Timeline of Ancient Egypt (3100-30 B.C.)

3100-2950 B.C. - Late Predynastic Period

Earliest known hieroglyphic writing

Foundation of the Egyptian state

2950-2575 B.C. - The Early Dynastic Period (1st-3rd Dynasties)

Creation of the capital city of Memphis

Intensive contact with Palestine

The first pyramid is built - the Step Pyramid at Saqqara

2575-2150 B.C. - The Old Kingdom (4th-8th Dynasties)

The Great Pyramids are built at Dahshur and Giza

Pyramids and elite tombs include the first extensive inscriptions

2125-1975 B.C. - The 1st Intermediate Period (9th-11th Dynasties)

Egypt splits into two smaller states, ruled from Memphis in the north and Thebes in the south

1975-1640 B.C. - The Middle Kingdom (11th-14th Dynasties)

Mentuhotep reunites Egypt

Amenemhat I founds a new royal residence near Memphis

Egypt conquers Lower Nubia under Senwosret I and III

Classical period of art and literature

1630- 1520 B.C. - The 2nd Intermediate Period (15th-17th Dynasties)

Hyksos kings seize power in the north

Theban 17th dynasty in the south

1539-1075 B.C. - The New Kingdom (18th-20th Dynasties)

Egyptian empire in Near East and Nubia

Elaborate tombs of the Valley of Kings

Rule of woman pharaoh Hatshepsut

King Akhenaten attempts to introduce a monotheistic religion

Brief reign of Tutankhamun

Ramesses II rules for 67 years

1075-715 B.C. - The 3rd Intermediate Period (21st-25th Dynasties)

Disunity and Libyan settlement in Egypt

Nubians conquer Egypt (late 8th century)

715-332 B.C. - The Late Period (20th-30th Dynasties, 2nd Persian Period)

Egypt conquered briefly by Assyrians

Cultural revival under kings from Sais

Persian conquest of Egypt (525 B.C.)

Egypt independent again (404-343 B.C.)

332 B.C.-395 A.D. - Greco-Roman Period (Macedonians, Ptolemies, and Romans)

Alexander the Great occupies Egypt

Alexander's general, Ptolemy, becomes king and founds a dynasty

The Rosetta Stone is carved (196 B.C.)

Cleopatra VII reigns (51-30 B.C.)

Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire (30 B.C.)

(adapted from BBC- The Egyptians, with additions.)