to
perceive at once the first symptoms of disorder, and to refrain from
persevering in his errors; but however quick they were to undo his work,
they could not foresee its serious consequences. His immediate followers
were powerless to maintain their dynasty, and their posterity had to
make way for a family who had not incurred the hatred of Amon, or rather
that of his priests. If those who followed them were able by their tact
and energy to set Egypt on her feet again, they were at the same time
unable to restore her former prosperity or her boundless confidence in
herself.

[Illustration: 114.jpg Tailpiece]

CHAPTER II--THE REACTION AGAINST EGYPT

_THE XIth DYNASTY: HARMHABI--THE HITTITE EMPIRE IN SYRIA AND IN ASIA
MINOR--SETI I. AND RAMSES II.--THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA: MINEPHTAH AND THE
ISRAELITE EXODUS._

_The birth and antecedents of Harmhabi, his youth, his enthronement--The
final triumph of Amon and his priests--Harmhabi infuses order into the
government: his wars against the Ethiopians and Asiatics--The Khati,
their civilization, religion; their political and military constitution;
the extension of their empire towards the north--The countries and
populations of Asia Minor; commercial routes between the Euphrates and
the AEgean Sea--The treaty concluded between Harmhabi and Sapalulu._

_Ramses I. and the uncertainties as to his origin--Seti I. and
the campaign against Syria in the 1st year of his reign; the
re-establishment of the Egyptian empire--Working of the gold-mines at
Etai--The monuments constructed by Seti I. in Nubia, at Karnak, Luxor,
and Abydos--The valley of the kings and tomb of Seti I. at Thebes._

_Ramses II., his infancy, his association in the Government, his debut
in Ethiopia: he builds a residence in the Delta--His campaign against
the Khati in the 5th year of his reign--The talcing of Qodshu, the
victory of Ramses II. and the truce established with Khatusaru: the poem
of Pentauirit--His treaty with the Khati in the 21st year of his reign:
the balance of power in Syria: the marriage of Ramses II. with a Hittite
princess--Public works: the Speos at Abu-Simbel; Luxor, Karnak, the
Eamesseum, the monuments in the Delta--The regency of Khamoisit and
Minephtah, the legend of Sesostris, the coffin and mummy of Ramses II._

_Minephtah--The kingdom of Libya, the people of the sea--The first
invasion of Libya: the Egyptian victory at Piriu; the triumph of
Minephtah--Seti II., Amenmeses, S