The Hyksos, foreign rulers of Egypt in the Second Intermediate Period--from about 1700 to 1550 B.C.--have been a source of continuing debate among archaeologists and historians. Mr. Van Seters approaches the problems of their rise to power, their dynasties, the nature of their rule, and their religion from the joint perspectives of archaeology and literary criticism. Archaeological investigation shows the Middle Bronze culture of Syria-Palestine to have had highly developed fortifications, advanced urban life, fine buildings and temples, and a high quality of practical and artistic craftsmanship. Based on a revised date for the long-known The Admonitions of Ipuwer, this study offers a fresh explanation of the Hyksos' rise to power. A new examination of the location of Avaris, their capital, indicates that the previous identification with Tanis must give way to the region near Qantir. The Hyksos were not Hurrians or Indo-Aryans, but Ammurite princes who rose to power in Egypt following the dynastic weaknesses at the end of the Middle Kingdom.

The Hyksos were a foreign dynasty, which dominated Egypt from their capital in the Nile delta during the politically unstable Second Intermediate Period (1782-1570 BC). This book explores the religion, politics and customs of the Hyksos and provides a concise overview of this short period of Egyptian history.

Manetho's obscure reference to a race of invaders has been a constant source of debate and controversy. This book assesses the rise to power of the Hyksos, exploring the preliminary stages that enabled them to gain control over a portion of Egyptian territory and thus to merit a small mention in Manetho's history.

The Hyksos, foreign rulers of Egypt in the Second Intermediate Period--from about 1700 to 1550 B.C.--have been a source of continuing debate among archaeologists and historians. Mr. Van Seters approaches the problems of their rise to power, their dynasties, the nature of their rule, and their religion from the joint perspectives of archaeology and literary criticism. Archaeological investigation shows the Middle Bronze culture of Syria-Palestine to have had highly developed fortifications, advanced urban life, fine buildings and temples, and a high quality of practical and artistic craftsmanship. Based on a revised date for the long-known The Admonitions of Ipuwer, this study offers a fresh explanation of the Hyksos' rise to power. A new examination of the location of Avaris, their capital, indicates that the previous identification with Tanis must give way to the region near Qantir. The Hyksos were not Hurrians or Indo-Aryans, but Ammurite princes who rose to power in Egypt following the dynastic weaknesses at the end of the Middle Kingdom.

For many centuries it was accepted that civilization began with the Greeks and Romans. During the last two hundred years, however, archaeological discoveries in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Crete, Syria, Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus Valley have revealed that rich cultures existed in these regions some two thousand years before the Greco-Roman era. In this fascinating work, H.W.F Saggs presents a wide-ranging survey of the more notable achievements of these societies, showing how much the ancient peoples of the Near and Middle East have influenced the patterns of our daily lives. Saggs discussesthe the invention of writing, tracing it from the earliest pictograms (designed for account-keeping) to the Phoenician alphabet, the source of the Greek and all European alphabets. He investigates teh curricula, teaching methods, and values of the schools from which scribes graduated. Analyzing the provisions of some of the law codes, he illustrates the operation of international law and the international trade that it made possible. Saggs highlights the creative ways that these ancient peoples used their natural resources, describing the vast works in stone created by the Egyptians, the development of technology in bronze and iron, and the introduction of useful plants into regions outside their natural habitat. In chapters on mathematics, astronomy, and medicine, he offers interesting explanations about how modern calculations of time derive from the ancient world, how the Egyptians practiced scientific surgery, and how the Babylonians used algebra. The book concludes with a discussion of ancient religion, showing its evolution from the most primitive forms toward monotheism.

This volume contains the proceedings of a seminar which focused on the Hyksos against the background of Middle Bronze Age civilizations, with the primary objective of examining the diverse data, methodologies and interpretations that have emerged from the rather meager textual evidence, and particularly from the results of the extensive archaeological exploration of Egypt, Nubia, Palestine, Syria, Anatolia, Cyprus, and the Aegean. Symposium Series 8 University Museum Monograph, 96

This is a history of Ancient Egyptian and Israelite sites. From the intro: "This volume marks a new departure in the course of British excavations in Egypt. Hitherto the Egyptian Research Account has been a small resource for the promotion of the work of students; and, as such, it has enabled several to obtain that footing in the subject from which they have gone on to more important positions. It has been for eleven years a basis for the new men who have been entering upon work in Egypt. Now it has been largely expanded, and with the support of most of the British authorities in archaeology and history, it has taken the more permanent position of the British School of Archaeology in Egypt. Such it has long been de facto; but de facto in Egyptian affairs is not always de jure. It is well at last to adapt the name to the facts, and place this beside the schools at Athens and Rome, as the basis for British students. My best thanks personally are due to those who have helped this change with their counsel and names: to the Earl of Cromer for so cordially accepting the position of Patron of the School; to our Treasurer, the Director of the Society of Antiquaries, for continuing his support; and to none more than to Prof. Ernest Gardner, whose long experience at the British School at Athens adds weight to his opinions. The heavy work of the organizing and correspondence, which was undertaken by my wife, has been much lightened by the kind co-operation of Dr. J. H. Walker, to whom we owe many thanks. This expansion of public interest has enabled me to continue my excavations in Egypt, and the direction of students, on a larger scale than in the past two years. The limitations of the Exploration Fund, with which I had worked, led to that basis being withdrawn, greatly to my regret; such a break was entirely contrary to my wishes. Yet, when changes thus came about, it seemed fitting that a broader width of interests should be connected with the present position of Egyptology in England, which has developed so much in the last quarter of a century."