Life Beyond the Tomb

Ancient Egypt timeline

The civilisation we refer to as ancient Egypt endured for over 3000 years. Its history can be divided into a number of distinct periods into which the various dynasties, or ruling families, were grouped. These periods were also characterised by changing religious beliefs and practices, as new ideas blended with, rather than replaced the old.

The terms BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) have been used here and are interchangeable with BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini). Archaeologists and historians increasingly use BCE and CE instead of the exclusively Christian BC and AD.

Roman Period

(30 BCE - 395 CE)


Roman Conquest 30 BCE

Ptolemaic Period

(Macedonian and Ptolemaic Kings 332-30 BCE)

Late Period

(Dynasties 26-30 about 664-332 BCE)


Keku lives about 650 BCE

3rd Intermediate Period

New Kingdom

(Dynasties 18-20 about 1550 -1069 BCE)


Tutankhamun dies about 1324 BCE

2nd Intermediate Period

Middle Kingdom

(Dynasties 11-13 about 2125-1650 BCE)

1st Intermediate Period

Old Kingdom

(Dynasties 3-6 about 2686-2181 BCE)


Great Pyramids of Giza built about 2550 BCE

Early Dynastic Period

(Dynasties 1-2 about 3100-2686 BCE)

Predynastic Period

(ends 3100 BCE)