New Kingdom Egypt · 1274-1259 BC

Kadesh: Ramesses II against the Hittites

In 1274 BC two superpowers met at Kadesh in what may be the largest chariot battle ever fought. Both claimed victory. Students compare Egyptian and Hittite sources, and find out how the war ended in one of the oldest peace treaties known.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
12–15
On the map
3 steps, 1274 BC to 1259 BC
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

In 1274 BC two superpowers met at Kadesh in what may be the largest chariot battle ever fought. Both claimed victory. Students compare Egyptian and Hittite sources, and find out how the war ended in one of the oldest peace treaties known.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Locate Kadesh and explain why Egypt and the Hittites fought over Syria.
  • Compare how Ramesses II told the story of the battle with what historians think happened.
  • Explain the importance of the peace treaty of about 1259 BC.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

1274 BC

The Orontes valley

Open the map in 1274 BC and turn on Historical Events. Find the Battle of Kadesh by the Orontes river. Why would two empires fight over a fortress town in Syria?

Open this view on the map
b

1274 BC

Two empires

Zoom out until you see Egypt and the Hittite lands in Anatolia, with Kadesh between them. How far did each army have to march to get there?

Open this view on the map
c

1259 BC

Peace

Jump to 1259 BC and find the marker for the Treaty of Kadesh. Open it: why is this treaty famous today?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. Ramesses was fooled by false reports before the battle. Why is good information so important in war?
  2. Both sides claimed victory at Kadesh. How can historians find out what really happened?
  3. Ramesses carved the battle on temple walls across Egypt. Was that history or propaganda?
  4. About fifteen years later Egypt and the Hittites made peace. Why might enemies decide to become allies?
  5. A copy of the treaty hangs at the United Nations in New York. Why do you think it was chosen?
4

Game round

10 min

Play Ramesses II in Rule History. His first decision is the ambush at Kadesh. Let the class vote, then compare with what he really did and with what the Hittite records say.

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

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