| Period or Event | King | Time-Frame | Overview |
| Predynastic Period | 4500-3100 BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Badarian | 4500-3800 BC | ||
| Naqada I | 3850-3650 BC | ||
| Naqada II | 3650-3300 BC | ||
| Naqada III | 3300-3100 BC | ||
| Scorpion I | Scorpion I is known for his Tomb U-J at Abydos, the oldest tomb at Abydos. Tomb U-J was plundered in antiquity but during excavations was still found to contain many small ivory plaques. Each ivory plaque had a hole for tying, and had a scratched hieroglyph-type image thought to be town names; perhaps they labeled offerings from towns he conquered, and the necessity for organization brought about the Egyptian hieroglyphic system. | ||
| Scorpion II | Known for the Scorpion Macehead. | ||
| Period or Event | King | Time-Frame | Overview |
| Founding of Egypt | ~3,100 BC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Dynastic Period | 3100-2750 BC | ||
| Dynasty I | 3100-2900 BC | ||
| Narmer | |||
| Dynasty II | 2900-2750 BC | ||
| Peribsen | Unlike the Dynasty II kings who had all been buried at Saqqara, King Peribsen chose to be buried at Abydos alongside the Dynasty I kings. There may have been internal conflict at the time, which contributed to his decision to place Seth atop his serekh on the stela at his tomb. | ||
| Khasekhemwy |
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 | ||
| Djoser | 2630-2611 BC | Djoser built the Djoser Complex, his tomb at Saqqara. It was designed by the architect Imhotep and had the first pyramid as well as first use of columns. | |
| Fourth Dynasty | 2575-2450 BC | ||
| Snefru | Snefru built three pyramids — the Meidum Pyramid (exterior casing collapsed) at Meidum; the Bent Pyramid (the incline was changed midway to avoid collapse) at Dashur; and the Red Pyramid (first true accomplished pyramid ever) at Dashur. | ||
| Khufu | Khufu built the first and largest pyramid on the Giza plateau. | ||
| Radjedef | |||
| Khafre | Built the second pyramid at Giza. Despite being smaller, it was built on a higher elevation and its causeway passed the sphinx and led to a valley temple at the feet of the sphinx. Looking at the sphinx, his pyramid is visible looming in the background. | ||
| Menkaure | Menkaure built the third pyramid at Giza, which was on a smaller scale than Khafre’s and Khufu’s pyramids at Giza. | ||
| Shepseskaf | |||
| Fifth Dynasty | 2450-2325 BC | ||
| Userkaf | Userkaf built a relatively small pyramid at Saqqara that fell within the enclosure of the Djoser Complex. Subsequent Dynasty V rulers built their complexes at Abusir. | ||
| Sahura | |||
| Neferirkara | |||
| Sheseskara | |||
| Raneferef | |||
| Neuserra | |||
| Menkauhor | |||
| Djedkara | |||
| Unas (Wenis) | Unas and the Dynasty VI kinds built their tombs at Saqqara. The burial chamber of Unas heralded the first appearance of Pyramid Texts. | ||
| Sixth Dynasty | 2325-2125 BC | ||
| Teti | |||
| Pepy I | |||
| Merenra | |||
| Pepy II | |||
| Collapse | |||
| Numerous Kings | |||
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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