Ahmose I was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned from around 1550 to 1525 BCE. He is best known for founding the Eighteenth Dynasty and for driving out the Hyksos, a group of foreign rulers who had occupied northern Egypt. His military campaigns helped reunify Egypt, marking the beginning of the New Kingdom period. During his reign, Ahmose I initiated significant building projects, including the expansion of temples and the construction of the city of Thebes. He is also credited with promoting trade and restoring the economy, which had suffered during the Hyksos occupation. His legacy laid the groundwork for a prosperous era in ancient Egypt.