Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History

Ramses the Great's 67-Year Reign: What Made It Last

Ramses II ruled Egypt for 67 years, longer than almost any other pharaoh. How did he hold onto power for so long in the volatile Late Bronze Age? This episode of Fexingo History explores the practical strategies behind his longevity: from his careful management of the priestly class at Karnak and Amun-Re's temple, to his strategic use of royal marriages including the famous Hittite peace treaty, to his unprecedented building program that employed thousands and kept the economy stable. We examine how Ramses balanced the competing powers of the Amun priesthood, the military elite, and the royal family, particularly his sons Khaemwaset and Merenptah. We also look at the role of the Deir el-Medina workmen's strike in Year 29, the earliest recorded labor action in history, and what it reveals about his rule. And we consider the succession crisis after his death that nearly unraveled the 19th Dynasty. From Per-Ramesses to the Valley of the Kings, this is the story of how one man kept a vast empire together for nearly seven decades. #RamsesII #AncientEgypt #19thDynasty #Kemet #Pharaoh #PerRamesses #Karnak #AmunRe #Khaemwaset #Merenptah #DeirElMedina #HittitePeace #LateBronzeAge #NewKingdom #Succession #BuildingProgram #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Nubian Campaigns and the Kushite Legacy

In this episode, Lucas and Luna delve into Ramses the Great's military campaigns in Nubia, exploring how he secured Egypt's southern frontier and exploited the region's vast resources. They discuss the annexation of Kush, the construction of temples like Wadi es-Sebua and Beit el-Wali, and the role of the Viceroy of Kush, Setau, in administering the conquered territories. The conversation also examines the cultural and economic impact of Nubian gold and trade, the interaction between Egyptian and Kushite cultures, and the long-term legacy of Ramses's Nubian policies, which shaped Egypt's relations with the south for centuries. Lucas and Luna also touch on the debated chronology of Ramses's Nubian wars and the archaeological evidence from sites like Kerma and Gebel Barkal. #RamsesII #Nubia #Kush #Setau #AncientEgypt #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #WadiEsSebua #BeitElWali #Kerma #GebelBarkal #NubianGold #Pharaoh #MilitaryHistory #Imperialism #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Nubian Gold Mines: Wealth Beneath the Sands

This episode explores the vast gold mining operations in Nubia that fueled Ramses II's monumental building projects and military campaigns. Lucas and Luna delve into the geography of the Eastern Desert, the organization of mining expeditions, the lives of workers at sites like the Wadi Hammamat and the gold mines of the Wadi el-Hudi, and the religious rituals performed to appease the gods of the desert. They discuss the Turin Papyrus Map—the oldest surviving geological map—and how it guided prospectors. The conversation also touches on the economic impact of Nubian gold, the role of the Kushite viceroy, and the eventual decline of production. A vivid picture emerges of the ingenuity, brutality, and spiritual significance behind Egypt's most precious resource. #RamsesII #NubianGold #WadiHammamat #TurinPapyrusMap #EasternDesert #EgyptianMining #NewKingdom #19thDynasty #Kush #GoldMines #AmunRe #Hapi #WadiElHudi #Scribes #MiningExpeditions #AncientEgypt #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Sea Peoples: The Invasion That Changed Egypt

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the mysterious Sea Peoples who threatened Egypt during Ramses II's reign. Who were these raiders from the north — the Sherden, the Peleset, the Tjekker? Lucas unpacks the evidence from the Battle of the Delta in Year 5, the inscriptions at Medinet Habu, and the theory that the Sea Peoples were displaced Mycenaeans, Lycians, and Sardinians fleeing the Bronze Age Collapse. He explains how Ramses repelled them but failed to stop the wave that later broke Egypt under his successors. The conversation also touches on the Sherden who became mercenaries for Ramses, the burning of Ugarit, and the wedge this conflict drove between Egypt and the Hittites. A nuanced look at how a pharaoh met a threat he couldn't fully defeat. #RamsesII #SeaPeoples #Sherden #Peleset #MedinetHabu #BronzeAgeCollapse #NewKingdom #Kemet #Ugarit #Hittites #Mycenaean #BattleOfTheDelta #Pharaoh #NorthAfrica #AncientHistory #Egyptology #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Ramses the Great's Tomb KV7: The First Royal Tomb in the Valley of the Kings

In this special 100th episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the fascinating story of Ramses the Great's own tomb, KV7, in the Valley of the Kings. Unlike the more famous tomb of Tutankhamun, KV7 is one of the largest and most elaborate royal tombs ever built in Egypt, yet it remains largely unknown to the public. Lucas reveals how Ramses deliberately broke with tradition by being the first pharaoh to construct his tomb in a new location—the Valley of the Kings—setting a precedent for all subsequent New Kingdom rulers. The episode dives into the tomb's innovative architecture, its stunning decorations, and the challenges faced by modern archaeologists, including flooding and looting. Lucas also discusses the discovery of Ramses's mummy in the Deir el-Bahri cache, the ongoing conservation efforts, and the mysteries that still surround the tomb, such as the missing sarcophagus lid. Luna's curious questions guide the conversation, making this a perfect entry point for listeners new to the topic. The episode ends on a reflective note about the fragility of even the greatest monuments. #RamsesII #KV7 #ValleyOfTheKings #AncientEgypt #Pharaoh #Tomb #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #Archaeology #Egyptology #Thebes #DeirElBahri #RoyalCache #Sarcophagus #Looting #Conservation #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]