Theban princes reasserted control over all of Egypt, founding the Eighteenth Dynasty. Pursuit of the defeated Hyksos rulers into the Near East resulted in long-term Egyptian interest in dominating the area. Further expansion of Egyptian borders also occurred southward in Africa into modern-day Sudan. Kings grew rich and patronized vast architectural and artistic projects. For seventeen years near the end of the dynasty, a religious revolutionary and king named Akhenaton, together with his wife Nefertiti, worshipped only the sun disk, which they called the Aten. This brief time span is called the Amarna Period.
After restoration of religious traditions, the Eighteenth Dynasty family was replaced by the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasty family of kings called Ramesses. These kings maintained foreign possessions until the invasion of foreigners known as Sea Peoples. Egypt might have then lost its foreign possessions. The priests of Amun ruled southern Egypt.
Dynasty 18: circa 1539–1295/1292 b.c.e.
Dynasty 19: circa 1292–1190 b.c.e.
Dynasty 20: circa 1190–1075 b.c.e.
Third Intermediate Period
Dynasties 21 through 25
circa 1075−656 b.c.e.
This period witnessed overlapping local dynasties and kings of foreign origin from both Libya and Nubia. Yet the arts flourished in this era.
Dynasty 21: circa 1075–945 b.c.e.
Dynasty 22: circa 945–712 b.c.e.
Dynasty 23: circa 838–712 b.c.e.
Dynasty 24: circa 727–712 b.c.e.
Dynasty 25: circa 760–656 b.c.e.
Late Period
Dynasties 26 through 31
664−332 b.c.e.
Though foreigners ruled the country at this time, Egyptian culture was more likely to conquer them than be conquered. Libyans and Persians alternated rule with native Egyptians, but traditional conventions continued in the arts.
Dynasty 26: 664–525 b.c.e.
Dynasty 27: 525–404 b.c.e.
Dynasty 28: 404–399 b.c.e.
Dynasty 29: 399–381 b.c.e.
Dynasty 30: 381–343 b.c.e.
Dynasty 31: 343–332 b.c.e.
Ptolemaic Period
332−30 b.c.e.
Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 b.c.e. Following his death, his general Ptolemy established a family dynasty that ruled until the death of Cleopatra VII after the Battle of Actium in 31 b.c.e. Egypt maintained a dual culture encompassing both native Egyptian and Greek elements.
Macedonian Dynasty: 332−305 b.c.e.
Ptolemaic Dynasty: 305−30 b.c.e.
Roman and Byzantine Periods
30 b.c.e.–642 c.e.
During the early years of Roman rule the country was directly administered as the property of the emperor. In the fourth century c.e. the Roman Empire split into two halves and Egypt was now part of the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople (modern Istanbul). Egyptians increasingly converted to Christianity and created art that reflected the influence of the new religion.
Roman Period: 30 b.c.e.–395 c.e.
Byzantine Period: 395–642 c.e.
Islamic Period
642 c.e. to Present
Arab Muslims conquered Egypt in 642 c.e. and founded the city of Cairo in 969 c.e. Subsequently, the Arabic language gradually replaced ancient Egyptian, which disappeared in the eighteenth century. Egypt became an important center of Muslim scholarship in the medieval period. Today, Islam is the majority religion of Egypt.
A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt – Periods
A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt
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3. Lion
The king was associated with the lion from earliest times.
Lion burials were found near the oldest royal burials in Hierakonpolis
From Egypt
Predynastic, Naqada III Period, circa 3300–3100 b.c.e.
Pegmatite
9 3⁄4 × 7 7⁄8 × 12 13⁄16 in.
(24.8 × 20 × 32.5 cm)
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 73.26
A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt
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4. Scorpion
The Egyptian scorpion is feared because of its paralyzing sting. Two kings of the Early Dynastic Period were named “Scorpion” to inspire awe.
From Description de l’Égypte, ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l’expédition de l’armée française (Paris: Imprimerie de C.L.F. Panckoucke, 1821–30), book 32: Histoire naturelle, vol. 2, pl. 8, no. 3. Brooklyn Museum Libraries—Special Collections; Wilbour Library of Egyptology.
5. Swamp Scene
Beginning in the Old Kingdom, scenes of daily life in this world decorated tombs, magically ensuring that the next world would resemble this one. The swamps along the Nile with their teeming animal life, shown here, were an important source of food for Egyptians.
From Giza, Egypt
Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5 to Dynasty 6, circa 2500–2170 b.c.e.
Limestone
larger block: 14 15⁄16 × 25 9⁄16 × 1 3⁄16 in. (38 × 65 × 3 cm);
smaller block: 14 15⁄16 × 12 3⁄16 × 1 3⁄4 in. (38 × 31 × 4.5 cm)
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.115.2a–b
15
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6. Stela of Intef and Senettekh
During the Eleventh Dynasty the Egyptians first depicted hunting dogs and pets on stelae. Here, Intef’s dog waits under the chair as his master and mistress eat and drink. The offering table contains a cow’s head and haunch of beef as a typical selection of offerings. These are also mentioned in the inscription.
Possibly from Qurnah, Egypt
First Intermediate Period to Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11, reigns of king Intef II to Intef III, or Mentuhotep II,
circa 2065–2000 b.c.e.
Limestone
11 5⁄8 × 13 7⁄8 in. (29.6 × 35.3 cm)
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 54.66
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7. Meretseger
The Egyptians believed that dangerous animals protected the king. Here, the snake goddess Meretseger