2nd Intermediate Period Overview
- Neolithic Period: 4500-3000 BCE
- Early Dynastic: 3000-2650 BCE
- Old Kingdom: 2650-2150 BCE
- 1st Intermediate Period: 2150-2040 BCE
- Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 BCE
- 2nd Intermediate Period: 1640-1550 BCE
- New Kingdom: 1550-1070 BCE
- 3rd Intermediate Period: 1070-712 BCE
- Saite and Late Periods: 712-332 BCE
- Greco-Roman Period: 332 BCE-642 CE
- Coptic Period: 395-642 CE
- Islamic Period and Modern Times: 642 CE-Today
SECTION NAVIGATION
- Neolithic Period: 4500-3000 BCE
- Early Dynastic: 3000-2650 BCE
- Old Kingdom: 2650-2150 BCE
- 1st Intermediate Period: 2150-2040 BCE
- Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 BCE
- 2nd Intermediate Period: 1640-1550 BCE
- New Kingdom: 1550-1070 BCE
- 3rd Intermediate Period: 1070-712 BCE
- Saite and Late Periods: 712-332 BCE
- Greco-Roman Period: 332 BCE-642 CE
- Coptic Period: 395-642 CE
- Islamic Period and Modern Times: 642 CE-Today
The Second Intermediate Period
1640 BCE – 1550 BCE
After the Middle Kingdom Egypt lost interest in maintaining its borders, the king withdrew troops and allowed the Nubians to occupy its southern forts.
Meanwhile, semitic immigrants called the “Hyksos” entered Egypt and settled in the north. Hyksos rulers competed with the native Egyptians and even allied with the Kushites/Nubians.
Seqenenre Tao and Kamose, the two final pharaohs of the Second Intermediate Period, fought back against the Hyksos. After Kamose died, his younger brother Ahmose (after waiting a few years to come of age) ousted the last of the Hyksos and became the first pharaoh of the New Kingdom.