During the Egyptian period, more than 300 pharaohs ruled bringing their own brick to the longest civilization ever. This page summarizes the history of the different dynasties that ruled in Egypt from the first pharaoh to the Roman emperors. The Neolithic Period On the piece of land called Egypt, two cultures were living. One in upper Egypt and the other one in lower Egypt. They were living separately, they hadn't any common ruler. The Predynastic Period Dynasty 0 (3100 BC) The scorpion king of Egypt unites upper and lower Egypt to form one single kingdom. Nechen becomes the capital of Egypt. Narmer is supposed to be the first pharaoh. The Old Kingdom 1st Dynasty 3I00 - 2890 BC Narmer Aha Djer Djet Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qaa The newly founded Memphis becomes capital of Egypt. First appearance of organised irrigation in the whole land. During this time papyrus was invented and writing was accordingly used as an administrative tool of government. This created the conditions for prosperity, which can be seen in the magnificent artefacts that have been found from this period. 2nd Dynasty 2890 - 2686 BC Hetepsekhemwy Raneb Nynetjer Peribsen Khasekhem At the end of the 1st dynasty there appears to have been rival claimants for the throne. The successful claimant’s Horus name, Hetepsekhemwy, translates as "peaceful in respect of the two powers". But the political rivalry was never fully resolved and in time the situation turned into conflict. The fourth pharaoh, Peribsen, took the title of Seth instead of Horus and the last ruler of the dynasty, Khasekhem, took both titles. Towards the end of this dynasty, there seems to have been more disorder and possibly civil war. 3rd Dynasty 2686 - 2613 BC Sanakht Djoser Sekhemkhet Huni This period is one of the landmarks of Human history. A prosperous age and the appearance of the worlds first great monumental building, the Pyramid. The artistic masterpieces in the tombs of the nobles show the martial wealth of this time. Djosers' Step Pyramid at Saqqara is the first large stone building and the forerunner of later pyramids. 4th Dynasty 2613 - 2494 BC Sneferu Cheops Radjedef Chephren Menkaura Shepseskaf Egypt was able to accomplish the ambitious feat of the Giza pyramids because there had been a long period of peace and no threats of invasion. So their energies were spent in cultivating art to it’s highest forms. The fourth dynasty came from Memphis and the fifth from the south in Elephantine. The transition from one ruling family to another appears to have been peaceful. 5th Dynasty 2494 - 2345 BC Userkaf Sahura Neferirkara Kakai Shepseskara Isi Raneferef Nyuserra Menkauhor Akauhor Djedkara Isesi Unas The first two kings of the fifth dynasty, were sons of a lady, Khentkaues, who was a member of the fourth dynasty royal family. There was an institutionalisation of officialdom and high officials for the first time came from outside the royal family. The pyramids are smaller and less solidly constructed than those of the fourth dynasty, but the carvings from the mortuary temples are well preserved and of the highest quality. There are surviving papyri from this period which demonstrate well developed methods of accounting and record keeping. They document the redistribution of goods between the royal residence, the temples, and officials. 6th Dynasty 2345 - 2181 BC Teti Userkara Pepy I Merenra Pepy II There are many inscriptions from the sixth dynasty. These include records of trading expeditions to the south from the reigns of Pepi I. One of the most interesting is a letter written by Pepy II. The pyramid of Pepi II at southern Saqqara is the last major monument of the Old Kingdom. None of the names of kings of the short-lived seventh dynasty are known and the eighth dynasty shows signs of political decay.
First Intermediate Period 7th and 8th Dynasties 2181 - 2125 BC About this time the Old Kingdom state collapsed. Egypt suffered political failure and environmental disaster. There was famine, civil disorder and a rise in the death rate. With the climate of Northeast Africa becoming dryer, combined with low inundations of the Nile and the cemeteries rapidly filling, this was not a good time for the Egyptians. The years following the death of Pepy II are most obscure. The only person from this era to have left an impression was a woman called Nitokris who appears to have acted as king. For a time petty warlords ruled the provinces. Then from the city of Herakleopolis there emerged a ruling family led by Khety who for a time held sway over the whole country. However, this was short lived and the country split into North, ruled from Herakleopolis and South, ruled from Thebes. Whereas the Theban dynasty was stable, kings succeeded one another rapidly at Herakleopolis. There was continual conflict between the two lands which was resolved in the 11th dynasty.
