The Second Intermediate Period in ancient Egypt, dated from 1700 to 1550 BCE,^[51] was a time of fragmentation and political turmoil, marked by the decline of central authority and the rise of different dynasties. This period saw the end of the Middle Kingdom with the death of Queen Sobekneferu around 1802 BCE and the emergence of the 13th to 17th Dynasties.^[52] The 13th Dynasty, starting with King Sobekhotep I, struggled to maintain control over Egypt, facing rapid succession of rulers and eventually collapsing, leading to the rise of the 14th and 15th Dynasties.

The 14th Dynasty, concurrent with the late 13th Dynasty, was based in the Nile Delta and had a series of short-lived rulers, ending with the takeover by the Hyksos. The Hyksos, possibly migrants or invaders from Palestine, established the 15th Dynasty, ruling from Avaris and coexisting with the local 16th Dynasty in Thebes.^[53] The Abydos Dynasty (c. 1640 to 1620 BCE)^[54] may have been a short-lived local dynasty ruling over part of Upper Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period in Ancient Egypt and was contemporary with the 15th and 16th dynasties. The Abydos dynasty stayed rather small with rulership over just Abydos or Thinis.^[54]

The 16th Dynasty, described differently by Africanus and Eusebius, faced continuous military pressure from the 15th Dynasty, leading to its eventual downfall around 1580 BCE.^[55] The 17th Dynasty, formed by Thebans, initially maintained peace with the 15th Dynasty but eventually engaged in wars against the Hyksos, culminating in the reigns of Seqenenre and Kamose, who fought against the Hyksos.^[56]

The end of the Second Intermediate Period was marked by the rise of the 18th Dynasty under Ahmose I, who expelled the Hyksos and unified Egypt, heralding the start of the prosperous New Kingdom.^[57] This period is crucial in Egyptian history for its reflection of political instability, foreign influences, and the eventual reunification and strengthening of the Egyptian state.