Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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We explore the mega fortresses of Bronze Age Egypt! You can take control of the Nile and fight for survival during the Bronze Age Collapse with Total War: Pharaoh play.totalwar.com/Invicta

This history documentary covers the story of how Ancient Egypt defended its southern border. We first introduce the Egyptian civilization and the Nubian civilization which fought for control over the Nile along its numerous cataracts. This comes to a head in the Middle Kingdom with the reign of Senusret the Third who embarks on an ambitious building program to strengthen the Nubian frontier with a series of massive fortresses. In the ensuing New Kingdom period, these would be used to launch a complete conquest of the Nubian lands to the south.

We bring these to life in 3D by reconstructing the Buhen fortress of ancient Egypt. This involves highlighting the key defensive features of its desert wall, the Nile wall, and the inner citadel. Such a massive fortress would have stood as one of the strongest bastions of the Bronze Age and could have held out against virtually any siege. Cinematic battles in total war are great and all but they pale in comparison to the True Size of this fortress as we have rendered it in Unreal Engine 5.

Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
02:38 The Borders of Egypt
04:17 Nubian Fortifications
06:21 Methods of Construction
08:13 Buhen Fortress
09:42 The Desert Wall
13:10 The Gatehouse
14:22 The Nile Wall
16:10 The Citadel
18:29 Central Facilities
19:14 Commander's HQ
21:04 Review of the Defenses
22:56 Outro

Sources and Suggested Reading:
The Fortifications of Ancient Egypt 3000–1780 BC by Osprey Publishing
The Middle Kingdom Egyptian Fortresses in Nubia by Brian Yare
Buhen by Randall-MacIver
Nubia, A Drowning Land by Margaret Drower

Credits:
Research = Sophia Ware
Script = Sophia Ware
Narration = Invicta
Art = Penta Limited

#history
#documentary
#totalwar