Dynasties I and II
The Unification of Egypt
Protodynastic Era
 Much of what happened during the earlier periods of Egyptian history is speculative. It seems that the southern king Narmer (perhaps Aha or the legendary Menes) won a victory over a northern king which has been immortalized by the Narmer Palette. What may have been another southern victory over the inhabitants of the Delta is depicted on the Bull Palette
1st Dynasty (3100-2890 BCE)
According to Herodotus Upper and Lower Egypt were united byMenes (who may be representing a number of kings involved in the process of unification), the founding king of the first dynasty who, according to Manetho, came from the Thinite province in Upper Egypt. Whether unification was achieved by military or peaceful means is uncertain.
According to tradition, Menes founded Memphis on an island in the Nile, conducted raids against the Nubians and extended his power as far as the first cataract. He sent ambassadors to Canaan and Byblos in Phoenicia to establish peaceful commercial trade links. He founded the city of Crocodilopolis and built the first temple to the god Ptah.
Legend has it, that he died at the age of sixty three, killed by wild dogs and crocodiles near Fayum. According to Manetho he was killed by a hippopotamus after a 62 year reign. His was buried at Saqqara, the necropolis of Memphis. His wife Neithotep became regent until their child, Djer, was old enough to reign.Herodotus on Menes
Djer, married to Herneith, ruled from Memphis during fifty years, building palaces and conducting military expeditions against Asiatics in the Sinai desert. An inscription with his name south of the first cataract points to the extent of the realm. Of Djet (Wadj), who succeeded him little is known. His limestone stela was found near Abydos where he was buried.
Queen Merenith ruled Egypt as regent when Den became king as a child. There are, however, many scholars who think that Merenith was a ruler in her own right. Stone vessels and sealings bearing her name were found at Saqqara, as was a stela with her name written in an archaic form with crossed arrows signifying the name of Neith. Merenith has two burial sites, one at Abydos and one at Saqqara (Mastaba 3503). The Saqqara tomb contains some artifacts that show the the name of a high court official called Seshemka. The Abydos burial complex is amongst those of the kings of her dynasty. During Den's fifty year reign he conducted military campaigns in the Sinai desert in order to gain control of the mineral deposits there. He was buried at Saqqara, even though he built his mortuary complex in Abydos. The cult of Apis was introduced during his reign.
Anendjib who was legitimized by his marriage to Betrest of the Memphite royal family, ruled for fourteen years from Memphis. His power over the south was challenged by local tribes and the northern nomes were often rebellious. Semerkhet reigned for only nine years, and is thought by some to have been a usurper. According to Manetho disasters occurred during his reign. He may have caused the unrest during Anendjib's reign. He is responsible for erasing Anendjib's name from stone vases. A little black stela bearing his name is the only direct evidence found.
Qa'a is mentioned on jar sealings and two damaged stela. One one of these stela he is shown wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt and being embraced by the God Horus. According to Manetho he reigned for about 26 years. He was buried at Abydos in the tomb designated Tomb Q. A German archaeological expedition in 1993 re-excavated the tomb and discovered that several alterations had been made in the tomb. Until the reign of Den Egypt seems to have enjoyed stability and prosperity. Order broke down during Anendjib's reign, when conflicting factions caused changes that would end this great dynasty. The practice of subsidiary burial where retainers were killed in order to serve the ruler in the afterlife ceased after the reign of Qa'a.
2nd Dynasty (2890-2686 BCE)
According to Manetho, this dynasty consisted of nine kings of Thinis. The royal names Manetho gives bear little resemblance to those found in contemporary inscriptions. These rulers were buried at Saqqara or Abydos.
Hotepsekhemwy has been identified only by some sealings discovered at Saqqara near the Pyramid of Unas. He may have been given his name which translates as Pleasing in Powers for having ended the political strife that occurred during the 1st Dynasty. His rule spanned 35 years and may have been ended by a military coup organized by his brother. Raneb followed Hotepsekhemwy to the throne of Egypt, and is thought to have ruled for 39 years. Many sealings found at Saqqara and a stela located at Abydos bear his name. Raneb had, according to Manetho, initiated the worship of the sacred goat of Mendes.
