Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The civilization of ancient Egypt emerged with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh, Narmer (Menes), around 3100 BCE—over 5,100 years ago.
| Period | Dates (BCE) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Early Dynastic | 3100–2686 | Unification, hieroglyphs, Memphis capital, divine kingship |
| Old Kingdom | 2686–2181 | Pyramid Age (Giza, Saqqara); centralized state |
| First Intermediate | 2181–2055 | Collapse, rival dynasties, literature flourishes |
| Middle Kingdom | 2055–1650 | Reunification, literature peak, Nubian forts |
| Second Intermediate | 1650–1550 | Hyksos rule (North); Theban resistance (South) |
| New Kingdom | 1550–1069 | Empire (Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Ramesses II); Amarna revolution; Valley of Kings |
| Third Intermediate | 1069–664 | Libyan, Nubian (Kushite) dynasties |
| Late Period | 664–332 | Saite renaissance; Persian, Greek mercenaries |
| Ptolemaic | 332–30 BCE | Greek dynasty (Cleopatra VII); Alexandria library |
| Roman/Byzantine | 30 BCE – 641 CE | Province; Christianity; Coptic culture |
| Islamic Conquest | 641 CE | Arab rule; Fustat/Cairo founded |
| Modern Egypt | 1922/1952–present | Independence; Republic; 100M+ population |