Hatshepsut's Significance in History - Term Paper Example

Outline I. Introduction A. Historical figures are attributable to various essential developments in the past included in the contemporary recorded history. B. Historical figures’ actions and decisions are important in history. C. The historical figure analyzed in this paper is Hatshepsut. II. Background A. Family: daughter to Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose’s, wife to Thutmose II, and mother to Neferure. B. Leadership: Hatshepsut was renowned, female pharaoh in Egypt. C. Factor that led to Hatshepsut views include participation in warfare, trade expeditions, prevailing condition in Egypt, and leadership responsibilities as a pharaoh. III. Analysis of Hatshepsut A. The World Scene 1. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for about twenty-two years from 1479 to 1458 B.C 2. Hatshepsut faced problems related to gender discrimination in leadership positions, and typical feminine representations. 3. Several factors around Hatshepsut facilitated her reign and success as an Egyptian pharaoh, such as the death of Thomose I, absence of appropriate successor, and Egypt’s wealth as well as peace. B. Actions of Hatshepsut 1. Hatshepsut is renowned as a prolific builder because of her spectacular Egyptian monuments and temples featured in ancient Egyptian history. 2. Hatshepsut attained significant achievements in trade and military expeditions. C. Impact of Hatshepsut 1. Hatshepsut provides an affirmative perspective on women leadership 2. Hatshepsut revealed the need for women to stand against discriminative policies and rules. 3. Hatshepsut’s made exceptional contributions to politics 4. Hatshepsut made contributions in architectural designs through her creative concepts embedded in monuments as well as temples. IV. Conclusion A. Hatshepsut was an influential leader whose actions and decisions affect the history of the world, especially Egypt. B. Historical figures make great history Hatshepsut’s Historical Contributions Introduction Historical figures are significant contributors of world History. The apparition of their intellect, exquisiteness of their art, their divine inspiration as well as leadership prowess results to enhancement of the world’s history. Some historians argue that societal, economic, and technological aspects are more imperative to history compared to individuals’ actions and decisions. However, historical figures or great men are credited for various essential developments in the past that significantly feature in contemporary recorded history. This paper will analyze Hatshepsut’s contributions during her reign as an Egyptian pharaoh with respect to the Great Man theory by Thomas Carlyle, and it will also attempt to reveal the importance of historical figures’ actions and decisions in history. Analysis of Hatshepsut Background Hatshepsut was Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose’s eldest daughter, wife to Thutmose II, mother to Neferure. Hatshepsut was one of the renowned, triumphant pharaohs as well as famous female-ruler in history, whose time in power superseded those of other women in the native Egyptian dynasty. The name Hatshepsut refers to the “most noble of noble ladies” signifying her unprecedented power attainment among ancient Egyptian women, and eventual crowning as pharaoh during the eighteenth dynasty. Hatshepsut initially acted as a co-regent to her stepson; Thutmose III, but she became pharaoh after about seven years. This marked Hatshepsut’s desertion of Queen’s roles as well as titles with the commencement of her reign as a female and conventional pharaoh. Hatshepsut reputation as a remarkable pharaoh is associated with various outstanding activities that took place during her reign. These included her participation in trade as well as armies expeditions, construction of some of the greatest Egyptian monuments, and acquisition of male roles in her leadership as pharaoh. Furthermore, Hatshepsut remained in power as pharaoh for twenty-two years before the reign of her successor, Thutmose III (Hill 3). The World Scene Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for about twenty-two years from 1479 to 1458 B.C. This period was characterized by the splendid Egyptian regal power as well as prosperity that led to Egypt’s designation as the New Kingdom. Egypt had secure borders, authority over several kingdoms, great wealth and territorial tranquility. The great army established by the preceding pharaoh maintained peace and dominance over the neighboring kingdoms. Well-formed leadership structure and abundant resources enabled Hatshepsut to focus on internal issues of Egypt. As a result, she carried out massive construction projects in different regions in Egypt mainly intended to restore old temples and construct new monuments as well as temples, especially in the Nile Valley. One of her largest and most striking monument was Deir el Bahri, funerary temple, with outstanding architectural design comprising of three levels, and wall scenes illustrating shipping as well as raising of enormous obelisks. In addition, Egypt’s situation allowed Hatshepsut to participate in trading expeditions to distant land that supplied Egypt with food, ivory, and African woods among other goods (Lesko 7) During the rise of Hatshepsut, women did not have the right to take high status leadership roles and positions. Although Egyptian women had the legitimate right to inherit as well as own property, having female pharaoh or ruler was rare. Women were only allowed to act as regents or co-regents for their sons or stepsons. In view of this, pharaoh was a title reserved solely for men while women were alienated from power in ancient kingdom. On the other hand, Hatshepsut efforts to assume kingship did not encounter reprisal due to alterations that had occurred in the Eighteenth Dynasty regarding responsibilities of queen consorts. These changes allowed queens to assume various religious and secular titles, own property and servants, as well as perform administrative functions. Moreover, Queens had distinctive crowns relating them to various deities and the king. However, the perceptions and stereotypes against female leadership affected Hatshepsut’s actions as pharaoh. Hatshepsut constructed many temples, images as well as obelisks, and led military expeditions in order to legitimize her position as pharaoh (Kim-Brown 19). Hatshepsut intended to change the typical feminine