Second Intermediate Period

    The kings who followed the rulers of the 12th dynasty were unable to handle the problems of the state or cope with harem conspiracies, reassertion of local independence by the monarchs, or the usurpation of authority by the viziers. Upper and Lower Egypt were split apart and ruled by rival dynasties, the 13th and 14th. This situation invited foreign attack, which was not long in coming.

     About 1674 B.C. an Indo-European people called Hyksos (Hik’sos), a term meaning “rulers of foreign land,” were driven from Palestine by another group of Indo-Europeans, the Hurrians, and entered Egypt. They conquered Lisht about 1640 B.C. and established the 15th and 16th dynasties of the Second Intermediate Period with their capital in the eastern Delta. The Hyksos were able to defeat the Egyptians because of their superior military technology. They were more mobile warriors, using horses and chariots (introduced by the Indo-Europeans), a stronger bow, a new type of bronze sword, and better fortification techniques.

     The Hyksos occupation was a severe humiliation for the Egyptians, although there was no wide spread famine as in the First Intermediate Period, and politically some unity remained because the bureaucracy remained intact. The Hyksos forced the monarchs to pay tribute, which was collected from the labors of the peasants in their districts, and enjoyed revenues produced from the commerce which they promoted and encouraged. This allowed the Egyptian monarchs to maintain their positions, and eventually the monarchs of Thebes were able to marshal enough resources to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

Section 11

Section 13