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Egypt    →   Ancient Egypt    →   2nd Intermediate Period    →    ©
Timeline of Ancient Egypt: Second Intermediate Period
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
2nd Intermediate Period 1785-1552 BC

Egypt’s central government weakened, allowing Asiatic kings based in the eastern Delta to seize power of Lower Egypt and set up an independent regime in ~1650 BC. These Asiatic kings were known as the Hyksos, based on the Egyptian phrase meaning rulers of foreign lands. Hyksos power grew over all of Egypt but was based in Avaris and never directly controlled Thebes.

The Hyksos strove to accomodate native customs and beliefs, contrary to their modern reputation of violence. The brought innovations to Egypt, including the horse and chariot. The Hyksos was met with resistance by the Seventeenth Dynasty, a new family of Theban rulers whose last king, Kamose, sacked Avaris; the Hyksos were finally defeated and expelled from Egypt under the reign of Kamose’s brother, Amosis, who founded the New Kingdom.

Fifteenth Dynasty 1630-1520 BC The reign of Hyksos kings.
Sixteenth Dynasty
Seventeenth Dynasty
Kamose
Amosis Founder of the New Kingdom.

Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii

Avaris

Amorite/Canaanite (Canaanites refer to Amorites coming from region of Canaan) center in eastern Delta. Capital of XV Dynasty of Egypt (~1,600-1,530 BC), time of breakdown of Egyptian central control thus allowing foreigners to take control of themselves. This is an Egyptian site with obvious Canaanite characteristics, indicating Canaanite spread. Settled from start of MBA. Largest Canaanite population in MB IIC. Amorite cultural practices: ceramics (dietary customs); burials (mortuary customs) and temples (rituals).

Feature Overview
Minoan Fresco The “Theran” Minoan Fresco at Avaris. It’s not like you can just take a picture of a style and then reproduce it at home. If something looks Minoan then it required the skill set of Minoan artsits. They must have thus been at least “loaned out” to these places and suggests a very connected world.
Hyksos Scarabs The “Hyksos” scarabs were used for impressing seals and also jewelry. But the hieroglyphs on these don’t really mean anything because in the Hyksos period all these things found in Canaan are purely artistic borrowings of Egyptian hieroglyphs. They just want to look Egyptian. Asiatics in Canaan have these lookalikes.
Tots in Pots “Tots in pots” refers to Asiatic children being buried in same fashion as Canaan. In Canaan you’ll find MBA jars with infants in them dug into the ground. Burial customs are very conservative and do not readily change.

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