HSIE: Ramses II
Learning Resources
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This learning material from the free online Britannica resource (citation below),
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Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ramses-II-king-of-Egypt
Authors: Raymond Oliver Faulkner & Peter F. Falkner
Section 1: Introduction to Ramses II
Overview
This section provides a brief introduction to Ramses II, outlining his reign, military exploits, and his legacy as one of the most notable pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
Key Summary Points
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Ramses II was the third king of the 19th dynasty of ancient Egypt.
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His reign lasted from 1279–1213 BCE, making it the second longest in Egyptian history.
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He is renowned for his military campaigns and extensive building projects.
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Numerous statues of Ramses II are found throughout Egypt, cementing his legacy.
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Full Text
Ramses II (flourished 13th century BCE) was the third king of the 19th dynasty (1292–1191 BCE) of ancient Egypt whose reign (1279–1213 BCE) was the second longest in Egyptian history. In addition to his wars with the Hittites and Libyans, he is known for his extensive building programs and for the many colossal statues of him found all over Egypt.
Comprehension Quiz
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Which dynasty did Ramses II belong to?
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How long did Ramses II reign as king of Egypt?
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Name two areas of achievement for which Ramses II is well-known.
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Besides his building programs, what other activity is Ramses II noted for?
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Why is Ramses II considered one of the most significant pharaohs in Egyptian history?
Higher-Order Thinking Questions
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Analyse how Ramses II’s military achievements might have influenced his popularity and reputation in ancient Egypt.
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Discuss how the construction of numerous colossal statues could have been used to assert Ramses II's power and legacy throughout Egypt.
Section 2: Background and Early Years of Reign
Overview
This section describes Ramses II’s family background, focusing on their rise to power after the reign of Akhenaton. It also outlines Ramses II's early grooming for kingship, his training in military campaigns, and the construction of his residence city.
Key Summary Points
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Ramses II's family came to power after the religious reforms of Akhenaton.
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His father, Seti I, restored Egypt's control in Asia through military campaigns.
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Ramses was given a special status as regent and trained for kingship from a young age.
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Ramses II built the residence city of Per Ramessu for his campaigns in Asia.
Full Text
Ramses’ family, of nonroyal origin, came to power some decades after the reign of the religious reformer Akhenaton (Amenhotep IV, 1353–36 BCE) and set about restoring Egyptian power in Asia, which had declined under Akhenaton and his successor, Tutankhamen. Ramses’ father, Seti I, subdued a number of rebellious princes in Palestine and southern Syria and waged war on the Hittites of Anatolia in order to recover those provinces in the north that during the recent troubles had passed from Egyptian to Hittite control. Seti achieved some success against the Hittites at first, but his gains were only temporary, for at the end of his reign the enemy was firmly established on the Orontes River at Kadesh, a strong fortress defended by the river, which became the key to their southern frontier.
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During his reign, Seti gave the crown prince Ramses, the future Ramses II, a special status as regent. Seti provided him with a kingly household and harem, and the young prince accompanied his father on his campaigns, so that when he came to sole rule, he already had experience of kingship and war. It is noteworthy that Ramses was designated as successor at an unusually young age, as if to ensure that he would, in fact, succeed to the throne. He ranked as a captain of the army while still only 10 years old; at that age, his rank must surely have been honorific, though he may well have been receiving military training.
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Because his family’s home was in the Nile River delta, and in order to have a convenient base for campaigns in Asia, Ramses built for himself a full-scale residence city called Per Ramessu (“House of Ramses”; biblical Raamses), which was famous for its beautiful layout, with gardens, orchards, and pleasant waters. Each of its four quarters had its own presiding deity: Amon in the west, Seth in the south, the royal cobra goddess, Wadjet, in the north, and, significantly, the Syrian goddess Astarte in the east. A vogue for Asian deities had grown up in Egypt, and Ramses himself had distinct leanings in that direction.
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Comprehension Quiz
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Who was Ramses II's father, and what role did he play in restoring Egyptian power?
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What was the significance of Ramses II being made a regent at a young age?
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Why was the city of Per Ramessu built, and what was it known for?
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What were the four deities associated with the quarters of Per Ramessu?
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How did Ramses II's early life prepare him for his future rule?