representations made by preceding queens so as to establish her role as a king. She used visual representations of a female king, and physically female forms constituting pharaonic male accoutrements among others. Prior to Hatshepsut’s reign as a pharaoh, Egypt lacked a king following the death of Thutmose II while his successor Thutmose III was an infant. This vacuum in leadership provided Hatshepsut a chance to assume the role of a pharaoh since she was most suited, fully royal adult to lead the government. This was coupled with Hatshepsut’s desire for governing-related responsibilities. Further, recognition as well as titles that accompanied kingship led to her declaration as a legitimate King (Ray 25). Actions of Hatshepsut Hatshepsut is renowned as a prolific builder because of her spectacular Egyptian monuments and temples that are significantly featured in ancient history. The creativity and architectural design encompassed in these structures makes them outstanding ancient forms. One of Hatshepsut’s splendid models with a remarkable fashionable style is Deir el Bahri, her funerary temple. It has Hatshepsut’s Osirian figures, and a succession of terraces reaching the colonnades, which were decorated with gardens. Other structures built in Hatshepsut’s reign include the Red Chapel, Senmut, and obelisks. She worked with architects but her decision to raise these monuments is ingrained in recorded history. In so doing, Hatshepsut provided extensive, in-depth information regarding ancient practices and leadership in Egypt (Kim-Brown 22). On the other hand, Hatshepsut attained significant achievements in trade and military expeditions. Her decisions concerning warfare and trade led her reign to be beneficial to the entire population of Egypt. It is apparent that Hatshepsuts efficient administration decisions sustained peace, and encouraged development in ancient Egypt. It was characterized by extensive building program. Moreover, participation in military activities strengthened protection of Egypt against foreign invaders. Raiding expeditions in places such as Sinai, Byblos, Nubia and Punt resulted to victorious military campaigns because of Hatshepsut’s sound decision to employ peaceful foreign policy (Roberts 5). Hatshepsut restored various trade channels that were disrupted after Hyksos occupied several regions of the Kingdom of Egypt in the Second Intermediate Period. This led to improved wealth as well as prosperity in the eighteenth dynasty. The expedition to the Land of Punt under the supervision of Hatshepsut brought about significant advancement in Egypt. The expedition led to the acquirement of numerous trade goods. One of the unique aspects about the voyage was the introduction of myrrh in Egypt. Individuals involved in the expedition returned to Egypt with about thirty one live myrrh trees, whose roots were transported carefully in baskets. In this sense, Hatshepsut is one of the first recorded individuals to have successfully transplanted foreign trees. These trees were planted in the Deir el Bahri monument (Morales-Correa 3). Impact of Hatshepsut Hatshepsut provides an affirmative perspective on women leadership. It is apparent that she rose against traditional, religious, as well as conservative opinions and laws in order to be an absolute ruler, and one of the few women pharaohs in Egypt. Hatshepsut portrayed aspect of being self-absorbed; however, her move to become the king of Egypt identified the role of women in leadership. This indicates the need for women to stand against discriminative policies and rules that denies them the right or opportunity to assume leadership roles both local and at the global scale. Besides, Hatshepsut revealed that women can acquire authority, gain acceptance among the population and change traditional norms to their advantage. Ascending to the kingship as Thutmose II successor, Hatshepsut demonstrated that significant developments in different sectors, including trade, warfare and construction can be achieved with a strong leader regardless of the leader’s gender (Morales-Correa 5). Hatshepsut’s made exceptional contributions to politics. She defied the gender-based partiality in political issues that considered women incompetent in government administration, and provision of constructive opinions in political, economic as well as social matters among others. Furthermore, Hatshepsut made contributions in architectural designs through her creative concepts embedded in monuments as well as temples. Some of the ideas portrayed in the ancient structures built during the Hatshepsut’s reign are employed in contemporary building designs. However, this does not imply that Hatshepsut is exclusively responsible for transformations that have occurred in women participation or involvement in political and leadership positions and in architectural designs. Myrrh trees introduction to Egypt, would not have taken place if Hatshepsut never lived (Morales-Correa 10). Conclusion The foregoing analysis indicates that historical figures’ decisions and actions significantly affect the history of the world. In this case, Hatshepsut actions as king of Egypt have made essential contributions in the ancient Egypt’s history. Several factors facilitated Hatshepsut’s ascent into the kingship and prosperity as pharaoh. These include; leadership vacuum after the death of Thutmose III, secure border as well as the eighteen dynasty wealth among others. Additionally, Hatshepsut instituted various unique aspects in Egypt such the transplant of myrrh trees, construction of several monument and temples, as well as restoration of trade networks. Hatshepsut decision and initiative to build extensive monuments and temples in different regions in Egypt enriched and transformed the Egypt’s recorded history not only in ancient leadership, administration and warfare, but also in trade expeditions. Throughout her reign as king of Egypt, Hatshepsut provides an affirmative perspective of female leadership, and typifies women’s competence in leadership roles. Works Cited Hill, J. "Hatshepsut." 2010. .12 April 2012 Kim-Brown, Caroline. "The Woman Who Would be King." Humanities 26.6 (2005): 18-21. Lesko, Barbara S. "Hatshepsut: Woman pharaoh." Calliope 2.2 (2000): 5-10. Morales-Correa, Ben. "Hatshepsut - First Great Woman in History." 2009. . 12 April 2012 Ray, John. "Hatshepsut." History Today 44.5 (1994): 23-29. Roberts, Peter. HSC Ancient History. Sydney: Pascal Press, 2004. Read More