Influence on Egyptian Society
Change in Organization of Army
Before the chariots were introduced, Egyptian Army was composed of infantry and minor naval forces. After chariots became one of the Egyptians' major weaponry, they added a group of chariotry to their army.
According to the textual evidences there were several new military titles from this time relating to chariotry, and experts point out that they are a group of elite. Chariotry is considered elite because it requires the soldier to take care of the horses, need to learn maintenance of the chariot, and it requires practices and skills to control it. In fact, royal sons such as Wadjmose, son of Tuthmose I, also was involved in chariotry.
According to the textual evidences there were several new military titles from this time relating to chariotry, and experts point out that they are a group of elite. Chariotry is considered elite because it requires the soldier to take care of the horses, need to learn maintenance of the chariot, and it requires practices and skills to control it. In fact, royal sons such as Wadjmose, son of Tuthmose I, also was involved in chariotry.
Change in Warfare
There were no similar weapon to chariot before it was introduced. Therefore, it definitely changed the Egyptian's way of fighting in the warfare.
The mobility of the chariot and a stability as a mobile archer platform was in fact proved through the experimental archaeology (click here for details). Considering the result of the experiment, Chariot enabled Egyptian Army to move large numbers of soldiers quickly and also able to open up the attack paths for the infantry which followed them from behind. The noises and the dust which were made by its wheel could have been able to scare off the enemies or diminish their will to fight.
The mobility of the chariot and a stability as a mobile archer platform was in fact proved through the experimental archaeology (click here for details). Considering the result of the experiment, Chariot enabled Egyptian Army to move large numbers of soldiers quickly and also able to open up the attack paths for the infantry which followed them from behind. The noises and the dust which were made by its wheel could have been able to scare off the enemies or diminish their will to fight.
New Image of Royal Propaganda
One of the obvious influence which the chariot made toward Egyptian society is that it became a new propaganda for the Pharaoh. Precisely Pharaoh is often shown on his chariot shooting arrows against his enemy.
However, the previous propaganda image of pharaoh smiting the head of his enemy is still used widely. For example, Medinet Habu, a mortuary temple of Ramesses III which dates to 20th Dynasty, has both the image of the usual smiting scene and the chariot scene.