The Middle Kingdom 11th Dynasty 2125 - 1991 BC Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep I Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III The Middle Kingdom begins with the reunification of the country under Mentuhotep I who ousted the kings of Herakleopolis. He assumed the Horus name Divine of the White Crown, claiming all of Upper Egypt. This was later changed to Uniter of the Two Lands. His remarkable mortuary complex at Dayr al-Bahri was the architectural inspiration for Hatshepsut's temple which was built alongside some 500 years later 12th Dynasty 1991 - 1782BC BC Amenemhet I Sesostris I Amenemhet II Sesostris II Sesostris III Amenemhet III Amenemhet IV Queen Sobeknefru Amenemhet I moved the capital back to the Memphis. There was a revival of Old Kingdom artistic styles. He later took his son, Sesostris as his co-regent. During the 10 years of joint rule Sesostris undertook campaigns in Lower Nubia which led to its conquest. Amenemhet was murdered during Sesostris' absence on a campaign in Libya, but Sesostris was able to maintain his hold on the throne and consolidated his father's achievements. Sesostris III reorganised Egypt into four regions the northern and southern halves of the Nile Valley and the eastern and western Delta. He and his successor Amenemhet III left a striking artistic legacy in the form of statuary depicting them as ageing, careworn rulers. It was during this period that the written language was regularised in its classical form of Middle Egyptian. The first body of literary texts was composed in this form, although several are ascribed to Old Kingdom authors. The most important of these is the "Instruction for Merikare," a discourse on kingship and moral responsibility. Queen Sobeknefru, the first female monarch marked the end of the dynastic line. 13th Dynasty 1782-1650 BC Wegaf Intef IV Hor Sobekhotep II Khendjer Sobekhotep III Neferhotep I Sobekhotep IV Ay Neferhotep II 14th dynasty The true chronology of the 13th dynasty is rather vague since there are few surviving monuments from this period. There were many kings who reigned for a short time, who were not of a single family and some were born commoners. The last fifty years represents a gradual decline. It seems that after the death of Ay, the eastern Delta broke away under its own petty kings (14th dynasty). There is even less known about this dynasty.
The Second Intermediate Period 15th Dynasty 1650-1550 BC Sheshi Yakubher Khyan Apepi I Apepi II The Middle Kingdom fell because of the weakness of its later kings, which lead to Egypt being invaded by desert people called the Hyksos. These invaders made themselves kings and held the country for more than two centuries. The word Hyksos goes back to an Egyptian phrase meaning "ruler of foreign lands". They were sacrilegious invaders who despoiled the land. They presented themselves as Egyptian kings and appear to have been accepted as such. They tolerated other lines of kings within the country, both those of the 17th dynasty and the various minor Hyksos who made up the 16th dynasty. 16th Dynasty 1650-1550 BC Anather Yakobaam The Hyksos, sometimes referred to as the Shepherd Kings or Desert Princes, sacked the old capital of Memphis and built their capital at Avaris, in the Delta. The dynasty consisted of five possibly six kings, the best-known being Apepi I, who reigned for up to 40 years. Their rule brought many technical innovations to Egypt, from bronze working, pottery and looms to new musical instruments and musical styles. New breeds of animals and crops were introduced. But the most important changes was in the area of warfare; composite bows, new types of daggers and scimitars, and above all the horse and chariot. In many ways the Hyksos modernised Egypt and Ultimately Egypt was to benefit from their rule. 17th Dynasty 1650-1550 BC Sobekemsaf Intef VII Tao I Tao II Kamose While the Hyksos ruled northern Egypt a new line of native rulers was developing in Thebes. They controlled the area from Elephantine in the south, to Abydos in the middle of the country. The early rulers made no attempt to challenge the Hyksos but an uneasy truce existed between them. However, the later rulers rose against the Hyksos and a number of battles were fought. King Tao II, also know as Seqenenre, was probably killed in one of these battles since his mummy shows evidence of terrible head wounds. It was to be one of his sons Ahmose, the founder of the Eighteenth dynasty, who was to expel the Hyksos from Egypt.
