It's the term used for the "new" period of Ancient Egyptian history from the 18th to the 20th dynasty
The 18th, 19th, and early 20th Dynasties brought Egypt to its height... [DOC] [TLE] Egypt: New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (1550-712 BC) [PAR] Egypt: New Kingdom & 3rd Intermediate Period ... to as the Egyptian Empire, is 
the period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and the 11th 
century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of 
Egypt.