EGYPT AND AFRICA IN THE 1000 B.C.E. PERIOD.

Egypt and Africa in the 1000 B.C.E. Period



Egypt and Africa in the 1000 B.C.E. Period

Comparison and Contrast of Africa and Egypt

At the passing away of Ramesses XI, the throne passed to Smendes, a northern relative of the High Priest of Amun. Smendes' reign (ca. 1070-1044 B.C.) started some 350 years of politically divided rule and disseminated power, known as the Third Intermediate Period. The Third Intermediate Period laid the basis for many changes that are observable in art and culture throughout the first millennium. Though its items are still not fully clear, this period of Egyptian history can be divided into three general stages. Throughout the first of these, Dynasty 21 (ca. 1070-945 B.C.), Egypt was ruled by pharaohs ruling from Tanis in the eastern Delta and by the High Priests of Amun ruling from Thebes. Relations amongst the two centers of power were in general good. (Touval,1982)

The instant stage began in 945 B.C., when the throne passed to a powerful family of Libyan descent, ruling in the eastern Delta. Egypt's erstwhile western enemies now became its rulers for the following two centuries (Dynasty 22, ca. 945-712 B.C.). Despite their Libyan origin, these pharaohs dominated as native Egyptians. The first of them, Sheshonq I (ca. 945-924 B.C.), is the most crucial. (Al-Sayyid, 1968)

Under Takelot II (ca. 850-825 B.C.), the control of Dynasty 22 began to weaken, and a new power center—now known as Dynasty 23 (ca. 818-712 B.C.)—arose in the eastern Delta. The two dynasties governed Egypt simultaneously for approximately ninety years, the final stage of the Third Intermediate Period.

At the beginning of the last millennium B.C. Kush (or Nubia) was an area of fertile grassland, although now it is desert. Prosperity then in the area depended on exports of ivory, ebony, ...