Читать книгу Art History For Dummies - Jesse Bryant Wilder - Страница 113

The Middle Kingdom ended when the Hyksos, an Asian people, conquered most of Lower Egypt in 1720 BC. The arts declined during this intermediate period, even though the Hyksos tended to respect Egyptian traditions. The decline ended in 1567 BC, when Ahmose I, the founder of the 18th dynasty, reunited Egypt, ushering in the New Kingdom. Egypt expanded into Nubia and Libya during this period, becoming an empire. This expansion spread the influence of Egyptian art far beyond its borders and also brought foreign influences into Egypt.

Pharaohs stopped building pyramids and began to be buried in the Valley of the Kings in rock-hewn tombs on the West Bank of the Nile near Thebes (modern-day Luxor). The naturalism trend continued in the New Kingdom, especially during the reigns of Hatshepsut and Ahkenaten.