Final answer:
Thutmose III expanded the Egyptian empire primarily through military conquest, acquiring resources and preserving influence. He also used diplomatic alliances, including marriages, trade, and economic expansion, as well as cultural assimilation of captives and hostages to secure Egypt's dominance.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Thutmose III Expanded the Egyptian Empire
Thutmose III expanded the Egyptian empire through a variety of strategies. One primary method was through military conquest, where campaigns in regions like Canaan and Syria helped to subdue rivals such as the Hittite kingdom and Mitanni, securing wealth in the form of treasures and resources such as horses, sheep, and wheat. This not only pacified enemies but also preserved Egypt's international influence and contributed economically to the state.
In addition to military might, Thutmose III and his successors used diplomatic alliances, often through marriage, as Thutmose IV did with a daughter of the Mitanni king, to strengthen ties and maintain a balance of power in the region. Trade and economic expansion were also crucial, with the control of vital trade routes to Mesopotamia further cementing Egypt's economic dominance.
Egypt also practiced cultural assimilation by encouraging immigration and settling captives as farmers among Egyptians, thus fostering speedy acculturation. Hostages, often sons of subjugated kings, were raised and educated in Egypt, doubling as cultural bridges and ensuring loyalty from their native lands.