Volume Iv.

LONDON

THE GROLIER SOCIETY

PUBLISHERS

THE FIRST CHALDEAN EMPIRE AND THE HYKSOS IN EGYPT

SYRIA: THE PART PLAYED BY IT IN THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD-- BABYLON AND THE FIRST CHALDAEAN EMPIRE--THE DOMINION OF THE HYKSOS: AHMOSIS.

Syria, owing to its geographical position, condemned to be subject to neighbouring powers-Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, the valley of the Orontes and of the Litany, and surrounding regions: the northern table-land, the country about Damascus, the Mediterranean coast, the Jordan and the Dead Sea-Civilization and primitive inhabitants, Semites and Asiatics: the almost entire absence of Egyptian influence, the predominance of that of Chaldaea.

Babylon, its ruins and its environs--It extends its rule over Mesopotamia; its earliest dynasty and its struggle with Central Chaldaea-Elam, its geographical position, its peoples; Kutur-Nakhunta conquers Larsam-Bimsin (Eri-Aku); Khammurabi founds the first Babylonian empire; Ids victories, his buildings, his canals--The Elamites in Syria: Kudurlagamar--Syria recognizes the authority of Hammurabi and his successors.

The Hyksos conquer Egypt at the end of the XIVth 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.