Nynetjer ruled according to some accounts for 47 years. The Palermo Stone records a number of events that occurred between the 6th and 26th year of his reign. He had many festivals dedicated to various deities of Egypt. among them the Running of the Apis Bull. The wrecking of the city of Shem-Re is connected with his name [1]. Peribsen (Sekhemib) made sweeping political changes. The serekhs bearing the royal names are not surmounted by Horus anymore but by his religious rival, Seth, who became the primary royal patron deity. A stela bearing Peribsen's name found at Abydos illustrates this change in loyalties. He may have been a usurper or a member of a collateral branch of the ruling family. Peribsen was buried at Abydos.
When Khasekhemwy ascended the throne he had to put down a Northern rebellion. The rebels reached as far south as Nekheb and Nekhen, the ancient southern capital. His victory is described on two statues. Both portraits show the king with northerners cringing at his feet wearing the White Crown symbolizing the South. It is recorded that there were more than 47,000 casualties.
A statue of him, which resides in the Cairo Museum, is the first example of use of hard stone . He married Nemathap, a woman of royal Northern lineage. The marriage consolidated the kings rule in both regions. Nemathap is documented as being a "King Bearing Mother". She is also credited with being the ancestor of the 3rd Dynasty.
PRE-DYNASTIC PERIOD: c.5500 - 3100 BC
Settlements were established beside the Nile River by Merimdeon, Tasian and Badarian. Hieroglyphs made their first appearance around the end of this period.EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD: 3100 - 2686 BC (Dynasties I and II)
Upper and Lower Egypt were unified under King Menses (Narmer) starting the First Dynasty. Memphis, in Lower Egypt, became the capital.Dynasty I (3100 - 2890 BC):
Rulers of the First Dynasty: Narmer (Menes), Aha, Djer, Djet, Den, Anedjib, Semerkhe and QaaDynasty II (2890 - 2686 BC):
Rulers of the Second Dynasty: Hotepsekhemwy, Raneb, Ninetjer, Seth-Peribsen, KhasekhemwyOLD KINGDOM: 2686 - 2181 BC (Dynasties III - VI)
A Golden Age for Egypt. The king was considered the incarnation of the god Horus and from the 5th Dynasty, the son of Re, the sun god. The first major stone building in the world, the famous Step Pyramid, was constructed at Saqqara for King Zoser of the 3rd Dynasty. During the 4th Dynasty, the great pyramids of Giza were built for pharoahs Khufu (Cheops), Kheophren (Cheophren ) and Menkaru (Mycerinus). The priesthood of the god Re became powerful at Heliopolis and some of the kings of the 5th Dynasty built solar temples adjacent to their relatively small pyramids at Abusir near Saqqara. At Saqqara, the pyramid of Unas, the last king of the 5th Dynasty, contains the famous Pyramid Texts - spells for the afterlife.Dynasty III (2686 - 2575 BC):
Rulers of the Third Dynasty: Sanakhte, (2686 - 2668 BC), Zoser aka Djoser (2668 - 2649 BC), Sekhemkhet (2649 - 2643 BC), Khaba (2643 - 2637 BC), Huni (2637 - 2613 BC).Dynasty IV (2613 - 2498 BC):
Rulers of the Fourth Dynasty: Sneferu (2613 - 2589 ), Khufu aka Cheops (2589 - 2566 BC), Radjedef (2566 - 2558 BC), Khafre aka Cheophren (2558 - 2532 BC), Menkaru aka Mycerinus (2532 - 2504 BC) and Shepseskaf (2504 - 2500 BC).Dynasty V (2465 - 2323 BC):
Rulers of the Fifth Dynasty: Userkef (2498 - 2491 BC), Sahure (2491 - 2477 BC), Neferirkare Kakai (2477 - 2467 BC). Shepseskare Ini (2467 - 2460 BC), Raneferef (2460 - 2453 BC), Neuserre Izi (2453 - 2422BC), Menkauhor (2422 - 2414 BC), Djedkare Isesi (2414 - 2375 BC) and Unas (2375 - 2345 BC). Dynasty VI (2345 - 2181 BC):
Rulers of the Sixth Dynasty: Teti (2345 - 2333 BC), Pepi I (2332 - 2283 BC), Merenre (2283 - 2278 BC) and Pepi II (2278 - 2184 BC).
FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD: 2181 - 2040 BC (Dynasties VII-X)
This period saw a breakdown of central government. Dynasties VII - X (2181 - 2040 BC):
Rulers of the Seventh through Tenth Dynasties: There are a number of il- defined reigns.MIDDLE KINGDOM: 2040 - 1797 BC ( Dynasties XI and XII)
Reunification of Egypt occurred in the 11th Dynasty under the rule of Mentuhotep I, whose family was based in Thebes (modern Luxor). A series of kings oversaw a renaissance in Egyptian art and the literature. Dynasty XI (2134 - 1991 BC):
Rulers of the Eleventh Dynasty: Intef I (2134 - 2117 BC), Intef II 2117 - 2069 BC), Intef III (2069 - 2060 BC), Mentuhotep I (2060 - 2010 (BC), Mentuhotep II (2010 - 1998 BC) and Mentuhotep III (1997 - 1991 BC).Dynasty XII (1991 - 1782 BC):
Rulers of the Twelfth Dynasty: Amenemhet I (1991 - 1962 BC), Senusret I (1971 - 1926 BC), Amenemhet II (1929 - 1895 BC), Senusret II (1897 - 1878 BC), Senusret III (1878 - 1841 BC), Amenemhet III (1842 - 1797 BC), Amenemhet IV (1798 - 1786 BC) and Queen Sobeknefru (1785 - 1782 BC).SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD: 1786 - 1567 BC (Dynasties XIII - XVII):
A period about which little is known. Foreign occupation and continued internal struggle were common and rulers did not last very long.. Invaders known as the Hyksos came in 1730 BC from Asia and moved into the Delta. This period of instability lasted from 1730 to 1580 BC and was brought to an end by a Theban family, one of whom (Ahmose) finally expelled the Hyksos to start the 18th Dynasty and the rise of the New Kingdom era.Dynasty XIII - XVII (1786 - 1567 BC):
Rulers of the Thirteenth through seventeenth Dynasties: Foreign rule. Apepi I in Dynasty XV.NEW KINGDOM: 1567 -1 070 BC (Dynasties XVIII - XX):
The New Kingdom's first king was Ahmose who reunified Upper and Lower Egypt. This was another Golden Age for Egypt as it expanded its empire. Memphis was the administrative capital again. The term pharaoh began being applied to the king. Queen Hatshepsut became pharaoh by default while acting as regent for a young Tuthmosis III. He eventually came to power and became the "Napoleon" of ancient Egypt. This was also probably during the time when Moses prospered in Egypt. Later Moses led the Jews out of Egypt (exodus -- circa 1440 BC). Amenhotep II (1453 - 1419 BC) was probably the Pharoah mentioned in the bible during the Exodus (Passover).
The empire soon spread far to the south into ancient Nubia, while in the north the territory under control was expanded well into the Near East. It was in the New Kingdom that most of the pharaohs' tombs were located in the Valley of the Kings. Egypt became incredibly wealthy through trade and foreign conquests. The existing religious orders were deposed for a while during the 14th century B.C. when King Akhenaten established a new religious order - that of the sun god Aten. The old temples were abandoned and a new capital, Akhetaten, was established to the north. Soon after the death of Akhenaten, his probable son - Tutankhaten became pharaoh at about the age of nine. His was a short reign, but the old religious orders rose again and Akhenaten's city was destroyed. Tutankhaten's name was changed to Tutankhamun, but his reign was no more than nine years.
Several years later, a general by the name of Horemheb came to power and started a campaign to eliminate evidence of his immediate predecessors. His grandson, Ramesses II, became one of Egypt's greatest builders.
