Hatshepsut - Foreign Policy

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Hatshepsut’s Foreign Policy Military Over the years the opinions of scholars has changed on military activities of Hatshepsut. Wilson said in 1951 “she records no military campaigns or conquests” and Gardiner said in 1961 that her reign was “barren of any military enterprise except an unimportant raid into Nubia”. Few scholars would agree with these statements today. Based on a wider range of evidence, scholars today recognise that Hatshepsut pursued the traditional military policy of a ‘warrior pharaoh’. Speos Artemidos What she claims in this inscription She strengthened the army She is powerful Instils fear within the enemy Emphasises the expulsion of the Hyksos and maintaining it Uses oracles to emphasise that she is conqueror Achievements she emphasises Building program Army Fear within enemy Trade She emphasises her military role in the Speos Artemidos by calling herself a conqueror, boasting about the expulsion of Hyksos and the fear of her enemies. Therefore, it is clear that Hatshepsut conducted campaigns to Nubia and to a lesser extent in Syria-Palestine Some of these campaigns were commanded by her co-regent Thutmose II Hatshepsut depicted herself in full ‘warrior pharaoh’ regalia. In her coronation scene on one of her Karnak obelisks, she is shown wearing the blue war crown (kepresh) Many scholars still support the view provided by Wilson and compare her reign to that of Thutmose III Important: wasn’t unusual for queens to take part in military matters. Ahhotep lead a military rebellion. Hatshepsut was influenced by early 18th Dynasty queens. In fact, queens continued to play a significant role after Hatshepsut. Historians never criticised male Pharaohs who did not take interest in military matters. For example Thutmose II is not described as a pacifist. Trade Trade was an important feature of Hatshepsut’s foreign policy.
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