The advent of the SIP (or Second Intermediate Period) was brought on by the incursion of the Hyksos. They were an Asiatic people of unknown origin who infiltrated the Delta region of Egypt. They came into Northern Egypt and, by all accounts, simply took control of all facets of government down to the reaches of Thebes. It was in Thebes that the traditional Egyptian Dynasty survived as the XVII Dynasty c. 1650 - 1550. In the North, the Hyksos set up their own kings and started the XV Dynasty of Egypt based in the city of Avaris. They were accepted by later kings of Egypt as legitimate kings by their inclusion in the Turin King's List by Manetho in the time of Ramses II.  Many of their names have been lost and it appears to have been a troubled time for Egypt as the regins of the kings appear to have been fairly short.

It has been suggested that the 'Six Great' Hyksos kings of this period had help from Egyptian collaboraters since they took over so easily and seemed to assume all the prior responsibilites and titles of the Egyptian king. Plus the names of the princesses of the Hyksos also point towards an intermarriage between the Thebeans and the Hyksos.

While to the historians of later Egypt view the incursion of the Hyksos as being a total disaster, it can be said that the ideas and materials introduced to the country, helped to insure that Egypt would be a player in the coming Bronze Age of the Middle East. The Hyksos brought with them bronze for weapons to replace the copper previously used. They also brought in silver in larger amounts for use in statues and jewelry. The Hyksos also showed Egypt the use of the chariot for the first time as well as innovations in armor and weapons. Not only instruments of war but of peace was brought with the Hyksos, such as the upright loom, new musical instruments, olive trees, and hump-back bulls.

The later part of the SIP was one wracked with wars and battle fought with the Thebean kings who recovered from their shock and tried to fight back against the invaders.  It began with Kamose (c.1554 - 1550) who pressed up the Nile and won victories against the Hyksos and pushed the border further northward. It was his successor Amosis, however that saw the defeat of the Hyksos. He pushed over the borders and destroyed the capital of Avaris and drove the Asiatics out of Egypt. Just for insurance, he even pushed into southern Palestine to totally drive them from Egypt's lands.

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