Ancient+Egypt-+the+eighteenth+dynasty

This kingdom is probably one of the most famous periods of late Egyptian history due to its leader Tutankhamun. ^(above) the mask that Pharoah Tutankhamun was most famous for.

One of the youngest pharoahs to have ever reigned. He was pharoah to what was named 'The New Kingdom'. His original name, Tutankhaten, means "Living Image of [|Aten]", while Tutankhamun means "Living Image of [|Amun]".Tutankhamun was only eight or nine years old when he became pharaoh, and reigned for approximately ten years. In historical terms, Tutankhamun's significance stems from his rejection of the radical religious innovations introduced by his predecessor [|Akenhaten] and that his tomb in the [|Valley of the Kings] was discovered almost completely intact -- the most complete ancient Egyptian tomb ever found. As Tutankhamun began his reign at such an early age, his vizier and eventual successor [|Ay] was probably making most of the important political decisions during Tutankhamun's reign. This is something than can be interconnected with other kingdoms that were ruled by young leaders, as they were not considered wise or mature enough to handle the task of running an empire completely on their own. During Tutankhamun's reign, Akhenaten's [|Amarna] revolution ([|Atenism]) was being reversed. Akhenaten had attempted to supplant the traditional priesthood and [|deities] with a god who was until then considered minor, [|Aten]. In Year 3 of Tutankhamnen's reign (1331), while he was still a boy, probably about 11, and under the influence of two older advisors (Akhenaten's [|vizier] [|Ay] and perhaps [|Nefertiti]), the ban on the old [|pantheon] of [|deities] and their [|temples] was lifted, the traditional privileges were restored to their priesthoods, and the capital was moved back to [|Thebes]. The young pharaoh adopted the name Tutankhamun, changing it from his birth name Tutankhaten. Because of his age at the time responsibility for these decisions can be attributed to his advisors. King Tutankhamun restored all of the traditional [|deities], and restored order to the chaos created by his uncle Akhenaten. In addition, temples devoted to [|Amun-Ra] were built during this period.

This timeline is an indication of the other leaders/pharoahs that were ruling the great lands of Egypt during the eighteenth dynasty.

One of the most astonishing facts about Egypt is how little everyday life changed over the millennia. The rhythm of Egyptian life was the rhythm of the Nile until a few years ago, when the Aswan dam was erected. Even today one can find the ancient shadoof, oxen pulling ploughs and houses made of mud bricks. The gods are gone, so are the pharaohs, the language and the writing. The cities look European in a ramshackle sort of way, transportation is partly 20th century, there's some industry, and radio and television are everywhere. But villages in the farther off corners of the country must still look very much like those of thousands of years ago. This dynasty was probably one of the most remembered dynasties and well known out of all the others. This is due to its reputation for having had leaders of very young ages as well as the internal dramatic theories and disruptions within the kingdom. This dynasty is one of the most interesting in many peoples opinions due to the changes in culture and the other changes that moved it from the archaic it society it once was to the thriving one it is now.
 * The great land today:**