More than 3,500 years ago, Rome was nothing more than a swamp and the Acropolis an empty stone, but Egypt was standing on the brink of its greatest age, the New Kingdom.
Egypt experienced an explosion of creativity, wealth and power that was the envy of the world. After defeating the Hyksos invaders, successive generations of pharaohs continued to expand, maintaining their empires through force and diplomacy.
In doing so, they earned Egypt a lot of gold, influence, and respect. These include; Ahmose, Hatshepsut, Tuthmos III, Amenhotep III, Akenhaten, Tutankhamen and Ramses III. Behind the mighty Egyptian empire lay abundant natural resources.
First up was the Nile, an ancient highway whose floodplains also provided vast swathes of fertile farmland, allowing Egypt to be self-sufficient, often free from famine. On the banks of the Nile, the humble papyrus plant was used to create a level of bureaucratic efficiency and cultural sophistication unprecedented in humanity.
Episodes: 1. The Warrior Pharaohs, 2. Pharaohs of the Sun, and 3. The Last Great Pharaoh.
