Egypt lies in northeast Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea. Around 3000 BC, Egypt emerged from the twilight of prehistory as one country, united under the single rule of a divine king. Before that, it is generally assumed that the country was divided in two parts: the North or Lower-Egypt or the Nile-Delta, and the South, between the Delta and the first cataract, Upper-Egypt.
Most of the Pharaohs were men. In the 18th Dynasty Queen Hatshesut came into power, and again at the end of the 19th Dynasty, Queen Tausert ruled Egypt for two years.
The exact lineage of the pharaohs in many cases, remains unknown. Most married within their families to keep the bloodlines pure. Siblings would marry. Pharaohs had many wives and many concubines. There generally was a main wife.
Pharaohs came to rule at very young ages. Many were murdered, their exact fates unknown.
Their favorite pastime - from the time they ascended the throne - was the building of huge burial monuments or pyramids - some of which are found in the valley of the Kings on the West bank of the Nile. Monuments have been ransacked for leaving many empty - the remains of those supposedly buried within, a mystery.
In the Late Kingdom, chaos ruled, and Egypt fell to the Persians who remained in power until the Greco-Roman Period. This was the time of the Macedonian Kings and the Ptolemaic Dynasty which concluded with the last Pharaoh, the famous Cleopatra VII. She committed suicide on August 12, 30 BC at the age of 39 thus ending the dynasties. The Roman Era would not take control of Egypt destroying much of the sacred monuments created through the centuries.
Narmer - The Scorpion King
EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD
THE FIRST DYNASTY - 3050 - 2890 B.C.
Menes - AHA
Djer
Wadj
Den - Udimu
Anedjob
Semerkat
Qa'a
SECOND DYNASTY - 3890-2686 B.C.
Hetepsekhemwy
Reneb
Ninetjer
Peribsen - Sekhemib
Keasekhemwy
THIRD DYNASTY - 2650 - 2575 B.C.
Sanakhte (Nebka) 2650 - 2630
Djoser - Netjerykhet 2630 - 2611
Sekhemkhet (Djoser Teti) 2611 - 2603
Khaba 2603 - 2599
Huni 2599 - 2575
FOURTH DYNASTY - 2575 - 2467 B.C.
Snefru 2575 - 2551
Khufu (Cheops) 2551 - 2528
Djedefre 2528 - 2520
Khafre (Chephren) 2520 - 2494
Menkaure (Mycerinus) 2490 - 2472
Shepseskaf 2472 - 2467
FIFTH DYNASTY - 2465 - 2345 B.C.
Userkaf 2465 - 2458
Sahure 2458 - 2446
Neferirkare Kakai 2477-2467
Shepseskare Ini 2426 - 2419
Neferefre 2419 - 2416
Niuserre Izi 2453 - 2422
Menkauhor 2422 - 2414
Djedkare Izezi 2388 - 2356
Unas 2375-2345
SIXTH DYNASTY - 2345 - 2184 B.C.
Teti 2345 - 2333
Pepy I (Meryre) 2332 - 2283
Merenre Nemtyemzaf 2283 2278
Pepy II (Neferkare) 2278 - 2184
FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
SEVENTH - TENTH DYNASTIES - 2150 - 1986 B.C.
SEVENTH & EIGHTH DYNASTIES
Netrikare
Menkare
Neferkare II
Neferkare III
Djedkare II
Neferkare IV
Merenhor
Menkamin I
Nikare
Neferkare V
Neferkahor
Neferkare VI
Neferkamin II
Ibi I
Neferkaure
Neferkauhor
Neferirkare II
Wadjkare
Sekhemkare
Iti
Imhotep
Isu
Iytenu
NINETH & TENTH DYNASTIES
Neferkare
several kings named Kheti
Meri-Hathor (?)
