Home Region: Northeast Africa (Africa)

Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period

1720 BCE 1567 BCE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 eg_thebes_hyksos / EgThebH

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

2016 BCE 1700 BCE Egypt - Middle Kingdom (eg_middle_k) [None]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1550 BCE 1293 BCE Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period (eg_new_k_1) [None]

Displayed:

Learn more about polity border choices. Map Modern Map only Opacity Year Play rate (y/s)
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.

General Description

During the Second Intermediate Period (c. 1720‒1567 BCE), or alternatively ’the Hyksos period and the Era of the Second Theban Petty State’, ^[1] Egypt as a whole once again experienced a phase of political decentralization, split into regions controlled by competing dynasties. The Hyksos (Fifteenth Dynasty) occupied the north. The Hyksos were a non-native Egyptian ruling clan who invaded Egypt from the Levant, establishing a military and bureaucratic stronghold at Avaris in the Nile Delta. ^[2] The area subject to Hyksos authority spread west and east across the delta and, at the polity’s peak in the mid-16th century BCE, probably reached as far south as Middle Egypt. ^[3] The Nile Valley south of Hermopolis was dominated by a rival power, the Theban kings of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Dynasties. ^[4] ^[5]
Population and political organization
Political fragmentation characterizes Egypt after the Middle Kingdom and the Hyksos invasion. In Upper Egypt, the Theban kingdom ruled by Egyptians (the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Dynasties) claimed a continuity with the Middle Kingdom, lasting about 100 years up to the end of the period. ^[6] ^[7] Egyptian archaeologist Josef Wegner has proposed based on finds near Abydos that a short-lived independent kingdom, an ’Abydos Dynasty’, existed alongside the Theban Sixteenth Dynasty but ’lost their independence as part of political events that led up to the Theban ascendancy’ of the Seventeenth Dynasty. ^[8]
Unfortunately, due to the disjointed nature of Egyptian politics at the time and the inconsistent material, ^[5] very little can be said about the population of the region during this period. The provincial organization of Theban Egypt at this time saw the king employ garrison commanders side-by-side with governors, or sometimes combined into one office. This may suggest ’a general militarization of the provinces’. ^[9] The governors of the provinces were often married directly into the family of the Upper Egyptian king. ^[9] At this time Upper Egypt was relatively poor and weak in relation to Lower Egypt. Among the achievements of the Hyksos administration at Avaris was the copying of the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, which required a scribe trained to the highest degree of skill and with access to a specialized mathematical archive, most likely at the Temple of Ptah at Memphis. ^[10] By contrast, although they carried out renovations of ancient Egyptian temples and portrayed themselves as restorers of order and harmony in the old pharaonic style, the Theban rulers and elite were cut off from the scholarly legacy of the Middle Kingdom because they lacked access to the centres of scribal learning at Memphis. ^[11] In order to maintain the crucial funerary rituals, they were obliged to create new compilations of texts (including one of the earliest known examples of the spell book we know as the Book of the Dead. ^[12]

[1]: (Morenz and Popko 2010, 102) Ludwig D. Morenz and Lutz Popko. 2010. ’The Second Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom’, in A Companion to Ancient Egypt, Volume 1, edited by Alan B. Lloyd, 101-19. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

[2]: (Bourriau 2003, 173) Janine Bourriau. 2003. ’The Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650-1550 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 172-206. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

[3]: (Bourriau 2003, 182) Janine Bourriau. 2003. ’The Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650-1550 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 172-206. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

[4]: (Lloyd 2010, xxxv) Alan B. Lloyd. 2010. ’Chronology’, in A Companion to Ancient Egypt, Volume 1, edited by Alan B. Lloyd, xxxii-xliii. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

[5]: (Bourriau 2003, 172-73) Janine Bourriau. 2003. ’The Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650-1550 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 172-206. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

[6]: (Wegner 2015, 68) Josef Wegner. 2015. ’A Royal Necropolis at South Abydos: New Light on Egypt’s Second Intermediate Period’. Near Eastern Archaeology 78 (2): 68-78.

[7]: (Morenz and Popko 2010, 106-08) Ludwig D. Morenz and Lutz Popko. 2010. ’The Second Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom’, in A Companion to Ancient Egypt, Volume 1, edited by Alan B. Lloyd, 101-19. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

[8]: (Wegner 2015, 73) Josef Wegner. 2015. ’A Royal Necropolis at South Abydos: New Light on Egypt’s Second Intermediate Period’. Near Eastern Archaeology 78 (2): 68-78.

[9]: (Shirley 2013, 557) J. J. Shirley. 2013. ’Crisis and Restructuring of the State: From the Second Intermediate Period to the Advent of the Ramesses’, in Ancient Egyptian Adminstration, edited by Juan Carlos Moreno García, 521-606. Leiden: Brill.

[10]: (Bourriau 2003, 181) Janine Bourriau. 2003. ’The Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650-1550 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 172-206. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

[11]: (Bourriau 2003, 188, 193) Janine Bourriau. 2003. ’The Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650-1550 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 172-206. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

[12]: (Bourriau 2003, 193) Janine Bourriau. 2003. ’The Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650-1550 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 172-206. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

3 Capital

5 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

2 Polity Succession

3 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

2 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

2 Power Transition

Instability Events

2 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos) was in:
(1720 BCE 1567 BCE)	Upper Egypt

Home NGA: Upper Egypt

General Variables

Identity and Location Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	36 R Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Original Name	Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Tell el Daba Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Thebes Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Avaris Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	15th Dynasty Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	16th Dynasty Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Hyksos Kingdom Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	17th Dynasty Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Second Intermediate Period Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	1555 BCE Expert
Loading...

Duration	[1720 BCE ➜ 1567 BCE] Expert
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity	Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Preceding Entity 2016 BCE 1700 BCE	Egypt - Middle Kingdom (eg_middle_k) [None] Expert
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 1550 BCE 1293 BCE	Egypt - New Kingdom Thutmosid Period (eg_new_k_1) [None] Expert
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	loose Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	nominal Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Language Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Afro-Asiatic Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Language	Ancient Egyptian Expert	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Religion Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[50,000 to 100,000] people	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Polity Territory	[10,000 to 20,000] km²	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Polity Population	- Undecided	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[4 to 5]	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Religious Level	[3 to 4]	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Military Level	6	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Administrative Level	[5 to 6]	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Professions Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Professional Priesthood	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Professional Military Officer	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Bureaucracy Characteristics Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Examination System	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Law Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Judge	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Court	Present Uncertain	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Court	Absent Uncertain	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Irrigation System	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Food Storage Site	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Port	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Canal	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Bridge	Unknown Suspected	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Information / Writing System Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Script	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Nonwritten Record	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Non Phonetic Writing	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Sacred Text	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

History	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Calendar	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Information / Money Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Precious Metal	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Paper Currency	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Foreign Coin	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Article	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

General Postal Service	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Courier	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moat	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Ditch	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Long Wall	absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Iron	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Copper	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Bronze	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Projectiles Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Sling	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Self Bow	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Javelin	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Crossbow	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Sword	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Spear	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Polearm	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Dagger	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Elephant	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Donkey	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Dog	Unknown Suspected	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Camel	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Armor Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Shield	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Absent Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Helmet	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Chainmail	Absent	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Naval technology Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present Inferred	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Transitional (Absent -> Present)	1720 BCE 1567 BCE
Loading...

Human Sacrifice Egypt - Thebes-Hyksos Period (eg_thebes_hyksos)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More