Higher-Order Thinking Questions
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Evaluate how the military campaigns of Seti I might have influenced Ramses II’s approach to leadership and military strategy.
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Discuss the cultural significance of the incorporation of Asian deities in Ramses II's residence city.
Section 3: The Personal Life and Family of Ramses II
Overview
This section covers Ramses II's personal life, his queens, and his large family. It also discusses the physical representation of Ramses II in statues and his mummy, highlighting the impact of his personal image on his legacy.
Key Summary Points
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Ramses II's first and favorite queen was Nefertari.
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He had several other queens, including Isinofre and a Hittite princess.
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Ramses II had over 100 children, and his large family was a point of pride.
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His best-known statue is in the Egyptian Museum of Turin, and his mummy is in Cairo.
Full Text
Of Ramses’ personal life, virtually nothing is known. His first and perhaps favorite queen was Nefertari; the smaller temple at Abu Simbel was dedicated to her. She seems to have died comparatively early in the reign, and her fine tomb in the Valley of the Queens at Thebes is well known. Other queens whose names are preserved were Isinofre, who bore the king four sons, among whom was Ramses’ eventual successor, Merneptah; Merytamun; and Matnefrure, the Hittite princess. In addition to the official queen or queens, the king possessed a large harem, as was customary, and he took pride in his great family of well over 100 children.
The best portrait of Ramses II is a fine statue of him as a young man, now in the Egyptian Museum of Turin; his mummy, preserved in the Egyptian Museum at Cairo, is that of a very old man with a long narrow face, prominent nose, and massive jaw.
Comprehension Quiz
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Who was Ramses II's first and possibly favorite queen?
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How many children did Ramses II have, and why was this significant?
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Which queen bore Ramses II's successor, Merneptah?
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Where can Ramses II's best-known statue and mummy be found today?
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What does the description of Ramses II's mummy tell us about his appearance in old age?
Higher-Order Thinking Questions
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Discuss how Ramses II’s portrayal in statues and his mummy might have contributed to his image as a powerful and enduring ruler.
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Analyze how having a large family, including multiple queens and children, might have influenced the politics and stability of Ramses II's reign.
Section 4: Prosperity During the Reign of Ramses II
Overview
This section describes the prosperity of Egypt during Ramses II’s reign, highlighting his extensive temple-building activities, completion of previous projects, and the construction of his own temples. His reign was marked by wealth, military power, and grand architectural projects.
Key Summary Points
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Ramses II's reign was marked by extensive building activities, including temples and colossal statues.
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He completed and expanded projects initiated by previous rulers, such as the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.
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His building projects, especially in Nubia, emphasized his power and devotion to the gods.
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Ramses II's construction efforts contributed significantly to his legacy as "Ramses the Great."
Full Text
One measure of Egypt’s prosperity is the amount of temple building the kings could afford to carry out, and on that basis, the reign of Ramses II is the most notable in Egyptian history, even making allowance for its great length. It was that, combined with his prowess in war as depicted in the temples, that led the Egyptologists of the 19th century to dub him “the Great,” and that, in effect, is how his subjects and posterity viewed him; to them, he was the king par excellence. Nine kings of the 20th dynasty (c. 1190–c. 1077 BCE) called themselves by his name; even in the period of decline that followed, it was an honor to be able to claim descent from him, and his subjects called him by the affectionate abbreviation Sese.
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In Egypt, he completed the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak (Thebes) and continued work on the temple built by Seti I at Abydos, both of which were left incomplete at the latter’s death. Ramses also completed his father’s funerary temple on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor (Thebes) and built one for himself, which is now known as the Ramesseum. At Abydos, he built a temple of his own not far from that of his father; there were also the four major temples in his residence city, not to mention lesser shrines.
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In Nubia (Nilotic Sudan), he constructed no fewer than six temples, of which the two carved out of a cliffside at Abu Simbel, with their four colossal statues of the king, are the most magnificent and the best known. The larger of the two was begun under Seti I but was largely executed by Ramses, while the other was entirely due to Ramses. In addition to the construction of Per Ramessu, his most notable secular work so far as is known included the sinking of a well in the eastern desert on the route to the Nubian gold mines.
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Comprehension Quiz
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What measure is used to assess Egypt's prosperity during Ramses II's reign?
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What are some of the major building projects Ramses II completed in Egypt?
