In the early days, the Egyptian armies were not big. The only job the army had was to keep out the bands of nomads and to protect mining and trading expeditions. Later on, the armies grew bigger in size and conquered kingdoms, such as Nubia, for trading purposes. Usually the army that attacked most was the Libyans from the Western Desert.

Egypt itself was invaded by the Hyksos. Eventually Egyptians chased out the Hyksos. After this they set out to conquer the eastern frontier so that these people would never again threaten Egypt. Eventually the Egyptians had to withdraw because of the other cities that wanted to take over this land.

The weapons that influenced the Egyptians the most were the curved swords and horse and chariot. Before the Egyptians had horse and chariot they fought on foot. The invention of the horse and chariot came from the Hyksos. When this was invented, Egyptians had to learn how to control and ride the horses.

Some tombs have pictures of Egyptian troops attacking the enemy. From these pictures scientists have learned that the army used ladders and battering rams.

In the New Kingdom, officers became rich and powerful. But, a scribe called Khety warned the soldiers that they might be killed or horribly wounded. If a soldier was not killed, the expenses of his horses, chariot and servants would be so great that he would end his days as a beggar.

When defending the borders, Egyptians built mudbrick forts with massive towers surrounded by ditches. Later, Ramses III formed a navy of wooden galleys powered by oars and sails and trapped the slower sailing ships of pirates in the Mediterranean Sea.

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