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Egypt    →   Intro to Egypt    →    ©
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
Predynastic Period 5300-3000 BC
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
Founding of Egypt ~3,100 BC
Early Dynastic Period 3000-2686 BC
First Dynasty 2950-2775 BC
Second Dynasty 2775-2650 BC

Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii

Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
Old Kingdom 2700-2200 BC 2575-2125 BC The Old Kingdom was a stable and prosperous period that followed Egypt’s development during the Early Dynastic Period. Government power was held by the king, who was regarding as more divine than in any other period. The state religion focused on the sun-god Re, especially in the Fifth Dynasty when special solar temples were erected at Abu Gurab. From this date onwards every king bore the title Son of Re. Expeditions were sent outside Egypt’s frontiers to obtain goods. Copper was mined in Sinai; diorite was brought in from quarries in Nubia; and trade was conducted with the Near East. Some tomb inscriptions of Sixth Dynasty nobles describe in detail the expeditions they commanded, some using force and others peace. Under the strain of reduced central authority and growing provincial power, the Old Kingdom collapsed at the end of the Sixth Dynasty following the long reign of King Pepi II.
Third Dynasty 2650-2575 BC
Fourth Dynasty 2575-2450 BC
Fifth Dynasty 2450-2325 BC
Sixth Dynasty 2325-2125 BC
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Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii

Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
1st Intermediate Period 2200-2040 BC 2125-1975 BC A time of civil war.
Seventh Dynasty
Eighth Dynasty
Ninth/Tenth Dynasty 2125-1975 BC Only in Herakleopolis
Eleventh Dynasty 2080-1975 BC Only in Thebes
Eleventh Dynasty 1975-1940 BC All of Egypt

Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii

Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
Middle Kingdom 2040-1785 BC Began 2050 BC The Middle Kingdom began ~2050 BC when a family of Theban princes garnered hegemony over the entire nation by defeating a dynastic line from Heracleopolis. This victory was not complete until the reign of Mentuhotpe II, though his predecessors were later regarded as legitimate rulers of Egypt. The Middle Kingdom was an era of renaissance, trade, quarrying, mining and military campaigns.
Ammenemes I May have been vizier to Mentuhopte IV.
Twelfth Dynasty 1940-1756 BC The capital was moved to Itj-tawy near Faiyum, where brick pyramid tombs of the kings still stand. A system of co-regencies was established between the king and his succession, ensuring a peaceful transfer of power that gave the Twelfth Dynasty great stability. Also strengthening the Twelfth Dynasty was Egyptian king Sesostris III’s reduction of wealthy local governors’ power. Egypt’s foreign contact increased, as shown by Egyptian objects found in Syria and Palestine. Egypt extended its southern frontier into Nubia and established fortresses in the Second Cataract region.
Thirteenth Dynasty 1755-1630 BC
Ammenemes III Power began to decline after the reign of Ammenemes III.
Ammenemes IV The Middle Kingdom neared collapse.
Sebnekneferu End of the Middle Kingdom.
Fourteenth Dynasty
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
2nd Intermediate Period 1785-1552 BC

Egypt’s central government weakened, allowing Asiatic kings based in the eastern Delta to seize power of Lower Egypt and set up an independent regime in ~1650 BC. These Asiatic kings were known as the Hyksos, based on the Egyptian phrase meaning rulers of foreign lands. Hyksos power grew over all of Egypt but was based in Avaris and never directly controlled Thebes.

The Hyksos strove to accomodate native customs and beliefs, contrary to their modern reputation of violence. The brought innovations to Egypt, including the horse and chariot. The Hyksos was met with resistance by the Seventeenth Dynasty, a new family of Theban rulers whose last king, Kamose, sacked Avaris; the Hyksos were finally defeated and expelled from Egypt under the reign of Kamose’s brother, Amosis, who founded the New Kingdom.

Fifteenth Dynasty 1630-1520 BC The reign of Hyksos kings.
Sixteenth Dynasty
Seventeenth Dynasty
Kamose
Amosis Founder of the New Kingdom.

Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii

Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
New Kingdom 1552-1069 BC
Eighteenth Dynasty 1539-1292 BC
Nineteenth Dynasty 1755-1630 BC
Twentieth Dynasty 1190-1075 BC
Ramses III
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
3rd Intermediate Period 1552-1069 BC A time of foreign invasion and civil war.
Twenty-First Dynasty
Twenty-Second Dynasty
Twenty-Third Dynasty
Twenty-Fourth Dynasty
Twenty-Fifth Dynasty
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
Late Period 712-332 BC
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
Ptolemaic Period 332-30 BC
Period or Event King Time-Frame Overview
Roman Period 30 BC – AD 395

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