c. 1550–1292 BC Thutmosid imperial expansion, Battle of Megiddo, and early-date Exodus candidate (~1446 BC)
The golden age of Egyptian imperialism founded by Ahmose I after expelling the Hyksos, characterized by the military conquests of Thutmose III ('Napoleon of Egypt'), Queen Hatshepsut, and Amenhotep II, serving as the historical backdrop for the 'early-date' Exodus model (~1446 BC).
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
Annals of Thutmose III at Karnak detail his decisive victory at the Battle of Megiddo (c. 1457 BC) over a Canaanite coalition, establishing Egyptian military dominance over Palestine and Syria.
Aligns with the literal chronological calculation derived from 1 Kings 6:1 ('In the 480th year after the Israelites had come out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign... he began to build the temple'), which places the Exodus around 1446 BC during the reign of Thutmose III or Amenhotep II.
Scholars hotly debate the early date (1446 BC) vs late date (~1260 BC): early-date proponents (Merrill, Wood) point to 1 Kings 6:1, Judges 11:26 (300 years before Jephthah), and destruction layers at Jericho; late-date proponents note the city name 'Raamses' in Exodus 1:11 and the Merneptah Stele.
New Kingdom royal annals celebrating relentless military expansion, captive lists, and subjugation of Asiatic 'vile Retjenu'.