Transcript A Timeline of Ancient Egypt

A Timeline of Ancient Egypt
Early Dynastic Period (3000-2575 BC)
The Age of State Formation: Dynasties 1-3
– Around 3000 BC, driven by technological
innovations and the growing needs of an
expanding population, Ancient Egyptian
civilization slowly emerged.
– The Early Dynastic Period is the culmination
and the continuation of this evolution, a time
when all aspects of the civilization were being
defined.
Old Kingdom (2575-2150 BC)
The Age of the Pyramids: Dynasties 4-6
– With the central government’s power wellestablished throughout the country, Egypt
entered an era of peace and stability. This
resulted in building projects, including
pyramids.
– Building pyramids was only possible
through an efficient administration and
technological advances.
– Arts peaked to a high and the solar cult
became the driving force behind religion.
1st Intermediate Period (2150-2040 BC)
Decline and Civil War: Dynasties 7/8-11
– Towards the end of the 6th dynasty, the
central government started losing control
over the local provinces.
– Several factors, including climatic
changes, had allowed local governors to
strengthen their positions and rule their
provinces as if they were kings.
– Out of this chaos arose two rival houses
that would plunge Egypt into a civil war for
control over the entire country.
Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC)
The Classical Era: Dynasties 11-13
– The reunification of Egypt by the
Theban ruler Mentuhotep II ended the
century of civil war and made Thebes
one of the country’s most important
religious and political centers.
– This was a time of restoration when
arts, crafts, and Egypt’s political power
would flourish again to a new high.
2nd Intermediate Period (1640-1540 BC)
The Age of the Hyksos: Dynasties 14-17
– The kings of the 13th Dynasty gradually lost
control over the central government, allowing
local rulers to seize power.
– Among them was a group of people of Asian
origin known as Hyksos who would impose
their reign on almost the entire country.
– When the local Theban princes stopped
recognizing the Hyksos as Egypt’s legitimate
rulers, the struggle for freedom would begin.
New Kingdom (1540-1070 BC)
The Age of Empire: Dynasties 18-20
– Through a series of conquests, the
Egyptians grained control over SyriaPalestine and Nubia.
– Bounties and diplomatic gifts provided
Egypt with enormous wealth.
– Building projects of an unprecedented
scale honored both the gods and the
kings who had given Egypt its greatness.
Late Dynastic Period (1070-332 BC)
Decline of Power: Dynasties 21-30
– Dynastic feuds and the increased power of
the Theban priests left Egypt unable to
deal with the changing political situation in
the Near-East.
– The prestige it had held during the New
Kingdom was lost along with its
possessions in Syria-Palestine and Nubia.
– Weakened and internally divided, Egypt lay
open to attacks from Nubians, Assyrians,
and Persians who would impose their rule
with varying success.
Greek-Roman Period (332 BC-396 AD)
The Great Temples – Macedoneans,
Ptolemies, and Romans
– When it was conquered by the
Macedonian Alexander the Great, Egypt
became part of the Hellentistic world.
– Alexander’s successors, the Ptolemies,
ruled Egypt as an independent country
and again made it one of the most
prestigious countries in the world.
– The coming of Christianity started the
final decline of this ancient culture.
Credits
The History of Ancient Egypt
http://www.ancient-egypt.org/history/index.html