Ancient Egypt
Me: Hello Amenhotep IV.
Ahmenhotep IV/Akhenaten: Hello, but I prefer you call me Akhenaten.
Me: Oh, why is that?
Ahmenhotep IV/Akhenaten: When I was Pharoah, I feared that the priests were getting too powerful, so I attempted to change the religion.
Me: So why the name "Akhenaten"?
Ahmenhotep IV/Akhenaten: I tried to change the religion to a religion that worshipped a single god, Aton. So I changed my name to "Akhenaten" meaning "spirit of Aton".
Me: So how did the Egyptians take this?
Ahmenhotep IV/Akhenaten: Not very well actually. The change was not welcomed, and people tried to stay loyal to the past polytheistic religion. After my time as Pharaoh passes, my successer Tutenkhamen will most likely change the religion back, and the priests will stay powerful. *sigh*
Me: Okay, so on a different note, how is it like living in the grand palace of the Pharaoh?
Ahmenhotep IV/Akhenaten: It is wonderful. I enjoy all the comforts in life, as well as the guarantee that I will be mummified and embalmed when I die, as well as buried in a grand tomb.
Me: Thank you for your time.
Ahmenhotep IV/Akhenaten: You are welcome.
An Interview With Amenhotep IV/ Akhenaten
Uniting Egypt
At the begining Egypt split in to two parts, upper Egypt, and lower Egypt. Egypt was united by the king Narmer. He ruled upper Egypt at the time, then married a princess from lower Egypt. This united both parts in to one Egypt.
Religion and Politics
Ancient Egypt had a close tie between religion, and politics. Everything in ancient Egypt was the Pharaohs property.They also believed the Pharoah was a descendant of the gods themselves. However, priests held a great amount of power as well. In their religion, the gods dictated everything. Since the priests were the people responsible to communicate with the gods, they were important. Togethor, the Pharoahs and the Priests shared power over Egypt, though they also fought for it, as was shown when Ahmenhotep IV attempted to change the religion.
Ancient Egyptian rulers affected trade buisness and conflict because all of Egypt was the Pharaohs personal property. the Pharoah would ultimately decide what to trade for goods from other civilizations, what to trade away, and when to declare war.
How did Rulers Affect Trade, Buisness, and War?
Though power may sound all good, there are disadvantages too. The advantages of power are basic. You are worshipped with power. You would enjoy all the comforts in life with power. You would also be very respected. In ancient Egypt, the Pharaohs word was law, and all of Egypt was his personal property. The disadvantages are harder to find, but are very major.
Power and Leadership
Power
This obelisk was built at a temple. It's construction was ordered by Ramses the Great. The power of Ramses the Great is carved in hieroglyphics on the pillar. Pharoahs could simply say the word, and things like this would be constructed for them.
Source: Discovering Our Past