Tutankhamun's Armies: Battle and Conquest During Ancient Egypt's Late Eighteenth Dynasty [Hardcover]

John Coleman Darnell (Author), Colleen Manassa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0471743585 | ISBN-13: 978-0471743583 | Edition: 1

The force that forged an empire.

The furious thunder of thousands of hooves, the clatter and sheen of bronze armor sparkling in the desert sun, the crunch of wooden wheels racing across a rock-strewn battlefield-and leading this terrifying chariot charge, the gallant Pharaoh, the ribbons of his blue war crown streaming behind him as he launches yet another arrow into the panicking mass of his soon-to-be-routed enemies.

While scenes like the one depicted above did occur in ancient Egypt, they represent only one small aspect of the vast, complex, and sophisticated military machine that secured, defended, and expanded the borders of the empire during the late Eighteenth Dynasty.

In Tutankhamun's Armies, you'll discover the harsh reality behind the imperial splendor of the New Kingdom and gain a new appreciation for the formidable Egyptian army-from pharaoh to foot soldier. You'll follow "the heretic king" Akhenaten, his son Tutankhamun, and their three Amana-Period successors as they employ double-edge diplomacy and military might to defeat competing powers, quell internal insurrections, and keep reluctant subject states in line. This vivid and absorbing chronicle will forever change the way you think about the glories and riches of ancient Egypt.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'...very original little book...to vividly bring to life a particular period which many people are very interested in.' (TheBrowser.com, March 2011)

From the Inside Flap

Tutankhamun may have been the boy king, but he had a lot of muscle behind him, as did his father Akhenaten, "the heretic king," and their successors in the Eighteenth Dynasty. As you'll discover in Tutankhamun's Armies, the ancient Egyptian Empire could not and did not endure without two key elements: a strong king skilled in the physical arts of war as well as the mental disciplines of strategy and diplomacy; and a large, complex, and sophisticated armed force equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry for battle on land and sea.

Based on ancient Egyptian texts and diplomatic correspondence, inscriptions on stone monuments, and information gleaned, from a host of ancient artifacts and private tombs, this in-depth exploration of pharaoh's army fills a yawning gap in our understanding of ancient Egyptian military history, and thus, the civilization as a whole.

Yale University Egyptologists John Darnell and Colleen Manassa develop a vivid picture of the forces, engagements, weaponry, strategies, tactics, and political machinations that characterized warfare during the Amarna period of the New Kingdom (1550-1335) B.C.E). It was a time when great empires vied for power and mighty kings and wily princes went to any length to secure alliances and destroy their enemies.

From the daily experiences of the common soldier to the strategic decision s of pharaoh and his top generals, this engaging chronicle examines every aspect of the military life of the period. It reveals how the nature of warfare was transformed by the arrival of two powerful new weapons, the chariot and the composite bow, and explores subtle differences in the Egyptians' tactical approach depending on the nature and strength of the opposition, the terrain in which the conflict took place, and the political objective that Pharaoh hoped to achieve.

The authors also offer intriguing profiles of Egypt's enemies, including the powerful Hittite Empire of modern-day Turkey and the contentious city-states of Syria and Palestine. Closer to home were the on-again, off-again subject state of Nubia, the source of most of Egypt's gold, and the fierce monads of the Libyan Desert and mountains, where Egypt's chariots were of little use in battle.

Compete with a detailed introduction to the historical and geographical background of ancient Egypt and a concise history of military developments and actions in the pre-Amarna Period, Tutankhamun's Armies adds a new dimension to our understanding of ancient Egypt and the harsh reality behind its architectural splendor and dazzling treasures.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471743585
• ISBN-13: 978-0471743583
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise Account of the Amarna Period, February 20, 2008

By 

Bruce Trinque (Amston, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tutankhamun's Armies: Battle and Conquest During Ancient Egypt's Late Eighteenth Dynasty (Hardcover)

"Tutankhamun's Armies" sets out to be, more or less, a military history of the late Eighteenth Cynasty of Ancient Egytp, the Amarna period of Akhenaten and Nefertiti and Tutankhamen, but in reality the ground covered is much broader than that, providing comprehensive, if concise, descriptions of political and artistic currents of that interesting era. In fact, I cannot think of another book that provides in such a compact format such an illuminating account of the thorny question of who succeeded Akhenaten and what was behind the artistic direction of Eguyptian sculptures and paintings of that era; the authors construct a persuasive theological framework for what happened during Akhenaten's reign. The military aspects of that period -- the late 14th century BCE -- are not neglected, with an informed discussion of the weapons and tactics employed by the Egyptian army (and navy). Although the title makes use of the modern fame of Tutankamen -- otherwise a rather minor ruler -- the real focus of the book has a broader scope. Often, the reign of Akhenaten is dismissed as a period of international neglect on the part of a fuzzy-thinking, distracted pharoah, but the authors of "Tutankamun's Armies" instead argue that the Egyptian ruler pursued a hardnosed Realpolitik policy to protect Egyptian interests.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tutanhkamun's armies... and so much more, February 20, 2010

By 

R. B. Abbott "Richard - Old Testament Studies" (Southampton, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tutankhamun's Armies: Battle and Conquest During Ancient Egypt's Late Eighteenth Dynasty (Hardcover)

I can thoroughly recommend this book, based as it is on the authors' joint study of Egyptian New Kingdom military history. Don't be misled by the title - the book covers actions both before and after King Tut, with especial reference to Akhenaten and the Amarna period leading up to Tutankhamun's reign.

I was mainly drawn to this book for the content on the Asiatic scene, but have found the discussions of Egyptian forays and methods of control over Nubia equally fascinating, especially learning how the sheer geography of the region has steered military history not just in the ancient world but through into the British Empire's actions in the same area.

Their conclusions on Akhenaten - both his military activities and the religious thinking that lay behind it - will come as a surprise to many, but are solidly based on modern research, and are thoroughly documented for those who want to go back to the source material and check things out for themselves.

All in all a great book which I have no hesitation in recommending to others. Darnell and Manassa have successfully rewritten their scholarly research into a very accessible volume with potentially a much wider audience. If you are at all interested in current thinking on the military and political scene in the Amarna period and shortly after, this is definitely a book for you.

Re lordhoot's second complaint, Spalinger's "War in Ancient Egypt:" (ISBN 1405113723) contains such facts and figures, though is not as well written as this volume!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, January 4, 2008

By 

A Student Studying Ancient Egypt (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tutankhamun's Armies: Battle and Conquest During Ancient Egypt's Late Eighteenth Dynasty (Hardcover)

Contrary to the first reviewer, I found the writing style of this book to be very clear and informative. As a student of Ancient Egyptian history and religion, Darnell and Manassa's explanation of Akhenaten's religion and the reasons for his so-called revolution were well thought-out and supported by evidence in all cases; I was able to logically follow how they reached their conclusions on a very complex and difficult topic. Tutankhamen's Armies is relatively short (about 200 pages)--the extra pages are references, some of which are also excellent, highly recommended books. I would recommend this title to anyone seeking to gain not only a greater understanding of the military developments of the 18th Dynasty but also a feel for its general history.