After the turmoil and uncertainty that followed the Amarna period, a new and stable dynasty emerged. Horemheb died without an heir. The founder of the nineteenth dynasty and his eventual successor, Pramesse of Avaris (Ramses I) was chosen from the military. Ramses I's reign marked the transition between the reign of Horemheb who had stabilised Egypt and the rule of the powerful Pharaohs of this dynasty, particularly Seti I and Ramses II, who would bring Egypt up to new heights of imperial power.
Although Thebes remained the religious and cultural capital, the kings of the Nineteenth Dynasty administered the country from the royal residence in the delta which Ramses II extended into a vast administrative complex, called Per-Ramesse.
Seti I and Ramses II regained some of Egypt's empire in Syria and Palestine as they followed the example of the warrior pharaohs of the early Nineteenth Dynasty. They also inaugurated a massive building program throughout Egypt and some of their works, such as the Temple of Abydos initiated by Seti, rivalled those of Amenhotep III in form and decoration. The sheer size of Ramses II's buildings and statuary surpassed anything that had been done before. However, decades of extravagance by Ramses II depleted the national resources and the monuments of his successors reflected this. Ramses II, who reigned for over 66 years, outlived each prince chosen as his successor.
The cult and mortuary temples at Abydos, Karnak, Luxor, western Thebes, Abu Simbel, Beit el-Wali and elsewhere in Nubia and their monumental inscriptions are the chief sources of information for the reigns of Seti I and Ramses II. These present the official propaganda about such achievements as:
- Military campaigns - Seti's campaign in Syria and the Battle of Kadesh between Ramses II and the Hittites
- Diplomatic negotiations - the treaty signed between Ramses II and the Hittites and the celebration of the marriage of Ramses and the Hittite princess
- Mining operations - Seti's provision of a well and compound for workers mining gold in the desert
Victory stelae, such as those set up on behalf of Seti I at Beth-Shan are another form of official record.
Clay tablets, inscribed in cuneiform, found in the Hittite capital of Hattusas (Bogazkoy) present the Hittite version of the Battle of Kadesh and the treaty with the Egyptians, the haggling that went on over marriage negotiations between the daughter of the Hittite king and Ramses II, and letters about royal visits to Egypt. Letters and reports, such as those passed between the king's officials and between officials and the royal workmen at Deir el-Medina, provide an insight into Nineteenth Dynasty administration.
Unlike Eighteenth Dynasty tombs, there are very few scenes of daily life found in the tombs of Nineteenth Dynasty nobles. Despite the minimum number of scenes showing the tomb owner carrying out his official duties, some contain biographical details such as the account of the appointment of Nebwenenef as high priest of Amun by Ramses II.
