Active learning ideas
Hatshepsut is one of the most successful and intriguing figures of the New Kingdom. This topic explores her rise from queen regent to pharaoh, her unique use of religious and artistic propaganda to justify her rule, and her significant contributions to Egypt’s economy and architecture, such as the expedition to Punt and her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. Students also investigate the mystery of the posthumous attempt to erase her from history.
Activity 01
Display images of Hatshepsut from early in her reign (as a queen) to late in her reign (with a false beard and male physique). Students move in pairs to track the changes and discuss why she felt it necessary to alter her physical representation.
How did Hatshepsut justify her claim to the throne?
Activity 02
Divide the class into three groups, each arguing a different theory for the defacement of her monuments: Thutmosid revenge, a desire to restore 'Ma'at' by removing a female pharaoh, or purely political reasons. Students must use archaeological evidence to support their claims.
What were the major achievements of her reign?
Activity 03
In small groups, students analyze the reliefs from Deir el-Bahri depicting the expedition to Punt. They must identify the goods brought back and explain how this trade mission served as a form of political propaganda for Hatshepsut.
Why was her legacy targeted by her successors?
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A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Hatshepsut 'stole' the throne from Thutmose III.
She initially ruled as a legitimate regent and her transition to pharaoh was gradual and supported by the elite. Peer-led analysis of her 'Divine Birth' reliefs helps students see how she framed her rule as a religious necessity rather than a simple power grab.
Thutmose III hated her and erased her immediately after her death.
The erasure didn't begin until late in Thutmose III's reign, decades after she died. A timeline-based collaborative investigation helps students see that the 'revenge' theory is less likely than a political move to ensure his own son's succession.
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