Egyptian History - Overview

Pre-Unification	Pre-3100 BC	There appear to have existed two confederations, which evolved into two "kingdoms" in the north and in the south of the country - Lower and Upper Egypt respectively. Eventually the two kingdoms were united.
Early Dynastic Period	c. 3100 - 2686 BC	Little is known of the history of the first two dynasties. The first dynasty, founded by Narmer (the Menes of history), began with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.
The Old Kingdom	c. 2686 - 2181 BC	The third dynasty marks the beginning of the Old Kingdom. Pharaoh Djoser, Imhotep and the Step Pyramid at Saqqara are of this period. Under the fourth dynasty, the three large pyramids at Giza were built. The fifth and sixth dynasties were part of this era too.
The First Intermediate Period	c. 2181 - 2050 BC	This was a period of political unrest following the collapse of the sixth dynasty. During this time of internal chaos, the seventh and eighth dynasties were very weak.
The Middle Kingdom	c. 2050 - 1786 BC	Emerging from the chaos of the First Intermediate Period, the ninth and tenth dynasties began to gain a grip upon the country and produce a stabilising influence. In the eleventh dynasty Nebhepetre Mentuhopte completed the reunification of Egypt. This re-unified period is known as The Middle Kingdom Under the twelfth dynasty the country was well organised and administered, with much activity at home and abroad.
The Second Intermediate Period	c. 1786 - 1567 BC	From the end of the twelfth dynasty to the beginning of the eighteenth dynasty, was a time of further instability, during which Asiatic settlers in the Delta region established rule in the north and began to extend south. They are generally known as the Hyksos. They were finally defeated and expelled from Egypt c.1567 BC by Amosis, founder of the eighteenth dynasty
The New Kingdom	1567 - 1085 BC	With the eighteenth dynasty, there was a time of expansion and growth. In religion there was the Amun/Aten controversy of the so-called Amarna period.
The Late Dynastic Period	1085 - 332 BC	The previous era ended in a division of the country with the priest of Amun holding sway in the south and the more secular authority ruling from the north. Eventually there were invasions and defeats inflicted by the Assyrians. Later, when the Babylonians came to power, they inflicted a crushing defeat on Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. Eventually, Egypt came under the control of the Persians against whom there were many struggles. Their deliverance came with the arrival of Alexander the Great in 332 BC, who, before leaving, was formally recognised as Pharaoh and founded the city of Alexandria.
The Ptolemaic Period	332 - 30 BC	Thus Egypt became part of the Macedonian Empire. Following the death of Alexander in 323 BC, the Greek Empire was divided, Ptolemy taking authority over Egypt, finally becoming King - Ptolemy Soter (Saviour). This marked the beginning of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, under which Egypt flourished. However, in the end, Greek power waned with the rise of the Romans and finally came to an end with the death of Cleopatra and her son Caesarion. In 30 BC Egypt became a Roman province.

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G. Jones:
The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh, Essex