A Royal Task. There was no word for war in ancient Egyptian. Defending the country from foreign invasion was always represented as a royal task. All wars against foreigners, whether defending the borders of Egypt or moving beyond the Nile Valley into the Levant, were described as directed against rebels. Theoretically, everyone was subservient to the Egyptian king and the king ruled the whole world. The army itself was included as a type of corvee labor. The troops protected mining expeditions and trade missions and also made war against the Bedouin in the desert, the Hyksos to the Northeast, and the Nubians to the South. However, sophisticated military techniques were known. Scenes from Old Kingdom (circa 2675- 2130 B.C.E.) tombs depicted siege techniques and sappers undermining foundations of town walls. War machines such as ladders on wheels were used against fortified...