Seti I - Foreign POlicy

Question 1

Known as?

Answer 1

• ‘One of the greatest pharaohs of Egypt’ (J.Dunn)

* ‘Great Warrior King’ – Ancient (foreign policy Syria and Palestine)

Question 2

What were his main aims during his reign?

Answer 2

• To restore the areas of Syria that had been part of the Egyptian Empire following Thutmose III’s conquests/military strategy
To create buildings which reflected the magnificence of Amenhotep’s (tradition and quality) tried to emulate him

Question 3

What did he begin in order to counteract instability of Amarna period?

Answer 3

• began an extensive building program and committed to foreign policy. To legitmise his reign

Question 4

What was his ultimate objective?

Answer 4

to conquer the lands of Kadesh and Amurru -> needed to follow the 3 step plan strategy of Thutmose III.

Question 5

What was the 3 step plan of Thutmose III?

Answer 5

1. Gain firm hold on Palestine
2. Control the seaports along the Phoenician coast (resources, wealth, trade routes, control of coast)
3. Launch an attack on Syria from the coast. Inwards ->

Question 6

How many years did it take to achieve this goal and how do we know this?

Answer 6

According to inscriptions on walls of Temple of Karnak, he achieved this goal within the first 6 years of his reign. However, hard to provide clear chronological overview of his campaign, especially at Kadesh

Question 7

Where did he campaign?

Answer 7

Nubia, Palestine, Phoenicia, Syria and Libya.

Question 8

His military actions proved that he was?

Answer 8

was a strong, powerful warrior pharaoh, an image revived from the early 18th dynasty

Question 9

military actions secured and showed?

Answer 9

• Secured Egypt’s border (to an extent) to the North, South and West
• Showed his potential as military leader

Question 10

Military action satisfied his honour by being?

Answer 10

first pharaoh to capture city of Kadesh in over a century

Question 11

military actions proved that ….?

Answer 11

Egypt was still a force to be reckoned with, by subduing rebellious tribes and cities in Palestine and restoring much of Egypt’s former territory along the Phoenician coast

Question 12

cause of attack in Nubia? results of attack in Nubia?

Answer 12

a nomadic ppl called the Irem, were moving around the area of the 3rd cataract in Upper Egypt. They were planning to seize cattle, crops and land from Nile Valley

seti may not have led this campaign himself but he ordered military action against the troublesome group and was supposedly successful

Question 13

sources for attack against Nubia

Answer 13

rock inscription in Nubia records Seti ordering this military action

Question 14

cause for attack on Kadesh/Amurru

results of attack on Kadesh/Amurru

Answer 14

after capturing the Phoenician coastline, Seti moved to capture the cities to bring them under Egyptian control for the first time in 100 years

seti may have achieved his goal. However it was certainly short lived. He may have devised a peace treaty after the battle

Question 15

sources for attack against Kadesh/Amurru?

Answer 15

reliefs on hypostyle hall
hall at karnak depict battle
stela erected at scene of battle

Question 16

cause for attack on Libya

results of attack on Libya

Answer 16

the ppl were beginning to impinge upon Egyptian territory as they were pushed eastwards due to the influx of ‘sea ppl’

seti and his force dealt so effectively with this issue that the ppl did not present Egypt with problems for over a century

Question 17

sources for attack on Libya

Answer 17

not wel documented

recorded on walls of Temple of Karnak

Question 18

cause for attack on Palestine (and Phoenicia)

results for attack on Palestine (and Phoenicia)

Answer 18

as there was transition between monarchs, the Shoshu Bedoiun tribes revolted and their chief captured Egyptian garrison towns

seti was pleased to begin battle, moving with 3 divisions of his army and was victorious. He then moved to the Phoenician coastline, capturing port cities

Question 19

sources for attack on Palestine (and Phoenicia)

Answer 19

walls of karnak temple record seti’s delight

victory stela at Beth Shan records a victory