Hyksos, << HIHK sahs, >> were herders from Palestine and nearby areas who settled in ancient Egypt in the 1700’s B.C. They gradually seized control of Egypt from the pharaohs (kings). The Hyksos dominated Egypt until 1550 B.C. They introduced the horse, the horse-drawn chariot, new weapons, and perhaps a new type of fortification in Egypt. These changes later helped Egypt to build a vast empire. The Hyksos are sometimes called shepherd kings, but the Egyptian word hyksos is best translated as foreign chieftains. See also Egypt, Ancient (The Middle Kingdom) .
