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This chronology is intended to help readers navigate the vast tract of time known as ancient Egyptian history. The chronology outlines the development of Egyptian civilization through its many periods and comments briefly on the historical features of each principal era.

Egyptologists divide Egyptian history into twelve major periods. Over the centuries, periods of strong central government, or kingdoms, alternate with intermediate eras of weaker central authority and reliance on local rule. In the Prehistoric Period (5000–4400 b.c.e.), most people were farmers and there was no central government. The Predynastic Period (4400–3000 b.c.e.) reveals traits that anticipate classical Egyptian culture and customs. The Early Dynastic Period (3000–2675 b.c.e.) witnessed the first centralized government in Egypt. The next period, the Old Kingdom (2675–2170 b.c.e.), is often called the Pyramid Age and produced the best-known monuments of ancient Egypt. Centralized government dissolved at the end of the Old Kingdom, leading to the First Intermediate Period (2170–2008 b.c.e.), a transitional era that existed “between kingdoms” and was marked by local rule. After it followed the Middle Kingdom (2008–1630 b.c.e.), a time of renewed central government and impressive artistic and literary production. A second gradual breakdown of central government, however, led to the Second Intermediate Period (1630–1539/1523 b.c.e.), which was dominated by West Semitic foreigners ruling in the north of Egypt while local princes of Thebes controlled the south. Egypt began to look outward with the beginning of the New Kingdom (1539–1075 b.c.e.), when a strong, wealthy central government held sway over the ancient northeast African and Near Eastern world. A Third Intermediate Period (1075–656 b.c.e.) followed, and foreign rulers from Libya and Nubia commanded the scene. The centralized government led by Libyans introduced the Late Period (664–332 b.c.e.), when foreign rule by Persians added to the rich mix of peoples living in Egypt. Alexander the Great’s invasion resulted in the Ptolemaic Period (332–30 b.c.e.), which saw the blending of Egyptian and Greek culture. The Romans took control of Egypt in 31 b.c.e. with the defeat of the Egyptian navy of Cleopatra VII and Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium. Rule from Rome and subsequently from the Eastern Roman Empire’s capital of Constantinople officially continued until the arrival of Arab rulers in Egypt in 642 c.e.

A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt

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A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt

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