Merikare
ELEVENTH DYNASTY
Antef I
Antef II
Antef III
Mentuhotep II 2055 -2004
Mentuhotep III (Sankhkare) 2004 - 1992
Mentuhotep IV (Nebtawyre) 1992 - 1987
TWELFTH DYNASTIES
Amenemhet I (Sehetepibre) 1991 - 1962
Senusret I (Kheperkare) 1956 - 1911
Amenemhet II (Nubkaure) 1911 - 1877
Senusret II (Khakheperre) 1877 - 1870
Senusret III (Khakaure) 1836 - 1817
Amenemhet III (Nimaatre) 1817 - 1772
Amenemhet IV (Maakherure) 1772 - 1763
Neferusobek (Sobekkare) 1763 - 1759
THIRTEENTH - SEVENTEENTH DYNASTIES
THIRTEENTH DYNASTY
Wegaf 1783-1779
Amenemhat-senebef
Sekhemre-khutawi
Amenemhat V
Sehetepibre I
Iufni
Amenemhat VI
Semenkare
Sehetepibre II
Sewadjkare
Nedjemibre
Sobekhotep I
Reniseneb
Hor I
Amenemhat VII
Sobekhotep II
Khendjer
Imira-mesha
Antef IV
Seth
Sobekhotep III
Neferhotep I 1696 - 1686
Sihathor 1685 - 1685
Sobekhotep IV 1685 - 1678
Sobekhotep V 1678 - 1674
Iaib 1674 - 1664
Ay 1664 - 1641
Ini I
Sewadjtu
Ined
Hori
Sobekhotep VI
Dedumes I
Ibi II
Hor II
Senebmiu
Sekhanre I
Merkheperre
Merikare
FOURTEENTH DYNASTY
Nehesi
Khatire
Nebfaure
Sehabre
Meridjefare
Sewadjkare
Heribre
Sankhibre
Kanefertemre
Neferibre
Ankhkare
FIFTEENTH DYNASTY
Salitis
Bnon
Apachnan (Khian)
Apophis (Auserre Apepi)
Khamudi
SIXTEENTH DYNASTY
Anat-Her
User-anat
Semqen
Zaket
Wasa
Qar
Pepi III
Bebankh
Nebmaatre
Nikare II
Aahotepre
Aaneterire
Nubankhre
Nubuserre
Khauserre
Khamure
Jacob-Baal
Yakbam
Yoam
Amu
SEVENTEENTH DYNASTY
Antef V
Rahotep
Sobekemzaf I
Djehuti
Mentuhotep VII
Nebirau I
Nebirau II
Semenenre
Suserenre
Sobekemzaf II
Antef VI
Antef VII
Tao I (Senakhtenre)
Tao II (Sekenenre)
Kamose (Wadjkheperre)
EIGHTEENTH DYNASTY
Ahmose (Nebpehtyre) 1539 - 1514 BC
Amenhotep I (Djeserkare) 1514 - 1493 BC
Thutmose I (Akheperkare) 1493 - 1481 BC
Thutmose II (Akheperenre) 1491 - 1479 BC
Hatshepsut (Maatkare) 1473 - 1458 BC
Thutmose III (Menkheperre) 1504 - 1450 BC
Amenhotep II (Akheperure) 1427 - 1392 BC
Thutmose IV (Menkheperure) 1419 - 1386 BC
Amenhotep III (Nebmaatre) 1382 - 1344 BC
Amenhotep IV / Akhenaten 1350 - 1334 BC
Smenkhkare (Ankhkheperure) 1336-1334 BC
Tutankhamun (Nebkheperure) 1334 - 1325 - King Tut BC
Ay (Kheperkheperure) 1325 - 1321 BC
Horemheb (Djeserkheperure) 1323 - 1295 BC
NINETEENTH DYNASTY
Ramesses I (Menpehtyre) 1295 - 1294
Seti I (Menmaatre) 1394 - 1279
Ramesses II (Usermaatresetepenre) 1279 - 1213
Merenptah (Baenrehotephirmaat) 1213 - 1203
Amenmesse (Menmire) 1203 - 1200
Seti II (Userkheperuresetepenre) 1200 - 1194
Siptah (Akhenresetepenre) 1194 - 1188
Tausert (Sitremeritamun) 1185-1187
TWENTIETH DYNASTY
Setakht (Userkhauremeryamun) 1186 - 1184
Ramesses III (Usermaatremeryamun) 1184 - 1153
Ramesses IV (Hekamaatresetepenamun) 1153 - 1147
Ramesses V (Usermaatresekheperenre) 1147 - 1143
Ramesses VI (Nebmaatremeryamun) 1143 - 1136
Ramesses VII (Usermaatresetepenre) 1136 - 1129
Ramesses VIII (Usermaatreakhenamun) 1129 - 1126
Ramesses IX (Neferkaresetepenre) 1126 - 1108
Ramesses X (Khepermaatresetepenre) 1108 - 1099
Ramesses XI (Menmaatresetepenptah) 1099 - 1069
THIRD INTERMEDIATE PERIOD (1070-715 BC)
TWENTY-FIRST - TWENTY-FOURTH DYNASTIES
TWENTY-FIRST DYNASTY
Smedes 1070-1044
Amenemnisu 1040
Psusennes I 1040-992
Amenope 993-984
Osochor 984-978
Siamun 978-959
Psusennes II 959-945
TWENTY-SECOND DYNASTY
Shoshenq I 945-924
Osorkon I 924-909
Takelot 909--?
