Periods of Ancient Egyptian History

Early Dynastic Period (3100-2890 BC)

There is certainly proof of peoples task in the Western Desert as far back as 8000 BC, but what we regard as ancient Egypt started in 3100 BC with the unification of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt by King Narmer (also known as Menes), whom created a money at Memphis.

Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC)

Also referred to as the Age of the Pyramids, successive dynasties of kings raised a chain of pyramids, the maximum of that have been the trio at Giza. Subsequently, bad harvests depleted the royal coffers, which led to a decline in royal power, signified by a decrease in the size of pyramids.

First Intermediate Period (2181-2055 BC)

With this unstable amount of ancient Egyptian history there were numerous ephemeral kings. The weakening of centralized power led to the establishment of regional dynasties, particularly at Herakleopolis within the Fayoum Oasis and Thebes within the south.

Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BC)

The powerful warlord Montuhotep II conquered the north to reunite the nation with Thebes (modern-day Luxor) as its new capital, which expanded into a major metropolis.

Throughout the river, 1st tombs and funerary temples were built at the root of the Theban Hills in the west bank of the Nile.

2nd Intermediate Period (1650-1550 BC)

Migrants from lands north of Egypt, called Hyksos, assumed control and allied with Nubia to dominate southern Egypt. The United States became at the mercy of periodic civil war.

New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC)

With all the reunification of north and south and the expulsion associated with Hyksos, Egypt joined a Golden Age, expanding its rule into Asia Minor so when far as the Euphrates. Captured treasures enriched the royal powerbase at Karnak, chair associated with the mightiest pharaohs including Ramses II.

Third Intermediate Period (1069-715 BC)

The newest Kingdom offered method to four hundreds of years of disunity and international infiltration, with Egypt again divided in to north (ruled from Tanis within the Delta) and south (ruled by the priests of Karnak) and at the mercy of invasion by Libyans and Nubians.

Belated Period (747-332 BC)

The belated Period started with the Assyrian invasion of Egypt, followed closely by the Persians in 525 BC. The Persians ruled for 200 years interrupted only by the short-lived 30th Dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs (380-343 BC), the final indigenous rulers until the Revolution of 1952.

Graeco-Roman Period (332-30 BC)

In 332 BC the Macedonian king Alexander the Great "liberated" Egypt from the Persians and founded their new money, Alexandria, in the Mediterranean.

He had been succeeded by their trusted general Ptolemy, who founded a dynasty that ruled for 275 years closing aided by the dramatic loss of the past associated with the Ptolemies, Cleopatra VII, fan of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.

Following the Pharaohs

With the beat and suicide of Cleopatra in 30 BC, Egypt became area of the Roman empire. It stayed beneath the rule of Rome, accompanied by that of Constantinople, capital associated with the Eastern Roman empire, before the arrival of conquering Arab armies in AD 640.

Top 10 Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt

Narmer (c.3100 BC)

The king who began 30 dynasties of ancient Egyptian royalty.

Djoser (2667-2648 BC)

Djoser's architect Imhotep built the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the entire world's oldest rock monument.

Khufu (2589-2566 BC)

A ruthless pharaoh, but celebrated whilst the builder associated with the Great Pyramid at Giza.

Montuhotep II (2055-2004 BC)

Reunited Egypt to initiatethe Center Kingdom.

Ahmose (1550-1525 BC)

Defeated the Hyksos to reunite Egypt yet again and begin the maximum period of Pharaonic history.

Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BC)

Egypt's only girl pharaoh and builder of a striking mortuary temple at Thebes.

Tuthmosis III (1479-1425 BC)

a military genius whose victories expanded the Egyptian empire to its furthest extents.

Akhenaten (1352-1336 BC)

Labelled as the "Heretic King" due to his tries to embrace monotheism.

Ramses II (1279-1213 BC)

Ramses II's 66-year reign saw royal construction on a huge scale, particularly at Abu Simbel.

Cleopatra (51-30 BC)

Cleopatra VII's death taken to a conclusion 3,070 years of ancient Egyptian history