although much of the southern Nile River valley came under the control of the Theban priests, there is no indication of conflict between the priests and the Tanite kings
• high priests’ activities included the pious rewrapping and reburial of New Kingdom royal mummies
• After the demise of Egypt’s Asian empire, the kingdom of Israel eventually developed under the kings David and Solomon

Question 2

Libyan rule: the 22nd and 23rd dynasties

Answer 2

• The fifth king of the 21st dynasty, Osorkon I (ruled c. 979–c. 973 bce), was of Libyan descent and probably was an ancestor of the 22nd dynasty, which followed a generation later
• The initially successful 22nd dynasty revived Egyptian influence in Palestine
• The latter part of the dynasty was marked by fragmentation of the land: Libyan great chiefs ruled numerous local areas, and there were as many as six local rulers in the land at a time
• From the 9th century bce a local Cushite state, which looked to Egyptian traditions from the colonial period of the New Kingdom, arose in the Sudan and developed around the old regional capital of Napata.

Question 3

The Late period (664–332 bce)

Answer 3

• Assyria, unable to maintain a large force in Egypt, supported several delta vassal princes, including the powerful Psamtik I of Sais
• The Saite dynasty generally pursued a foreign policy that avoided territorial expansion and tried to preserve the status quo
• Apries (ruled 589–570 bce), tried unsuccessfully to end Babylonian domination of Palestine and Syria
• As was common in the Middle East in that period, the Saite kings used foreigners as mercenaries to prevent foreign invasions.
• The revival of this period was both economic and cultural, but there is less archaeological evidence preserved than for earlier times because the economic centre of the country was now the delta, where conditions for the preservation of ancient sites were unfavourable
• The Late period was the time of the greatest development of animal worship in Egypt.

Question 4

Egypt under Achaemenid rule

The 27th dynasty

Answer 4

• According to the Greek historian Herodotus, who visited Egypt in about 450 bce, Cambyses II’s conquest of Egypt was ruthless and sacrilegious. Contemporary Egyptian sources, however, treat him in a more favourable light.
• The Persian defeat by the Athenians at Marathon in 490 bce had significant repercussions in Egypt. On Darius I’s death in 486 bce, a revolt broke out in the delta, perhaps instigated by Libyans of its western region. The result was that the Persian king Xerxes reduced Egypt to the status of a conquered province.

Question 5

The 28th, 29th, and 30th dynasties

Answer 5

• The death of Darius II in 404 bce prompted a successful rebellion in the Nile delta, and the Egyptian Amyrtaeus formed a Saite 28th dynasty, of which he was the sole king (404–399 bce).
• Despite growing prosperity and success in retaining independence, 4th-century Egypt was characterized by continual internal struggle for the throne.
• Egypt had a more aggressive foreign policy under Nectanebo’s son Tachos (ruled c. 365–360 bce).
• The 4th century bce was the last flourishing period of an independent Egypt and was a time of notable artistic and literary achievements.

Question 6

The second Persian period

Answer 6

• Artaxerxes dealt harshly with Egypt, razing city walls, rifling temple treasuries, and removing sacred books.
• Persian domination was reestablished in 335 bce under Darius III Codommanus. It was to last only three years.