--- title: "Egypt and Its Neighbours" description: "Examine Egypt's trade and conflicts with Nubia, the Levant and Punt. Explain settlement before Hyksos rule, the spread of horse-drawn chariots, and New Kingdom expansion. Distinguish the Battle of Kad" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/egypt-and-its-neighbours-mt_NnlnxCx1DO source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/egypt-and-its-neighbours-mt_NnlnxCx1DO.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Egypt and Its Neighbours Examine Egypt's trade and conflicts with Nubia, the Levant and Punt. Explain settlement before Hyksos rule, the spread of horse-drawn chariots, and New Kingdom expansion. Distinguish the Battle of Kadesh from the Egypt-Hittite treaty agreed years later, one of the earliest surviving written peace agreements between states. Subject: History · Area: Ancient Egypt · Ages 12 to 13 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/egypt-and-its-neighbours-mt_NnlnxCx1DO ## Ready when they can - Describe trade links with Nubia and Punt, naming imports from each and examples of Egyptian exports without assuming every partner exchanged identical goods - Explain how settlement and Hyksos rule connected Egypt with military technologies from western Asia, including horse-drawn chariots - Distinguish the Battle of Kadesh under Ramesses II from the later Egypt-Hittite treaty and explain the value of its surviving written versions ## Lesson: Egypt and Its Neighbours You have learned that trade brought goods into Egypt. Nubia lay south of Egypt, in parts of present-day Egypt and Sudan. Gold, ivory and ebony reached Egypt through Nubia. Travelling south meant going upriver, against the Nile's northward flow. Rapids and land routes affected journeys. Egypt also fought for control of Nubian territory and resources. Egyptian expeditions reached Punt through Red Sea networks. Its exact location is uncertain, though it is associated with the southern Red Sea region. Punt supplied incense, including myrrh, a scented tree resin. Egyptian exports included grain, linen cloth and tools. Records do not give an identical exchange list for every partner, so we should not assume each received the same goods. *(drawing: Hyksos rule followed earlier settlement from western Asia. Egyptian reunification then began the New Kingdom.)* People from western Asia settled in northern Egypt before Hyksos rulers took control around 1650 BCE. The Hyksos ruled there for about a century. Their rule is associated with the spread of horse-drawn chariots and composite bows in Egypt. A composite bow combines different materials. Egyptian rulers defeated the Hyksos around 1550 BCE, but kept using these military technologies. After reunification, New Kingdom rulers expanded into Nubia and the Levant, beside the eastern Mediterranean. An empire controls territories beyond its original homeland. Chariots became part of Egypt's armies, but soldiers, supplies and leadership also mattered. Keeping technology associated with former enemies shows that Egyptians could adopt useful ideas from other societies. In 1274 BCE, Ramesses II fought the Hittite army under Muwatalli II at Kadesh, in present-day Syria. Egypt and the Hittites competed for influence in the Levant. Ramesses claimed victory, but did not capture Kadesh, which remained under Hittite control. The battle did not settle the rivalry. A treaty followed about fifteen years later, not immediately after the battle. *(drawing: The battle and treaty were separate events, about fifteen years apart.)* Ramesses II agreed the treaty with Hattusili III, a different Hittite king from Muwatalli II. It promised peace and mutual help. Egyptian and Hittite versions survive as evidence of diplomacy: managing relations through negotiation and agreements. It is one of the earliest surviving written peace agreements between states. Earlier treaties existed, so it did not begin diplomacy or end all wars. **Recap.** Egypt traded with neighbours, adopted technologies linked with Hyksos rule, expanded abroad, and negotiated a treaty with the Hittites years after Kadesh. *Lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset. Historical background included references on Hyksos rule, Egyptian trade and the Egypt-Hittite treaty.* ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Egyptian Trade and Economy](https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/egyptian-trade-and-economy-mt_5OxKnrGEMP) ## Opens up - [Fall of Ancient Egyptian Civilisation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/history/fall-of-ancient-egyptian-civilisation-mt_5qNMVZi3dQ)