Final answer:
The pharaohs of ancient Egypt faced opposition from various internal and external groups. The New Kingdom was marked by military strength due to advancements in technology such as bronze weaponry and the composite bow. Mamluk soldiers opposed non-Mamluk rulers, believing only those who underwent the same training and enslavement were worthy to rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
Opposition to the pharaohs in ancient Egypt could come from various sources, including royal officials, the priesthoods, and external forces like the Hyksos or the Nubians. The extreme measures that Egyptian soldiers sometimes took against their enemies, such as mutilating the bodies of the dead, were seen as praiseworthy within their cultural context, highlighting different values and norms of the time. The army of Merneptah took the genitalia or hands of defeated Libyans as war trophies, reflecting the brutality of warfare during that era.
Egyptian kings were interested in Nubia due to its strategic location and resources, and the referenced excerpt suggests that the strength of the Nubian army was significant enough to form risky alliances, as seen during the Hyksos occupation. However, the Nubian army's strength was eventually overcome under the expansionist campaigns of New Kingdom pharaohs.
The Mamluk army opposed rule by non-Mamluks because they believed that only those who had experienced the same rigorous training and enslavement (they themselves underwent) were deemed worthy to rule (option c).
Opposition to the Ptolemies and the New Kingdom Military Changes
The Ptolemies faced internal opposition, losing control over parts of Egypt at times. The New Kingdom, on the other hand, was a period of expansion and military strength, where Egyptian control spread into Mesopotamia, aided by the adoption of superior bronze military technology and the composite bow.