The New Kingdom 18th Dynasty 1550-1295 BC Ahmose Amenhotep I Thutmose I Thutmose II Hatshepsut Thutmose III Amenhotep II Thutmose IV Amenhotep III Amenhotep IV Neferneferuaten Tutankhamen Ay Horemheb This family began a period of unprecedented success in international affairs for Egypt. There was a succession of extraordinary and able kings and queens who laid the foundations of a strong Egypt and bequeathed a prosperous economy to the kings of the 19th dynasty. There was Ahmose who expelled the Hyksos, followed by Thutmose I's conquest in the Near East and Africa. Queen Hatshepsut and Thutmose III who made Egypt into an ancient super power. The magnificent Amenhotep III, who began an artistic revolution. Akhenaton and Nefertiti who began a religious revolution, the concept of one god. Finally there was Tutankhamen who is so famous in our modern age. 19th Dynasty 1295 - 1186 BC Rameses I Seti I Rameses II Merenptah Amenmessu Sety II Saptah Tausret Seti I's reign looked for its model to the mid-18th dynasty and was a time of considerable prosperity. He restored countless monuments. His temple at Abydos exhibits some of the finest carved wall reliefs. His son Rameses II is the major figure of the dynasty. Around this time the Hittites had become a dominant Asiatic power. An uneasy balance of power developed between the two kingdoms, which was punctuated by wars and treaties. By now Egypt was an ethnically pluralistic society and this is reflected in a diversity of artistic expression. Unfortunately the tide of history was turning and Rameses son, Merenptah had to struggle to maintain Egypt's prestige. 20th Dynasty 1186 - 1069 BC Setnakht Rameses III Rameses IV Rameses V Rameses VI Rameses VII Rameses VIII Rameses IX Rameses X Rameses XI Egypt starts to lose its power under the rule of Ramsess IV, IX. People are starving, there are many earthquakes, climate changings and epidemies.
The Third Intermediate period 21st - 25th Dynasty 1295 - 657BC
Smendes Psoesennes I Oeserma amenemope Siamon Psoesennes II Hrihor Paianch Pinnudjem I Masaherta Mencheperre Pinnudjem II Sjosjenk I Osorkon I Takelot I Osorkon II Sjosjenk II		Takelot II Sjosjenk III Pami Sjosjenk IV Osorkon IV Pedoebast Osorkon III Tefnacht Bakenrenet Kachta Peye Pianchi Sjabaka Sjebitkoe Taharka Tanoetamon
The capitol is moved to Tanis, only later to be moved to Thebes. The capitol is once again moved to Bubastis. A Persian invasion begins, and Persian Kings soon take over. The Capitol in this period gets moved once again to Bubastis, then back to Tanis, only to finish up at Nubia and Thebes. 26th Dynasty 657 - 525 BC Necho I Psammetichus I Necho II Psammetichus II Apries Ahmose II Psammetichus III It is now the Greeks arrive at the Nile delta. We also see the First appearance of demotic language. 27th Dynasty 525 - 404 BC Cambyses Darius Xerxes Artaxerxes Darius II Artaxerxes II The Persian invasion makes an end the Egypt's independence Egypt is now a province of Persia. The Persians are defeated in marathon in 490 but Xerxes takes the power again in 486 BC. Herodotus visits Egypt around 448 BC and describe the life, the customs and the history. 28th to 30th Dynasty 404 - 345 BC Amyrtaios Neferites I Psammoethis Achoris Nectanebo I Tachos Nectanebo II There is a revolt against Darius (Persian). An Isis cult starts on Philae Island. Second Persian Invasion 345 - 332 BC Artaxerxes III Arses Darius III Greek Invasion 332 - 304 BC BC Alexander the Great Philippus arrhidaeus Alexander IV Alexander the Great liberates Egypts and founds Alexandria at the Nile delta. He replaces the former hierarchy by a Greek hierarchy. In 331BC, Alexander leaves Egypt to conquer the East, Egypt is then ruled by one of his generals. In 323 BC Alexander dies in Babylon and is buried in a glass sarcophagus which will be buried later on in the center of Alexandria the city he had founded. Ptolemy Dynasty 304 - 30 BC Ptolemy I Ptolemy II Ptolemy III Ptolemy IV Ptolemy V Ptolemy VI Ptolemy VII Ptolemy VII Ptolemy VIII Ptolemy IX Ptolemy X Ptolemy XI Cleopatra VII Ptolemy I, son of Alexander's general Lagos proclaims himself pharaoh. Alexandria becomes the cultural and commercial center of the world of that time. First cosanguine weddings in the Ptomely dynasty with Ptolemy XII who marries his sister Cleopatra VII who is the last queen of the Ptolemy dynasty After her suicide, Egypt becomes a Roman province.
The Roman Empire
Octavianus Augustus Tiberius Claudius Nero Vespasianus Titus Domitianus Nerva	Trajanus Hadrianus Antonimus Pius Marcus Aurelius Septimus Severus Geta Caracalla Diocletianus
And so the Roman empire put an end to 4000 years of glorious Egyptian civilization.
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