-
Period: 3150 BCE to 30 BCE
Egyptian timeline
-
3100 BCE
Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt (c. 3100 BCE)
Pharaoh Narmer (Menes) is traditionally credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt, marking the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period. -
2650 BCE
The Building of the Step Pyramid
Djoser, the second king of the Third Dynasty, commissions the first pyramid, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, designed by the architect Imhotep. -
Period: 2580 BCE to 2560 BCE
The Great Pyramid of Giza Construction
Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) oversees the construction of the Great Pyramid, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, during the Fourth Dynasty. -
2550 BCE
Reign of Pharaoh Khafre and the Sphinx
Khafre builds the second pyramid at Giza and constructs the Great Sphinx, possibly to honor himself. -
2200 BCE
Decline of the Old Kingdom
Following the reign of Pepi II, Egypt enters a period of instability known as the First Intermediate Period, marked by decentralization and famine. -
2055 BCE
The Rise of Mentuhotep II
Mentuhotep II, the ruler of the 11th Dynasty, reunites Egypt after the First Intermediate Period, beginning the Middle Kingdom. -
Period: 1929 BCE to 1895 BCE
Reign of Amenemhat II
Amenemhat II strengthens Egypt’s military and expands trade, bringing Egypt prosperity during the Middle Kingdom. -
1700 BCE
The End of the Middle Kingdom
The Middle Kingdom ends with the invasion of the Hyksos, a Semitic people who take control of the Delta region. -
1550 BCE
The Expulsion of the Hyksos
Ahmose I, the founder of the 18th Dynasty, drives the Hyksos out of Egypt, marking the beginning of the New Kingdom. -
Period: 1479 BCE to 1458 BCE
Reign of Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs, expands Egypt’s trade networks and commissions major building projects, including her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. -
Period: 1479 BCE to 1425 BCE
The Reign of Thutmose III
Known as the "Napoleon of Egypt," Thutmose III expands Egypt’s empire to its greatest extent, leading numerous military campaigns in the Levant and Syria. -
Period: 1353 BCE to 1336 BCE
Reign of Akhenaten
Akhenaten introduces monotheism, worshipping the sun disk Aten, and relocates the capital to the newly built city of Akhetaten (modern-day Amarna). -
1336 BCE
The Amarna Revolution
After Akhenaten’s death, the restoration of traditional polytheism and the return of the capital to Thebes takes place under his successor, Tutankhamun. -
Period: 1279 BCE to 1213 BCE
The Reign of Ramses II
Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, conducts military campaigns, including the famous Battle of Kadesh, and builds monumental structures such as Abu Simbel. -
1274 BCE
The Battle of Kadesh
The Battle of Kadesh, fought between Egypt under Ramses II and the Hittites, ends in a stalemate, leading to one of the first known peace treaties in history. -
1177 BCE
The Invasion of the Sea Peoples
Ramses III successfully defends Egypt from the Sea Peoples, a group of seafaring raiders who invade the Eastern Mediterranean. -
1100 BCE
The Decline of the New Kingdom
Following the reign of Ramses III, Egypt faces invasions, internal strife, and economic decline, leading to the collapse of the New Kingdom and the Third Intermediate Period. -
747 BCE
The Rise of the Kushite Dynasty
The Kushite Dynasty (25th Dynasty) is established when Piye of Nubia conquers Egypt and unites it under his rule, bringing stability for a time. -
675 BCE
The Conquest of Egypt by the Assyrians
Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria invades Egypt, ending the power of the Kushite dynasty and initiating the period of Assyrian control over Egypt. -
525 BCE
The Persian Conquest
Cambyses II of Persia conquers Egypt, marking the start of the First Persian Period and the loss of Egyptian sovereignty to foreign powers.