The Imperial Age — The World-State — Triumph of Re — Earliest Monotheism — Ikhnaton

The Imperial Age—The World—State Makes Its Impression on Religion—Earliest Monotheism—Ikhnaton

(Period: 1580 to 1350 B.C.)

Nationalism in religion and thought—It yields to universalism after establishment of Egyptian Empire—Earliest evidences—Solar universalism under Amenhotep III—Opposition of Amon—Earliest national priesthood under High Priest of Amon—Amenhotep IV—His championship of Sun-god as "Aton"—His struggle with Amonite papacy—He annihilates Amon and the gods—He becomes "Ikhnaton"—Monotheism, Aton sole god of the Empire—A return to nature—Ethical content of Aton faith—The intellectual revolution—A world-religion premature—Ikhnaton the earliest "individual."