The Second Intermediate Period Leaders and Government Hyksos

The Second Intermediate Period

Leaders and Government - Hyksos were first foreign rulers of Egypt - The last Egyptian ruler before the Hyksos takeover was Merneffera Ay - They integrated Egyptian culture and religion - The power of the 13 th dynasty was very weak which made it easy for the Hyksos leaders to take over - The 14 th dynasty saw the traditional Egyptian pharaoh-kings gradually lose their grasp over Egypt - During the 15 th and 16 th dynasties the Hyksos kings seized power - The last two kings of the 17 th dynasty were credited with the final defeat of the Hyksos

Areas of Takeover - The Hyksos took over Memphis to itj-tawy - This area had been fought over between the Hyksos and the Egyptians - Hyksos expanded southward from the Delta and overran most of Egypt, led by Salitis, the founder of the 15 th dynasty - Hyksos seized power and plunged Egypt into disarray and at the end of the 16 th dynasty Itjtawy fell to the Hyksos - Native Egyptian ruling house of Thebes declared its independence from the Hyksos and set up the 17 th dynasty, this event later proved to be the salvation of Eygpt

The Recovery of Egypt -Seqenenre Tao II tried to stir up enough commotion to have a war against the Hyksos so that the hated foreigners could be expelled -Seqenenre fought in Memphis against the Hyksos and lost -His sons continued the battle -Kamose one of Seqenenre sons, improved the military and was believed to have driven the Hyksos out as far as Avaris - The second intermediate period ended when an Egyptian monarch named Ahmose drove the Hyksos from Avaris into Palestine

Armies • Introduced horse and chariot warfare • The Hyksos also introduced many new weapons to war like the compound bow, and the dagger • Pharaohs chariot was always at front of army • The Egyptian army was highly trained and disciplined • After Hyksos invasion Egyptians worked hard to re-establish power through the area and most importantly through there army

Egyptian Expansion • Egyptians didn’t return to power until 17 th dynasty • Hyksos were first foreign rulers • Wasn’t a large empire as they had little movement • Based solely through Egypt • Hyksos takeover disturbed piece Egyptians had previously enjoyed for many years

Hostile Takeover • The Hyksos were foreigners who effectively dethroned the local Egyptians of there power • The land from Memphis to itj- tway was an important piece controlled by the locals for decades • The Hyksos gained control and superior power over it in the 13 th

Egyptian imports and exports • The Hyksos were very familiar with trading to the eastern Mediterranean • A main trading partner was Rome • There most important export was wheat •

Conflict • This was not a peaceful time as the constant fighting with Hyksos took a toll • The Egyptian strategy involved using the Mediterranean sea to protect there flanks • Included 30 year with invaders from north • Egypt held small are of land surrounding thebes • Two empires signed truce to end war

Work • Traded with Mediterranean but didn’t have much other trade because it was a time of despair so there weren’t as many jobs • Work wasn’t very easy to get since Egypt was on a downfall

Agriculture • This period was a time of large famine • The sudden population increase was a main cause • The Egyptians waited for Nile to flood • Nile would deposit rich, dark soil • Would irrigate that • What was a very large crop

Change in stability • Hyksos created change in stability and power • They forced war change through Egypt as they dominated with new inventions • They brought new development to agriculture • Made Egypt unstable and less powerful due to 30 years of fighting