egyptbc.com

You will note that we have called this section “estimated timeline” as no-one knows these dates with any kind of certainty, despite the great record-keeping of the Egyptians of the time.

Even the Egyptians themselves tried to “alter” history by changing and deliberately falsifying records on tombs and monuments, especially during the reign of Rameses II who became prolific at altering the recorded data of his predecessors to enhance his own reputation.

700,000 BC - Earliest evidence of humans in Egypt.

500,000 BC - Evidence for lower Paleolithic culture in Egypt.

250,000 - 90,000 BC - Earliest evidence found of buildings in Egypt

60,000 BC - The Nile assumes it’s present course

13,000 - 9,000 BC   - First evidence of ritual burial in Egypt, also evidence of agriculture.  

10,000 - c. 5,500 BC - Evidence for more consistent settlement along the banks of the Nile.

4000 - 3000 BC - Predynastic Period.

3200 BC - Earliest dated hieroglyphs.

3150 BC - Upper and lower Egypt unite around this time.  

3000 BC - Late Predynastic Period evidence individual rulers of Egypt. Evidence for Egyptian trade (especially myrrh for incense) with other lands.

2929 - 2770 BC - Early Dynastic Period - Archaic Period - Egypt is definitely united.  

Dynasty I Dynasty II 2750 BC - First recorded exploration expedition from Egypt.  

2600 BC - The wheel comes into use in the Indus Valley.

2575 - 2134 BC - Pharaohs become recognised as living gods on earth.

Dynasties III - VIII  

Dynasty III  King Djoser’s step pyramid (designed by Imhotep) built at Saqqara. It is the first monumental building of stone. Dynasty IV Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Mankaure built at Giza. The sphinx is sculpted from rock. Astronomers create a solar calendar based on 365 Days Dynasties V and VI Powerful and wealthy individuals have mastaba tombs. 

2134 - 2040 BC 1st Intermediate Period Dynasties IX - X - Egypt splits into provinces that war with each other. Famine results.

2000 BC - Bronze age in the Middle East. King Menuhotep reunites Egypt.

Dynasty XII Lower Nubia is conquered, irrigation practiced, pyramids are built again. Literature becomes an important art form.

Dynasty XIII The Hyksos, a foreign people settle in Egypt. Egyptians abandon Nubia 

1800 BC - Book of the Dead appears in tombs. It contains instructions for entering the afterlife and protective spells.

1640 - 1532 BC  2nd Intermediate Period Dynasties XIV-XVII

Dynasty XIV Phoenicians and Palestinians settle in Egypt.

Dynasty XV - XVI (Hyksos) The Hyksos usurp Egyptian Rulers, make contact with rulers of Nubia.

Dynasty XVII (Theban)  Thebes dynasty rules with the Hyksos, but then try to expel the Hyksos. Egyptian military use horse drawn chariots. 

1550 - 1070 BC New Kingdom Dynasties

XVIII-XX

Dynasty XVIII Thutmoside the Hyksos are expelled, Nubia reconquered. Egypt is unified once again, and then expands to control Syria and Palestine. Kings begin hiding their tombs - separate from their mortuary temples in the Valley of the Kings.

1500 BC+ - The Ebers Papyrus is written recording methods of diagnosis, treatment, spells and recipes for medicines.  Earliest metalwork in South America.

1485   BC - After ruling as regent for her stepson Thutmosis III, Hapshepsut declares herself Pharaoh of Egypt.

1380 BC (circa) - Amarna period - Ankhenaten and Nefertiti establish and enforce a monotheistic religion based upon the solar disk, the Aten.  Visual arts and literature become much more naturalistic.  Tutankhamun restores traditional religion.

1325 BC - Tutankhamun entombed.

Dynasty XIX  First Ramesside Egyptians fight with the Hittites and then make peace, then conquer Israel.

1290 BC - Ramesses II succeeds to the throne.  He was one of the most powerful pharaohs in Egyptian history.  He lived to be at least 90 years old, commissioned many building projects, include Abu Simbel and fathered an estimated 400 children.

Dynasty XX  Second Remesside Remesses III repels dislocated tribes from Asia Minor (aka Sea Peoples).  Moses and the Israelites exodus from Egypt.  Time of political and economic decline.  Priests gain power.

1070 - 712 BC - 3rd Intermediate Period Dynasty XXI Tanite Egypt is divided - partly ruled by a Dynasty in the Nile delta which shares power with the high priests of Amun at Thebes.  Egyptians trade for iron and iron tools.  Secret reburial of royal mummies from plundered tombs.

Dynasty XXII-XXIII Lybian Egypt is further fragmented - many dynasties, including those with rulers of Lybian descent coexist.  Art declines.

Dynasty XXIV Saite 712- 332 BC  - Late Period Dynasty XXV Kushite Napatan Egypt is reunited under Kushite (Nubian) invaders, art and architecture once again thrive, until Assyrians invade.

Dynasty XXVI Saite The Assyrians withdraw and kings from Sais (the western delta) rule. Greeks begin to settle in Egypt.

525-330 BC - Late Dynastic Period Dynasty

XXVII First Persian Domination. Acheamenid Persians invade and rule Egypt.

Dynasty XXVIII Rebellion - Persians are repelled.

Dynasty XXIX Mendesian.

Dynasty XXX Last of the Native Egyptian Dynasties.

Dynasty XXXI Second Persian Domination.

332 BC - 395 AD - Greco-Roman Period

332-305 BC - Macedonian Rule - Alexander the Great frees Egypt from Persian rule. They declare him Pharaoh. He founds Alexandria which becomes one of the centers of learning and trade in the ancient world.

304-30 BC - Ptolemaic Dynasty - Descendants of the Greek general Ptolomy (including Cleopatra) rule, after Alexander’s death, but Egyptian Style is preserved. Ptolomaic Egypt had a large empire, at times including parts of Syria, Asia Minor, Cyprus, Lubya, Phonecia, and parts of other lands.

229 BC - The library at Alexandria is founded with the mission to collect all the books in the inhabited world. 

146 BC - The Rosetta stone is cut. It contains writing in ancient Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphics.

30 BC - Roman Conquest - Cleopatra VII and Antony are defeated by Augustus Caesar. Major buildings are built in Egyptian style, but Greco-Roman features mix with Egyptian elements. Egypt becomes a source of wealth and grain. Occasional attacks by Ethiopians.