c.1786-1550 or 1650-1550 (but see article on ancient Egyptian dates)
The 2nd Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt -- another period of de-centralization, like the first -- began when the 13th Dynasty pharaohs lost power (after Sobekhotep IV) and Asiatic "Hyksos" took over. The 2nd Intermediate Period ended when an Egyptian monarch from Thebes, Ahmose, having driven the Hyksos into Palestine, reunified Egypt, and established the 18th Dynasty, the start of the period known as the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt.
- More on the 2nd Intermediate Period
- Hyksos
