Ancient Egyptian Military
A trumpet blares and two masses of armed men rush toward each other. It’s a battle between the ancient Egyptian Military and the Nubian Military. Egypt began forming an army in the Middle Kingdom. When Egypt was without a pharaoh, they fought each other with weapons such as bows, clubs, and spears. They wore linen kilts and leather straps around their chest. Without their army, ancient Egypt wouldn’t have become one of the greatest civilizations in the world.
The army was very important to the ancient Egyptians. It was considered to have formed when Nebhepethre Mentuhotep I united Egypt in the Middle Kingdom. Men who wanted to join the military gathered by the mayor of the village. The governor of the territory chose the best men for recruitment. Men of the upper class became charioteers. Scribes started as pay clerks but later advanced to Scribe of Recruits. Soldiers first trained in barracks. They went home when they weren’t needed. Even if they were at home, they shared the booty and plunder that was taken by the army.
Before fighting, the Egyptians and their opponents agreed on the place and time of battle. There were no ambushes and they fought in broad daylight on open ground. There was a trumpet signal to begin when both sides were ready. They usually fought on land but the occasional warship was used.
Soldiers used medicine to heal battle wounds. They used bandages for broken bones, needles for surgery, and moldy bread to stop cuts from getting infected. Soldiers often received cures in prescription bottles. They carried amulets to ward off evil spirits.
There were many wars in ancient Egypt. Egyptians conquered and lost control of many smaller civilizations over the years. The most famous war was when the Hyksos of East Asia conquered Egypt in the 2nd Intermediate Period. The Hyksos were the first people to conquer Egypt.