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Why did Egypt lose much of its territory in Syria during and after Akhenatenâs reign?
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Akhenaten
Akhenaten, sculpture in the Alexandria National Museum, Egypt.
During and after the reign of Akhenaten, Egypt lost significant control over its territories in Syria due to a combination of geopolitical shifts and regional instability.
The primary factors included:
- Geopolitical Rivalry: The region became a battleground for competing powers. The decline of the kingdom of Mitanni created a power vacuum that allowed for the resurgence of the Hittites under their king Suppiluliumas, who established firm dominion in northern Syria.12
- Regional Unrest: Local vassals and princes in Syria-Palestine frequently sought to throw off Egyptian authority. They often exploited the rivalry between the great powers to their own advantage, and many were supported by desert nomads who encouraged the disruption of Egyptian control.32
- Diplomatic Challenges: While the Amarna Letters provide evidence of this period, they are difficult to interpret because vassal rulers often exaggerated their plight to solicit military aid from the pharaoh.12
Ultimately, Egyptâs hold on these possessions became less secure than it had been under earlier pharaohs, leading to a collapse of influence that Akhenaten's immediate successors struggled to recover.132