Hyksos: The First Colonization Attempt in History

9 months ago

The Hyksos were west asian Semitic tribes (most probably Canaanites from modern day Levant, which consisted of Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Syria)

The Hyksos were the first foreign power to invade and rule Egypt for around 100 years (1650 BC - 1550 BC), establishing what is known as the 15th Dynasty.

The Hyksos didn’t invade Egypt using military power, they actually first arrived as refugees escaping drought and were granted asylum by the Pharaoh in an isolated eastern province in Egypt (known today as Sharkiya Governance) during the reign of the 12th Dynasty (2000 BC)

The Hyksos made sure to maintain their isolation (living in Ghettos), they never intermarried with mainstream Egyptians (men actually they used to send back home asking their relatives for a bride).

Over 500 years, they multiplied and finally succeeded to take control after the crumbling of the unstable Egyptian government during the 14th Dynasty.

The Hyksos did not control all of Egypt. Instead, they coexisted with the 16th & 17th Dynasties.

Warfare between the Hyksos and the pharaohs of the late 17th Dynasty eventually culminated in the defeat of the Hyksos by Ahmose I, who chased them out of Egypt (never to be heard of again in history) and founded the mighty 18th Dynasty of Egypt.

The Egyptian records have always portrayed the Hyksos as bloodthirsty, oppressive, uncivilized and unethical foreign nationals.

Some historians link the story of the Hyksos to the biblical records of Joseph, Moses and the Israelites.

#Africa #History #Egypt