[close] The motives for Thutmosis III's military campaigns in the Near East are far from clear. Based on a detailed study of the royal annals, Goedicke attempts to piece together a better picture of the political events leading up to the period of Egyptian expansion, Thutmosis's aims, his instructions to the army, the battle of Megiddo, its aftermath, the siege of Megiddo and its eventual surrender. Goedicke also presents additional sources for the major events. [close]