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Predynastic Period:
5500 - 3100 BC.
Very little is known
of the pharaohs of
the early dynasties.
Egyptian
civilisation begins
with the unification
of the two lands of
Upper and Lower
Egypt by Menes
(Hor-Aha). |
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First Dynasty 3050 -
2890 BC |
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Second Dynasty 2890
- 2686 BC |
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OLD KINGDOM: 2686 -
2181 BC.
The coming of age of
Egyptian
civilisation. The
age of the pyramid.
3rd Dynasty pharaoh
Djoser builds his
Step Pyramid at
Saqqara. 4th Dynasty
pharaohs Khufu,
Khafre and Menkaure
build the Great
Pyramids of Giza. |
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Third Dynasty 2686 -
2613 BC |
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Fourth Dynasty 2613
- 2498 BC |
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Fifth Dynasty 2498 -
2345 BC |
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Sixth Dynasty 2345 -
2181 BC |
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First Intermediate
Period: 7th - 11th
Dynasties 2181 -
2055 BC.
Chaos, decline,
social and political
dissolution. A very
troubled time.
Breakdown of
centralised
government, with
many kings having
overlapping reigns.
Finally brought
under control by a
strong line of
Theban princes, and
the reunification of
Egypt by Mentuhotep
I. |
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MIDDLE KINGDOM: 2055
- 1650 BC.
Foreign trade and
enormous building
projects. Prosperity
existed for a long
period but
eventually internal
problems became
apparent. |
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Mid-Eleventh Dynasty
(Mentuhotep I) 2060
- 1991 BC |
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Twelfth Dynasty 1991
- 1782 BC |
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Thirteenth Dynasty
1782 - 1650 BC
(first half only) |
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Second Intermediate
Period: 13th
(latter) - 17th
Dynasties 1650 -
1570 BC.
The Hyksos invade
and conquer. Ahmose
I defeats the Hyksos
and the Theban
princes eventually
regain power. |
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NEW KINGDOM: 1570 -
1070 BC.
Extreme prosperity
and "renaissance" in
art and building
projects mark the
beginning of this
long period,
probably one of most
well known in
ancient Egyptian
history. However by
the end of the 19th
Dynasty, the
increasing power of
the priesthood
corrupts the central
government. The 20th
Dynasty sees many
tombs robbed by
officials, and the
priesthood becomes
hereditary and
assumes secular
power. The
government finally
breaks down. |
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Eighteenth Dynasty
1570 - 1293 BC |
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Nineteenth Dynasty
1293 - 1185 BC |
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Twentieth Dynasty
1185 - 1070 BC |
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Third Intermediate
Period: 21st - 24th
Dynasties 1070 - 664
BC.
The T.I.P represents
a distinct cycle
defined by loss of
unity at the end of
the New Kingdom to
the restoration of
unified authority
under Psamtek I.
Although the power
structure of the
T.I.P was now very
different from that
of the New Kingdom,
towns and cities
still continued to
flourish and the
econmony was
generally healthy.
The 21st - 24th
Dynasties is known
as the Libyan
Period, and the
system adopted by
the Libyan rulers
and modified by the
later 25th Dynasty
Kushites was
generally effective. |
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THE LATE PERIOD: 664
- 332 BC.
The country is
reunified under the
Saite ruler Psamtek
I. The Late Period
generally covers the
following four
clearly defined
phases: |
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Twenty Sixth Dynasty
(Saite) 664 - 525 BC |
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First Persian
Period: 27th Dynasty
525 - 404 BC. |
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Twenty Eighth
Dynasty 404 - 399
BC. A period of
independent rule: |
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Twenty Ninth Dynasty
399 - 380 BC |
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Thirtieth Dynasty
380 - 343 BC |
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Second Persian
Period: 31st Dynasty
343 - 332 BC.
The 31st Dynasty is
also known as the
Second Persian
Period. This second
occupation was a
period of
suppression and
rebellion resulting
in the Egyptians
welcoming the rule
of the Macedonian
leader Alexander. |
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THE MACEDONIAN AND
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD:
332 - 3O BC.
The Mediterranean
city of
Alexandria
was established by
Alexander the Great,
who "conquered"
Egypt in 332 BC.
After the death of
his half brother and
son, Alexander's
general Ptolemy I
became pharaoh. A
somewhat confusing
time due to many
co-regencies.
Scholars are not
always in agreement
on the order of
reigns, and in some
instances, of the
reigns themselves
from Ptolemy VI
through to Ptolemy
XI. Egypt's
authority was intact
until the death of
the infamous
Cleopatra, after
which Egypt was
inaugurated into the
Roman Empire. |
