Hatshepsut Accomplishments

Hatshepsut, considered the most fascinating personality of the ancient word “set up her own stamp on the New Kingdom Egypt”. Her rule was relatively peaceful and she was able to launch a building program that would see the construction of a great temple at Deir el-Bahari at Luxor. She also launched a successful sea voyage to the land of Punt, a place located somewhere on the northeast coast of Africa, where they traded with the inhabitants, bringing back “marvels.” 1She was undoubtedly, a very successful ruler whom of which maintained Egypt’s prosperity, internal peace and vigorous growth.

When Hatshepsut took the kingship, she had to create a new history of her divine birth from the god, which would be shown on her temples in order to convince the people that she was actually chosen by the god. The people of New Kingdom Egypt would have most definitely been significantly impacted by Hatshepsut as she instilled confidence by conducting successful military campaigns and
completing an extensive building program2. It was a priority of hers, to ensure that the cult of Amun would continue to prosper. As a religious leader she gave the lion’s share of new buildings and offerings to this cult and advanced its priesthood by giving them influential posts. By conducting the expedition to Punt Hatshepsut also consolidated trade routes and therefore enhanced Egypt’s future prosperity.

As a ruler, Hatshepsut inaugurated building projects that far outstripped those of her predecessors,” Bryan writes, noting that in conquered Nubia, she built monuments at a number of sites, including Qasr Ibrim, Semna, Faras and Buhen.In Egypt proper, she launched a number of building projects.
At the temple complex of Karnak, she erected a series of obelisks and built a “Palace of Ma’at,” a rectangular structure that was composed of "a series of small rooms with a large central hall for the placement of the central bark. The walls of the palace were covered with carved and brightly painted relief scenes of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III,” writes a team of UCLA researchers working on the Digital Karnak Project. Hatshepsut’s architectural program promotes her impact and achievements during her ruling of Egypt, depicting that cultivated building innovations that continue to arouse admiration, as Gardiner states, “Even now there is no nobler architectural achievement to be seen in the whole
of
Egypt”3.

Through her Divine Birth and Conception and Coronation reliefs, Hatshepsut accredited her position to Amun4. She followed the god’s command by conducting an expedition to Punt. She made offerings to the gods and attriubuted her military victories to the god Amun. She constructed and repaid many builidngs for the gods including Deir el Bahri and Karnak. Hatshepsut maintained religious festivals and gave great prestige and influence to the Amun priesthood.

Hatshepsut was definitely a successful warrior pharaoh. Early historians such as Gardener and Wilson maintained that Hatshepsut was either incapable of fulfilling this role or preoccupied with internal developments rather than war. Despite this there is ample evidence to suggest that Hatshepsut conducted at least four campaigns during her reign. Punt was also considered by Hatshepsut to be equal to a successful military conquest. It definitely benefitted Egypt in opening up further trade routes and hence future prosperity.

This voyage to Punt (also known as “God’s land”) was a key foreign relations triumph during Hatshepsut’s reign. Punt is believed to lie in north eastern Africa, somewhere in the area of Eritrea, Ethiopia and southern Sudan. Egyptians had made voyages to it for centuries by Hatshepsut’s time.
Finally, Hatshepsut gained loyal support from officials such as Senenmut.5 She was an efficient administrator. Her effective ways of running the government is evident in Egypt becoming a prosperous and stable empire capable of completing her extensive building program. It is also shown by Thutmose III being able to conduct a military campaign soon after Hatshepsut’s death. This could not be done unless Egypt itself was experiencing stability at the time.

Hatshepsut remains a “baffling person”6 and historical personage in ancient Egyptian history, having accomplished what no woman had before or would repeat again. Ruling the most powerful, advanced civilisation in the world, Hatshepsut was an intelligent and competent ruler, incorporating an ambition “by no means dormant”7. Her accession to the throne, foreign policy and architectural activates reveal an effective and influential role during her rule, as Egypt was left with a prosperous, vibrant culture and economy8.