By the 20th Dynasty the power of the pharaohs had waned and there were battles with invaders called the Sea Peoples. Egypt would never rule again with the same power. Ramesses XI was the last of the rulers of the New Kingdom.Dynasty XVIII (1570 - 1293 BC):
Rulers of the Eighteenth Dynasty: Ahmose I (1570 - 1546 BC), Amenhotep I (1551 - 1524 BC),Tuthmosis I (1524 - 1518 BC), Tuthmosis II (1528 - 1504 BC), Queen Hatshepsut (1498 - 1483 BC) Tuthmosis III (1504 - 1450 BC), Amenhotep II (1453 - 1419 BC), Tuthmosis IV (1419 - 1386 BC),
Amenhotep III (1386 - 1349 BC), Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) (1350 - 1334 BC), Smenkhkare (1336 -1334 BC), Tutankhamun (1334 -1325 BC) Ay (1325 - 1321 BC) and Horemheb (1321 - 1293 BC).Dynasty XIX (1293 - 1185 BC):
Rulers of the Nineteenth Dynasty: Ramesses I (1291 - 1291 BC), Seti I (1291 1278 BC), Ramesses II (1279 - 1212 BC), Merneptah (1212 - 1202 BC), Amenmesses (1202 - 1199 BC), Seti II (1199 - 1193 BC), Siptah (1193 - 1187 BC) and Queen Twosret (1187 - 1185 BC).Dynasty XX (1185 - 1070 BC):
Rulers of the Twentieth Dynasty: Setnakhte (1185 - 1182 BC), Ramesses III (1182 - 1151 BC), Ramesses IV (1151 - 1145 BC), Ramesses V (1145 - 1141 BC), Ramesses VI (1141 - 1133 BC), Ramesses VII (1133 - 1126 BC), Ramesses VIII (1133 - 1126 BC), Ramesses IX (1126 - 1108 BC),
Ramesses X (1108 - 1098 BC) and Ramesses IV (1098 - 1070 BC).THIRD INTERMEDIATE PERIOD: 1070 - 525 BC (Dynasties XXI-XXVI):
After the end of the New Kingdom, Egypt was virtually bankrupt.
By the 22nd Dynasty, pharaohs of Libyan descent came to power, to be followed by rulers from Nubia in the 25th Dynasty. The country was invaded by Assyrians in 671 BC. Under the rule of Psamtik (Psammetichus) from 664 B.C., Egypt began to enjoy peace for about 140 years.Dynasty XXI (1085 - 945 BC):
Rulers of the Twenty-first Dynasty: Egypt divided Amun rule in Thebes and pharoahs in Tanis. Dynasty XXII (945 - 745 BC):
Ruler of the Twenty-second Dynasty: Sheshonk I (Libyan dynasty)Dynasty XXIII (745 - 718 BC):
Ruler of the Twenty-third Dynasty: Nubian invasion ruled by of PiankhiDynasty XXIV (718 - 712 BC):
Ruler of the Twenty-fourth Dynasty: ?Dynasty XXV (712 - 663 BC):
Ruler of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty: Invasion by Assyria (foreign domination follows), ruled by Taharka.Dynasty XXVI (663 - 525 BC):
Ruler of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty: Necho II, (Herodotus)LATE DYNASTIC PERIOD: 525 - 332 BC (Dynasties XXVII - XXX):
Peace for Egypt ended when it was invaded by the Persian king Cambyses in 525 B.C. The invaders eventually were expelled, but Egypt was repeatedly having to deal with Persian invasions over nearly two centuriesDynasty XXVII (525 - 405 BC):
Rulers of the Twenty-seventh Dynasty: Egypt is ruled by the Persian invaders Artaxeres, Xerxes, Darius I and Cambyses.Dynasties XXVIII through XXX (405 - 332 BC):
Ruler of the Twenty-eighth Dynasty: Amyrtaeus
Rulers of the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Dynasties: Nectanebo I (30 th Dynasty). Last of the native dynasties ends with the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332 BC.
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD (Greek): 332 - 30 BC
In 332 BC, the Macedonian (Greek) empire expanded into Egypt with the arrival of Alexander the Great. By 305 BC, the Macedonian general Ptolemy became the first in a long line of Ptolemaic rulers including Cleopatra in Roman times.
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