1. Ancient Egypt’s 19th Dynasty

2. Ramses II
In 1279 B.C, 44 years after the death of King Tut, Ramses II took the throne. He reigned as pharaoh for 66 years, which was among the longest in Egyptian history. During his time, Ramses II greatly expanded the Egyptian empire.
Ramses II, known as Ramses the Great, wanted to make Egypt powerful through war. Under Ramses’ rule, Egypt extended its territory south into the African kingdom of Nubia. The empire also stretched to the eastern rim of the Mediterranean Sea, where it bordered the empire of a people called the Hittites.

4. The Egyptians and the Hittites had long been enemies
The Egyptians and the Hittites had long been enemies. Soon after he became pharaoh, Ramses led and army into battle against the Hittites. Nobody really won the battle, but Ramses claimed victory.
The Battle of Kadesh was one of the great battles in human history, and thought to be the first major battle with that had detailed records left. After its end, a treaty was signed with the Hittites. This was the first known peace treaty in in world history.

5. Egypt/Hittite Peace Treaty
It is concluded that Reamasesa-mia-amana, the Great King, the king (of the land of Egypt) with Hattusili, the Great King, the king of the land of Hatti, his brother, for the land of Egypt and the land of Hatti, in order to establish a good peace and a good fraternity forever among them.
Look, Reamasesa-mia-amana, the great king, the king of the country of Egypt, will establish the bond that the Sun God (Ra) has wanted and that the god of the Tempest (the great Hittite god) has wanted for the country of Egypt and the country of Hatti according to the eternal bond, for not letting enmity settle between them.
Look, the children of Reamasesa, the great king, the king of the country of Egypt, they will be forever in state of peace and of fraternity with the children of Hattusili, the great king, the king of the country of Hatti. They will remain in the line of our bond of fraternity and of peace; the country of Egypt and the country of Hatti will be forever in a state of peace and of fraternity as it is with us.
If a foreign enemy marches against the country of hatti and if Hattusili, the king of the country of Hatti, sends me this message: “Come to my ehlep against him”, Reamasesa-mia-amana, the great king, the king of the Egyptian country, has to send his troops and his chariots to kill this enemy and to give satisfaction to the country of Hatti. If a foreigner marches against the country of Egypt and if Reamasesa-mia-mana, the great king, the king of the country of Egypt, your brother, sends to Hattusili, the king of the country of Hatti, his brother, the following message: “Come to my help against him”, then Hattusili, king of the country of Hatti, shall send his troops and his chariots and kill my enemy.
They who observe the words that are in the silver tablet the great gods of the country of Egypt and the great gods of the country of Hatti shall allow them to live and prosper in their houses, their country and with their servents. They who do not observe the words that are in this silver tablet, the great gods of the country of Egypt as well as the great gods of the country of Hatti will exterminate their houses, their country and their servents.
The king of Egypt and the King of the Hittites are now brothers and are at peace.
The Egyptian god Ra and the Hittite god of the Tempest are now brothers and at peace.
The children of the King of Egypt and King of the Hittites will forever be at peace and will remain so.
If foreign armies march against either Egypt or the Hittites, the other will send military aid.
Observing these words will allow both countries to live at peace. If the words are not observed the countries will be destroyed by the gods.

6. Ramses II was bold in honoring himself
Ramses II was bold in honoring himself. He built a city called the House of Ramses. His temple is guarded by 4 66-foot tall statues of himself.
Ramses II reigned until 1213 B.C, when he was more than 90 years old. Having one ruler for 66 years made the Egyptian government stable. His reign was also a time of peace throughout Egypt. After the treaty with the Hittites, no enemy threatened Egypt during his rule.

8. TOP PICTURE: The image depicts Ramses II during the Battle of Kadesh
BOTTOM PICTURE: Ramses the Great’s mummified remains on display at a museum in Cairo, Egypt.