Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt

The Eighteenth Dynasty was founded by Ahmose, the son of Kamose, the last ruler of the Seventeenth Dynasty. Ahmose finished the campaign to expel the hated Hyksos rulers. With this dynasty, the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt ended, and the New Kingdom of Egypt or the Egyptian Empire began.

Highlights of this dynasty include: Queen Hatshepsut, who effectively ruled during the minority of her son, but was later considered a usurper; the first formal relations with foreign countries under Amenhotep III, of which some records were included in the el Amarna letters; the first expression of monotheism under Akhenaton, but whose religion offended many in power, and who late suffered damnatio memoriae. Although modern students consider the monotheism of Akhenaton the most important event of this period, for centuries this period was best known as when the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt.

Because of the antipathy Akhenaton caused by his devotion to his God Aten, this dynasty fell from power and the last two rulers were originally members of the court.

See: History of Ancient Egypt