Akhenaten: The First Monotheist

Approximately thirty four hundred years ago, Egypt was at the height of its power during the eighteenth dynasty. In the middle of this period came a pharaoh who completely upended Egyptian society. He built an entirely new capital, created an entirely new religion, neglected his empire, and ultimately caused the destruction of his dynasty. Yet, despite his historical importance, we didn't even know he existed for almost three thousand years. Learn more about Akhenaten, history's first monotheist and his impact on ancient Egypt on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. This episode is sponsored by Mint Mobile. It's been said that Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I'd like to update this and suggest that insanity is paying too much for something when you can get something equally as good for less. With Mint Mobile, you can stop the insanity and get high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest five g network starting at only $15 a month. Bring your own phone and number, activate with eSIM in minutes, and start saving immediately. No long term contracts, no hassle. That is why I recommend Mint Mobile. If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/eed. That's mintmobile.com/eed. Upfront payment of $45 for three month five gigabyte plan required equivalent to $15 a month. New customer offer for first three months only, then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra? See Mint Mobile for details. This episode is sponsored by Fast Growing Trees. Spring is here, and that means it's time for planting and landscaping. And if you wanna make things easy on yourself, check out fastgrowingtrees.com. Fast growing trees is America's largest and most trusted online nursery with thousands of trees and plants and over 2,000,000 happy customers. They have all the plants your yard or home needs including fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and house plants. All grown with care and guaranteed to arrive healthy. Right now, they have great deals on spring planting essentials up to half off on selected plants. And listeners to my show get 20% off their first purchase when using the code daily at checkout. That's an additional 20 off better plants and better growing at fastgrowingtrees.com using the code daily at checkout. Fastgrowingtrees.com code daily. Now is the perfect time to plant. Let's grow together. Use daily to save today. Offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. The story of Akhenaten is, I think, the most fascinating story of any pharaoh from ancient Egypt. And it begins in the eighteenth dynasty approximately three thousand four hundred years ago. Egypt was a wealthy stable empire with control over Nubia to the South and the Levant to the Northeast. Built through conquest, it enjoyed prosperity, exercised diplomacy, and undertook massive building projects. Religion was the traditional Egyptian polytheism whose powerful priesthood had grown extremely wealthy and influential, …