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How did Ramses II contribute to his father's temple at Abydos?
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How many temples did Ramses II build in Nubia, and which ones are the most well-known?
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Why was Ramses II referred to as "the Great" by later historians and his subjects?
Higher-Order Thinking Questions
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Evaluate the significance of Ramses II's temple-building activities in Nubia in terms of political and religious influence.
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Analyze how the completion of previous kings' projects might have contributed to Ramses II's reputation as a great ruler.
Section 5: Prosperity and Building Projects
Overview
This section focuses on Ramses II's extensive building projects throughout Egypt and Nubia. It highlights his completion of existing monuments and the construction of new temples, emphasizing the grandeur and prosperity of his reign.
Key Summary Points
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Ramses II completed monumental projects, including the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.
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He built the Ramesseum and temples in his residence city, Per Ramessu.
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In Nubia, Ramses II constructed six temples, including the famous Abu Simbel.
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His building projects reinforced his legacy and portrayed him as a powerful, god-like ruler.
Full Text
In Egypt, he completed the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak (Thebes) and continued work on the temple built by Seti I at Abydos, both of which were left incomplete at the latter’s death. Ramses also completed his father’s funerary temple on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor (Thebes) and built one for himself, which is now known as the Ramesseum. At Abydos, he built a temple of his own not far from that of his father; there were also the four major temples in his residence city, not to mention lesser shrines.
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In Nubia (Nilotic Sudan), he constructed no fewer than six temples, of which the two carved out of a cliffside at Abu Simbel, with their four colossal statues of the king, are the most magnificent and the best known. The larger of the two was begun under Seti I but was largely executed by Ramses, while the other was entirely due to Ramses. In addition to the construction of Per Ramessu, his most notable secular work so far as is known included the sinking of a well in the eastern desert on the route to the Nubian gold mines.
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Comprehension Quiz
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Which significant project did Ramses II complete at Karnak?
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How many temples did Ramses II build in Nubia, and which are the most famous?
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What is the Ramesseum, and why is it significant?
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How did Ramses II continue his father’s architectural legacy?
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What secular construction did Ramses II undertake in Nubia, and why was it important?
Higher-Order Thinking Questions
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Analyze the significance of Ramses II’s building projects in establishing his image as a powerful, divine ruler.
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Discuss how the construction of temples in Nubia might have served both religious and political purposes during Ramses II's reign.
Section 6: Military Exploits – Detailed Battles and Strategies
Overview
This section focuses on Ramses II’s military strategies, particularly during the Battle of Kadesh. It outlines the maneuvers, mistakes, and outcomes of the battle, emphasizing Ramses II's tactical skills despite the strategic failure.
Key Summary Points
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Ramses II’s military campaigns were crucial to his status as a great king.
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The Battle of Kadesh involved detailed maneuvers and strategic challenges.
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Ramses II faced unexpected ambushes but managed to achieve a tactical victory.
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The battle was heavily documented, reflecting Ramses II’s pride in his military exploits.
Full Text
Fortunately for the king, at the crisis of the battle, the Simyra task force appeared on the scene to make its junction with the main army and thus saved the situation. The result of the battle was a tactical victory for the Egyptians, in that they remained masters of the stricken field, but a strategic defeat in that they did not and could not take Kadesh. Neither army was in a fit state to continue action the next day, so an armistice was agreed, and the Egyptians returned home. The Battle of Kadesh is one of the very few from pharaonic times of which there are real details, and that is because of the king’s pride in his stand against great odds; pictures and accounts of the campaign, both an official record and a long poem on the subject, were carved on temple walls in Egypt and Nubia, and the poem is also extant on papyrus.
Comprehension Quiz
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What was the outcome of the Battle of Kadesh for Ramses II?
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How did the Simyra task force influence the result of the Battle of Kadesh?
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Why is the Battle of Kadesh one of the most detailed battles documented in ancient Egyptian history?
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What was the significance of the tactical victory achieved by Ramses II during the Battle of Kadesh?
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Why did neither army continue action the day after the battle?
Higher-Order Thinking Questions
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Evaluate the effectiveness of Ramses II's military strategy during the Battle of Kadesh in achieving his long-term goals.
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Discuss how Ramses II's documentation of the battle might have shaped historical perspectives on his military leadership.