The Hyksos, invaders from Western Asia, took advantage of a weakened Egypt and gained control of Lower and Middle Egypt around 1650 BCE. They had superior weapons like bronze and chariots. Many Egyptian towns surrendered without resistance, moving to Thebes in Upper Egypt. The Hyksos established trade alliances that cut off Thebes. Kamose became king of Thebes and began attacking the Hyksos and their allies. His younger brother, Ahmose, finally defeated the Hyksos after a three-year campaign, reunifying Egypt and beginning its New Kingdom period.

1. Episode 12: The Hyksos J. Marshall 2013

2. BCE/CE

4. Hyksos invaders
• Egypt got
complacent
(lazy)
Hit Lower and
Middle Egypt
BRONZE weapons +
Chariots Egyptians gave up; they didn’t die
(like mobile artillery) fighting.

6. Egyptian Chariot

7. (Hutwaret)– Capital of Egypt
under the Hyksos
• SOME say it
wasn’t a
violent
invasion
• But really a
combo of
immigration
and invasion

8. • Town after town gave
up – they moved to
Thebes
• The Hyksos created
trade alliances with
Kush – leaving the
Egyptians at Thebes
out (the Egyptians lost
Nubian gold this way).

9. Upper Egypt gets
weak

10. Apepi
• Hyksos ruler of the lower Kingdom
• Thebes revolts against Apepi, but
their king, SeqenenreTaa the Brave,
dies.

11. Seqenenre

12. Seqenenre

13. Kamose
Stela
• Kamose, takes
over at Thebes
• Hyksos used
propaganda – pay
a tax = get free
land
• Kamose attacks
Kushites (gets
Nubian support).

14. Kush:the
kingdom south
Nubia, south of
Egypt
Apepi wants the
people of Kush to
help him fight and
destroy Kamose
and the Egyptians
at Thebes

15. Kamose
• Kush never sent its
army down stream
to help Apepi.
• Kamose dies before
he can give full
defeat to Apepi.

16. Ahmose
• Just 10
years old
• Encircled
the Hyksos
capital,
captured it,
then killed
and looted
all.

17. Upper Nile Region
Abu /

18. Ahmose chased the Ahmose took the
Hyksos for 3 years. crown of Upper
and Lower
Teddy the Kingdom and theis
Handsome rose begins the New
anew in Nubia. Kingdom.
Ahmose went south
and broke the This gives birth to
rebels. a new EMPIRE in
Egypt.

19. fin