Ancient Egypt

Early Dynastic Period: 3100-2686 BC

• 3200 BC: Upper and Lower Egypt united by Menes,1st. Pharaoh
• 3000 BC: Egyptians develop the square-rigged ship
• 2900: Irrigation and drainage projects

Old Kingdom: 2686-2181 BC

• 2600 BC: Pyramid building begins.
• 2650-2575 BC: Hieroglyphics become standardized
• 2500 BC: Great Pyramids/Sphinx built at Gizah
• 2300 BC: Weakening of pharaoh's central authority

First Intermediate Period: 2181-2040 BC

Middle Kingdom: 2133-1786

• 2000 BC:
• 1900 BC: Pharaoh's power at its greatest extent .

Second Intermediate Period: 1786-1567 BC

• c. 1600 BC:  Hyksos invade the Nile delta region.
  • Introduction of horse-drawn chariots

New Kingdom: 1567-1085 BC

• 1504-1482: Hatshepsut, Queen of Egypt
• 1400 BC: Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) attempts to impose monotheism
• 1320 BC: Reign of Ramses II

Late Dynastic Period: 1085-341 BC

• 1085 BC: Egypt divided, dependent on Libyan mercenaries
• 925 BC: Invasion of Palestine.
• 656 BC: Assyrian invasion.
• 652: BC Independence from Assyrians
• 525 BC: Persians conquer EgyptPersia Chronology
• 398 BC: Persians expelled with Greek aid
• 341 BC: Last native pharaohs; reconquest by Persia

Ptolemaic Period: 332-30 BC

• 332 BC: Alexander the Great conquers Egypt,Rise of Macedonia Chronology
• 323 BC: Beginning of Ptolemaic Dynasty; Egypt is ruled by Greeks
• 30 BC: Egypt is conquered by the RomansRoman Republic Chronology

Primary Sources

• Hymn to the Nile
• The Palette of Narmer
• Precepts of Ptah-hotep

Secondary Sources

• Music in Ancient Egypt