Final answer:
The period beginning around 1550 BCE, marked by Ahmose I reuniting Egypt, is known as the New Kingdom. The correct answer is option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time period that began around 1550 BCE when Ahmose I reunited Egypt is known as the New Kingdom. This era followed the Second Intermediate Period and marked a time when Egypt became the most powerful and expansive it had been to date. Ahmose I's expulsion of the Hyksos marked the beginning of the New Kingdom and his reign established Egypt as a significant power in the Near East.
This period is also characterized by several famed pharaohs, such as Amenhotep I, Queen Hatshepsut, and Ramesses II. The New Kingdom saw the expansion of Egyptian influence into Nubia, Palestine, and even into Mesopotamia, partly thanks to the adoption of new military technologies like bronze and composite bows. It was a time of prosperity, extensive architectural endeavors, and significant advancements in the arts and trade.
During the New Kingdom, Egypt experienced extensive trade with the Near East and saw growth in the arts, likely because of the peace and prosperity brought about through military conquests and economic expansion. This period produced many of the architectural treasures in the Near East and was a time when the pharaohs, now warriors and builders, were at their most influential.
To summarize, the time period beginning around 1550 BCE with Ahmose I's unification of Egypt is called the New Kingdom, which is the correct option for the question posed by the student.