Egypt

Chronology

Egyptologists divide the history of Egypt into the following periods:

1. Prehistory: before 3100 BC - Egypt was divided into Upper (southern) Egypt and Lower (northern) Egypt.

2. Archaic Period: 3100-2700 BC - Dynasties 1-2; Unification of Upper & Lower Egypt by Menes (Narmer).

3. Old Kingdom: 2700-2200 BC - Dynasties 3-6; the age of the pyramids, first in Saqqara and then at Giza.

4. First Intermediate Period: 2200-2000 BC - Dynasties 7-10; first "dark age" in Egyptian history.

5. Middle Kingdom: 2000-1700 BC - Dynasties 11-13; the "golden age" of classical Egyptian literature; a period of wealth and international influence. Abraham's visit to Egypt probably belongs to this period.

6. Second Intermediate Period: 1700-1540 BC - Dynasties 14-17 - a period of political turmoil when Egypt was taken over and ruled by the Hyksos. The rule of Joseph in the courts of the pharaoh probably occurred in this period or just before.

7. New Kingdom: 1550-1100 BC - Dynasties 18-20 - with the expulsion of the Hyksos by Ahmose I, Egypt returned to a period of greatness under celebrated pharaohs like Hatshepsut, Tutenkhamun, Seti and Ramesses. The Exodus happened late during this period. The Merenptah Stele of 1220 BC reports the pharaoh as having defeated the Israelite people in Canaan so that, somewhat too boastfully, it was "laid waste, his seed is not."

8. Third Intermediate Period: 1100-332 BC - Dynasties 21-31; eleven dynasties in 8 centuries is clear sign of a period of political divisions and instability. Most of Israel's dealing with Egypt noted in the OT belongs here. Some Egyptologists further parcel off a "Late Period" from about 714 onwards, from which period two pharoahs—Tirharka and Neco—are reported in the OT.

9. Hellenistic Era: 332-30 BC - Egypt conquered by Alexander the Great and subsequent rule by the Ptolemys. Alexandria, founded by Alexander became the city with the largest Jewish community in the world. There the Septuagint was produced. This period ended with the death of Cleopatra VII (and Mark Anthony) and the country was taken over by Octavian Ceasar and passed into Roman rule.

10. Roman Era: 30 BC-324 AD.

11. Byzantine Era: 324-641.

12. Islamic Era: 639 - present.

a. Tulunid dynasty, 868-905.

b. Ikhshidid dynasty, 935-969.

c. Fatimid dynasty, 969-1171.

d. Ayyubid dynasty, 1171-1250

e. Mamluk dynasty, 1250-1517.

f. Ottomans, 1517-1798 (1918).