The 6 Greatest Empires to Exist in the Years B.C

2. The Egyptian Empire 1550 – 1077 B.C.

While the Egyptian civilization extended long before and long after this period, the Egyptian empire largely refers to the New Kingdom period of the Egyptian civilization. During this period the Egyptian Empire reached its territorial peak. During the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th dynasties the Egyptian empire sought to increase its borders to have a buffer against the Levant and to maintain control against the powerful Kush.

This was the period of Egyptian history that saw many of the Pharaohs and monuments that ancient Egypt has become known for. Thutmose III expanded the army and consolidated the empire during his reign in the 18^th dynasty. He was followed by other famous pharaohs such as Amenhotep III and Tutankhamun. The 19^th and 20^th dynasties included the Ramesses pharaohs who went on a prolonged military campaign that had some victories but largely weakened the empire until it was taken over by Smendes.

The New Kingdom period was marked by some of the most impressive structures of the ancient world, including the funeral complex built by Ramesses II for his sons which is the largest of all the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. This period of the Egyptian Empire was one of art and tombs, with pharaohs moving away from pyramids and choosing tombs carved into the rock instead. The New Kingdom is responsible for the famous Valley of the Kings.

At the height of its empire, the Egyptians controlled over 380,000 square miles and about 5 million people. Today it is remembered not for its size or its population but for the tombs and history that it has left behind. The Egyptian Empire is one of the most researched, recognized and understood empires in the ancient world, largely because of how much survived due to the protection of the tombs.