Vth dynasty; the founding
of Avaris--Uncertainty both of ancients and moderns with regard to the
origin of the Hyksos: probability of their being the Khati--Their kings
adopt the manners and civilization of the Egyptians: the monuments of
Khiani and of Apophis I. and II--The XVth dynasty._

_Semitic incursions following the Hyksos--The migration of the
Phoenicians and the Israelites into Syria: Terah, Abraham and his
sojourn in the land of Canaan--Isaac, Jacob, Joseph: the Israelites go
down into Egypt and settle in the land of Goshen._

_Thebes revolts against the Hyksos: popular traditions as to the origin
of the war, the romance of Apophis and Saquinri--The Theban princesses
and the last Icings of the XVIIth dynasty: Tiudqni Kamosis, Ahmosis
I.--The lords of El-Kab, and the part they played during the war of
independence--The taking of Avaris and the expulsion of the Ilylcsos._

_The reorganization of Egypt--Ahmosis I. and his Nubian wars, the
reopening of the quarries of Turah--Amenothes I. and his mother
Nofritari: the jewellery of Queen Ahhotpu--The wars of Amenothes I.,
the apotheosis of Nofritari--The accession of Thutmosis I. and the
re-generation of Egypt._

CHAPTER I--THE FIRST CHALDAEAN EMPIRE AND THE HYKSOS IN EGYPT

_Syria: the part played by it in the ancient world--Babylon and the
first Chaldaean empire--The dominion of the Hyksos: Ahmosis._

Some countries seem destined from their origin to become the
battle-fields of the contending nations which environ them. Into such
regions, and to their cost, neighbouring peoples come from century to
century to settle their quarrels and bring to an issue the questions of
supremacy which disturb their little corner of the world. The nations
around are eager for the possession of a country thus situated; it
is seized upon bit by bit, and in the strife dismembered and trodden
underfoot: at best the only course open to its inhabitants is to join
forces with one of its invaders, and while helping the intruder to
overcome the rest, to secure for themselves a position of permanent
servitude. Should some unlooked-for chance relieve them from the
presence of their foreign lord, they will probably be quite incapable of
profiting by the respite which fortune puts in their way, or of making
any effectual attempt to organize themselves in view of future attacks.
They tend to become split up into numerous rival communities, of which
even the pettiest will aim at