![]() Today it is remembered not for its size or its population but for the tombs and history that it has left behind. The New Kingdom is responsible for the famous Valley of the Kings.Īt the height of its empire, the Egyptians controlled over 380,000 square miles and about 5 million people. 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 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. 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. He was followed by other famous pharaohs such as Amenhotep III and Tutankhamun. Thutmose III expanded the army and consolidated the empire during his reign in the 18 th dynasty. This was the period of Egyptian history that saw many of the Pharaohs and monuments that ancient Egypt has become known for. 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. During this period the Egyptian Empire reached its territorial peak. 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. ended the Mauryan dynasty and the peace and stability it had brought to the region. Spanning over 2 million square miles it was also one of the largest ancient empires ever to exist. The economy was so well managed it would later be compared to that of the Roman Empire.Īt its height the Maurya Empire ruled over nearly 60 million people, making it one of the most populated empires in ancient history. The empire also developed a profitable system of international trade with the Greek states and the Hellenic kingdoms. Chandragupta Maurya created a single currency throughout the empire which made it easier for farmers to sell their crops for a fair price. The stability of the empire led to a growing economy and a fair taxation system. A spy system gathered information on enemies both local and abroad. The empire also maintained one of the largest armies of its time with over 600,000 infantry, 9,000 war elephants and 30,000 cavalry. There was a vast infrastructure with a civil service that was in control of everything from trade with other empires to the hygiene of the local populace. The Empire was divided into four provinces, each headed by a royal prince who would govern as a representative of the King. In the final expansion under his reign, he drew the borders further south to encompass nearly all of modern day India by 300 B.C. ![]() Chandragupta expanded the borders to the Northwest following his victory over Seleucus I Nicator of the Seleucid Empire. At the time the empire spanned through the northern part of what is now modern day India. Chandragupta Maurya’s rise to power is largely unknown but his empire began when he conquered the Nanda Empire at just 20 years old. The Maurya Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya. Some you may know while others are often forgotten. These empires are chosen based not only on their size but on their influence on the world around them and the people and empires that would come after them. The first empires to conquer and change the world occurred in the years B.C. But few are very familiar with the early empires, those that existed in years long before the modern era, long before the medieval era. The Siege of Alesia ended Gallic independence from Rome and won a substantial victory for Caesar.Today many people are familiar with some of the great empires in history, those that spanned continents and ruled over millions, such as the Roman Empire, the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire. By the end of the battle, Vercingetorix was surrendered to Caesar. His investment paid off, as the Gauls failed to break the Roman defenses despite numerous attempts, further weakening themselves. He ordered the construction of numerous, heavily fortified forts to encircle and blockade the city so that he could “starve out” the Gallic forces. The battle itself is considered to be one of Caesar’s greatest military achievements due to his use of a circumvallation around Alesia. With a force of 12 legions (approximately 60,000 men) and 120,000 Gaul allied-auxiliaries, Caesar besieged a Gallic force nearly four times the size of his. In the final engagement between Rome and Gaul, Caesar conducted one of the most tactful sieges in history. By September 52 BC, the forces of Julius Caesar were facing a confederation of Gallic tribes commanded by Vercingetorix.
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