Egyptian Timeline

Nile River

3200 BCE

This river begins in Africa and is the longest river in the world. It flooded annually and helped provide nutrient rich soil to the land around it, which the Egyptian called the "Black Land". Most of the time it was predicted as to when it would flood. The river splits into two branches and splits Egypt into upper and lower Egypt. It was also the fastest way to travel through the land.

Early Dynastic Period

3100 BCE

Manetho divided the Egyptian land into 31 dynasties. The first royal Egyptian dynasty was ruled by King Menes who united upper and lower Egypt into a single kingdom. The early dynastic period included the old kingdom.

The Old Kingdom part 1

2686 BCE

The old kingdom included the the third through the sixth dynasties of Egyptian kings. It was an age of prosperity and splendor, during this time they built the largest pyramids of Egypt's history. The capitol of the old kingdom was located in Memphis, south of the Nile Delta.

The construction of the Great Pyramids

2540 BCE

The Great Pyramid was constructed in Giza for the pharaoh Khufu. It covers thirteen acres and measures 756 feet at each side of its base and stands 481 feet tall. Its 4 sides are almost perfectly oriented to the four cardinal directions. Herodotus reported it took 100,000 Egyptians 20 years to build.

Old Kingdom part 2

2181 BCE

The king of Egypt, also known as a pharaoh, was the ultimate ruler of the land and had no equals. Although they had absolute power they were supposed to follow a set of principles called "Ma'at". It was a spiritual precept and conveyed the idea of truth, harmony, and justice.

Old Kingdom part 3

2181 BCE

Although they had absolute power they didn't rule alone, initially their family members helped carry out tasks to help with the kingdom. But by the fourth dynasty a bureaucracy had formed. The most important job was the vizier, "Steward of the Whole Land". This person was in charge of the bureaucracy. Agriculture and the treasury were the most important departments. Egypt was divided in 22 provinces

1st Intermediate period

2180 BCE

A decline in rainfall led to low levels of the Nile river which led to the collapse of the old kingdom. During this period new centers of powers established rival dynasties such as Heracleopolis, near lower Egypt, and Thebes, near upper Egypt. The king of Thebes defeated the ruler of Heracleopolis and unified all of Egypt which began the Middle Kingdom.

Middle Kingdom

2055 BCE

The Middle Kingdom was portrayed as the golden age, it was very stable during this time period. The boundaries of each Nome were settled precisely and the obligations of each Nome was clearly known. The pharaohs cared more for the people and was portrayed as more of a Shepard. As a confirmation of its new strength Egypt conquered lower Nubia and built fortresses there.

Middle Kingdom part 2

1650 BCE

The Old and Middle Kingdom of Egypt were structured very similar and some pyramids were built.

2nd Intermediate period

1649 BCE

The middle kingdom came to an end with an incursion into the delta region by the Hyksos. They dominated most of Egypt during this era however their presence wasn't entirely negative as they taught Egyptians how to use bronze and introduced new weapons such as the horse drawn war chariot, heavier swords, and compound bows. Pharaoh Ahmose 1 defeated the Hyksos reuniting Egypt, founded the 18th dynasty and established the new kingdom.

New Kingdom

1550 BCE

The New Kingdom was a more militaristic and imperialist kingdom, their army was more professional. Thutmosis the first conquered the Kingdom of Nubia, Thutmosis the third led 17 military campaigns into Palestine and Phoenicia. The New Kingdom reached its high point during the reign of Amenhotep the third. Was famous for the 70 foot tall statues of himself in front of the mortuary temples along the Nile.

Hatshepsut declares herself pharaoh

1473 BCE

Hatshepsut was the wife of Thutmosis the 2nd, she served as regent for her stepson Thutmosis the 3rd after her husbands death. In 1473 she proclaimed herself pharaoh and began to dress as a man

A growing military challenge

1430 BCE

Egypt begins to have tension with the Hittites, Amenhotep and his son were unable to deal with the threats.

The Hittites make peace with the Egyptians

1330 BCE

For about 100 years the Hittites were in conflict with Egypt until Ramses the 2nd made a remarkable non aggression treaty that stabilized their nations.

New Kingdom part 2

1200 BCE

Amenhotep tried to inspire religious change by introducing a new god as the chief god. At which point he also changed his name to Akhenaten and closed the temples of the other gods. He replaced the capitol of Thebes with the new capitol of Akhetaten. However, no one liked him because of it and his successor Tutankhamen returned the government to Thebes and brought back the old gods.

New Kingdom part 3

1070 BCE

During the 19th dynasty, Ramses the 2nd Egypt regained control of Palestine. But invasions by the "Sea People" destroyed their power in Palestine and drove them back into their homeland. Finally the New Kingdom itself expired during the 20th dynasty.

Post Empire Egypt

1070 BCE

For the next thousands of years despite periodic revival of strength Egypt was controlled by Libyans, Nubians, Syrians, Persians, and Macedonians after the conquest of Alexander the Great. Egypt then became a province in the Roman empire.

Herodotus

450 BCE

Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, visited Egypt and took notes on how the Egyptians mummified their dead.

The final pharaoh of Egypt

51 BCE

Cleopatra was the last active pharaoh of Egypt, after her reign was over Egypt then became a province of the Roman Empire

Library of Alexandria

31

This library was one of the most significant libraries of the ancient world. It was constructed in the 3rd century BC until the Roman conquest in 30 BC.