Egyptian history

The history of ancient Egypt spans roughly three thousand years, making it one of the most enduring civilizations of the ancient world. Its story begins in the prehistoric communities that settled along the Nile, where farming villages gradually grew into larger societies. Tradition holds that Egypt was first unified when the separate kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were joined under a single ruler, an event that scholars place at the threshold of recorded Egyptian history and the start of its long sequence of dynasties.

Historians divide this long span into broad periods. During the Old Kingdom, central royal power was strong and the great pyramids were built as royal tombs. After a time of disunity, the Middle Kingdom restored stability and saw notable literature and art. The New Kingdom that followed was an age of empire, when Egypt extended its influence abroad and powerful kings raised vast temples; many of the best-known pharaohs belong to this period. Between these high points came intermediate periods of weaker central control.

Throughout its history Egypt's wealth rested on the Nile and its yearly flood, which supported agriculture and a complex administration staffed by officials and scribes. The civilization eventually came under foreign rule, passing to a line of Greek kings after the conquest by Alexander and finally being absorbed into the Roman world. The records the Egyptians left in stone and on papyrus, written in hieroglyphs, allow this long chronology to be traced and remain central to the study of the ancient past.

Frequently asked questions

How long did ancient Egyptian civilization last?

It lasted roughly three thousand years, from the unification of Egypt through a long series of dynasties until it was absorbed into the Roman world.

How is Egyptian history divided?

Scholars group it into broad eras, chiefly the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, separated by intermediate periods of weaker central rule.

What was the New Kingdom known for?

It was an age of empire and monumental temple building, and many of the most famous pharaohs ruled during this period.