Shoshenq II ?--883
Osorkon II 883-855
Takelot II 860-835
Shoshenq III 835-783
Pami 783-773
Shoshenq IV 773-735
Osorkon IV 735-712
TWENTY-THIRD DYNASTY
Pedubaste I 828-803
Osorkon IV 777-749
Peftjauwybast 740-725
TWENTY-FOURTH DYNASTY
Shepsesre Tefnakht I 725-720
Wahkare Bakenranef 720-715
LATE KINGDOM
TWENTY-FIFTH DYNASTY
Piye 747-716 BC
Shebaka 712-698
Shebitku 698-690
Taharqa 690-664
Tantamani 664-657
TWENTY-SIXTH DYNASTY
Psammetichus I (Psam-tik) 664-610
Nekau (Necho) II 610-595
Psammetichus II 595-589
Apries 589-570
Amasis 570-526
Psammetichus III 526-525
TWENTY-SEVENTH DYNASTY
Cambyses 525-522
Darius I 521-486
Xerxes I 486-466
Artaxerxes I 465-424
Darius II 424-404
TWENTY-EIGHTH DYNASTY
Amyrtaios 404-399
TWENTY-NINETH DYNASTY
Nepherites I 399-393
Psammuthis 393
Hakoris 393-380
Nepherites II 380
THIRTIETH DYNASTY
Nectanebo I 380-362
Teos 365-360
Nectanebo II 360-343
SECOND PERSIAN PERIOD (343-332 B.C.)
THIRTY-FIRST DYNASTY
Ochus (Artaxerxes III) 343-338
Arses 338-336
Darius III Codomannus 335-332
GRECO-ROMAN PERIOD (332 B.C. - 395 A.D.)
Macedonian Kings - Alexandria
Alexander the Great 332-323
Philip Arrhidaeus 323-316
Alexander IV 316-304
Ptolemaic Dynasty
Ptolemy I Soter I 323-285
Ptolemy II Philadelphus 282-246
Ptolemy III Euergeter I 246-222
Ptolemy IV Philopator 222-205
Ptolemy V Epiphanes 205-180
Ptolemy VI Philometor 180-164 &
163-145
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator 145
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II 170-163 &
145-116
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy IX Soter II 116-107 &
88-80
Cleopatra III & Ptolemy X Alexander I 107-88
Cleopatra Berenice 81-80
Ptolemy XI Alexander II 80
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos 80-58 &
55-51
Berenice IV 58-55
Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIII 51-47
Cleopatra & Ptolemy XIV 47-44
Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XV Cesarion 44-30
Roman Emperors
Augustus 30 B.C. - 14 A.D.
Tiberius 14-37
Gaius Caligula 37-41
Claudius 41-54
Nero 54-68
Galba 68-69
Vespasianus 69-79
Titus 79-81
Domitianus 81-96
Nerva 96-98
Trajanus 98-117
Hadrianus 117-138
Antoninus Pius 138-161
Marcus Aurelius 161-180
Lucius Verrus
Commodus 180-192
Septimus Severus 193-211
Caracalla 198-217
Geta 209-212
Christian era: Christianity reached egypt around 40AD through Saint Mark and spread rapidly till the arab conquest of egypt in 639AD.
Ottoman egypt: In 1517 egypt was conquered by the ottoman empire.
French occupation: In 1798 egypt was conquered by the French. 1802 saw the end of french occupation and the supposed return to ottoman rule. However Mehmet Ali seized power.
Mehemet Ali and his successors: their reign over Egypt was a period of rapid reform and modernization that led to Egypt becoming one of the most developed states outside of Europe. It also led to massive government expenditures, that ended up bankrupting Egypt and eventually led to it falling under control of the British.
British occupation: egypt becoming a de facto colony of Great Britain in 1882. This persisted until 1922 when Egypt was granted its independence, but British troops remained in the country and true self rule did not occur until 1953.
Presidency: 1953 saw the rise to power of General Abdul Nasser. Nasser's one party state has seen many changes but remained in place first under Anwar Sadat, and until the present day under Hosni Mubarak.
