Ancient Egyptians - Egyptian Empire
Click a link for additional information and interesting facts about subjects relating to the Egyptian Empire or other aspects of daily life, the people and places of ancient Egypt.

All about Ancient Egyptians

Egyptian History & Civilisation

The Rise and Fall of the Egyptian Empire
The history and civilization of Ancient Egypt spanned over 3000 years from 3100 B.C. to 310 A.D. The rise of the ancient Egyptian Empire spanned this massive time period and started with their conquest of Nubia in the far south of Egypt. This spread through the lands of Canaan along the Mediterranean coast and north to the land of the Hittites. The decline of the Egyptian Empire was marked by the Greek conquest under Alexander the Great which established the Ptolemaic dynasty. The conflict between Queen Cleopatra and Mark Anthony and Rome led to the fall of the ancient Egyptian Empire and Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire.

Map of the Egyptian Empire
The first map of the Egyptian Empire provides an overview of the extent of the empire at its peak (in green) during the 19th Dynasty of the period in history referred to as the New Kingdom, under the rule of Ramses the Great including Mesopotamia and Assyria. The second map of the Egyptian Empire indicates the location of the countries and empires involved in the power struggles of ancient Egypt with Canaan, Syria, Babylon and Mesopotamia.

Map of the Egyptian Empire

Map of the Egyptian Empire (Countries)

Egyptian Empire - History Time Periods
The history and civilization of ancient Egypt and the rise of the Egyptian Empire spanned so many years that it is divided into different time periods and a total of 31 different dynasties of the rulers of Ancient Egypt. For a short overview of the civilization refer to Ancient Egyptian History.

Ancient Egyptian Time Periods

Prehistoric Egypt 5000 - 3100 BCE

The Early Dynastic Period: 3100 - 2686 BCE

The Old Kingdom 2686 - 2181 BCE

1st Intermediate Period 2181- 2134 BCE

The Middle Kingdom 2134 - 1782 BCE

2nd Intermediate Period 1782 -1550 BCE

The New Kingdom1550 -1069 BCE

3rd Intermediate Period 1069 - 664 BCE

The Late Period664 - 332 BCE

Ptolemaic Egypt 332 - 30 BCE

Roman & Byzantine Egypt 30 BCE - 641 CE

Egyptian Empire - Ancient Egyptian Dynasties
The history of Egypt often refers to both the different time periods and the dynasties. The following chart details a fast overview of the dynasties in relation to the time periods.

Ancient Egyptian Dynasties

Ancient Egytian Dynasties

Early Dynastic Period: 1st - 2nd Dynasties

The Old Kingdome 3rd - 6th Dynasties

1st Intermediate Period 7th - 10th Dynasties

The Middle Kingdom 11th - 12th Dynasties

2nd Intermediate Period 13th - 20th Dynasties

The New Kingdom 18th - 20th Dynasties

Post Empire 21st - 31st Dynasties

Facts about the ancient Egyptian Empire
The history and civilization of ancient Egypt the fast and easy way via the following Fact sheet.

Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Empire Fact Sheet

Fact 1 on Egyptian Empire: The Egyptian Empire reached its peak during the 19th Dynasty of the period in history referred to as the New Kingdom, under the rule of Ramses the Great who ruled Egypt 1279 BC – 1213 BC.

Fact 2 on Egyptian Empire: The history and civilization of Ancient Egypt spanned over 3000 years from 3100 B.C. to 310 A.D. and covered 31 dynasties of the kings and pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Fact 3 on Egyptian Empire: The Early Dynastic (1st & 2nd dynasties) period saw the start of political unity, a central government and the emergence of a cultural identity. The first 2 dynasties were established and the system of hieroglyphic writing was developed that provided a sound basis to govern and build an empire.

Fact 4 on Egyptian Empire: The Old Kingdom was the "Age of the Pyramids", a stable period for the kings and pharaohs, when the Egyptians increased their technology and wealth. The weapons used during this era included copper and bronze consisting of spears, cudgels, maces, daggers, shields and bows and arrows. 

Fact 5 on Egyptian Empire: The 1st intermediate period was time period of anarchy and political instability due to powerful priests and governors. The pharaohs lost their power to the vizier, the government official and the priests.

Fact 6 on Egyptian Empire: The Middle Kingdom saw aggressive military campaigns mounted against Nubia, the beginning of the Egyptians ambition to build and empire. Military forts were built along the Nile on the Nubian borders.

Fact 7 on Egyptian Empire: The 2nd intermediate period saw the rise of hostilities of the Hyksos.

Fact 8 on Egyptian Empire: The Middle Kingdom was overthrown by the invasion of the Hyksos from Asia, who ruled over Egypt, for several centuries across several dynasties of kings. The Hyksos introduced the horse and the chariot to ancient Egypt. The chariot proved to be significant during warfare in the rise of the Empire during the New Kingdom.

Fact 9 on Egyptian Empire: Senusret III was the most powerful king of the 12th dynasty of the Middle Kingdom and decreased the power of the Nomarchs. The building of the Sesostris Canal was initiated during his reign to link the River Nile to the Red Sea.

Fact 10 on Egyptian Empire: 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom: Pharaoh Ahmose I expelled the Hyksos 'foreign rulers' and founded the Eighteenth dynasty. The New Kingdom saw the rise of the ancient Egyptian Empire.

Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Empire Fact Sheet

Egyptian Empire
Learn about the history and civilization of ancient Egypt the fast and easy way via the following Fact sheet.

Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Empire Fact Sheet

Fact 11 on Egyptian Empire: New Kingdom: The ancient Egyptians fought against the Hittites for control of the lucrative trade routes to Mesopotamia.

Fact 12 on Egyptian Empire: Military campaigns were launched and the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean, including Canaan came under Egyptian rule.

Fact 13 on Egyptian Empire: 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom: Pharaoh Thutmose I extended the military presence in Nubia.

Fact 14 on Egyptian Empire: 18th Dynasty: Pharaoh Thutmose III, one of the greatest pharaohs, and created the largest empire Egypt had ever known through his military campaigns and conquests in Canaan, Syria and Nubia.

Fact 15 on Egyptian Empire: 19th Dynasty: Pharaoh Ramses I intensified military campaigns in Syria.

Fact 16 on Egyptian Empire: 19th Dynasty: Pharaoh Seti I launched military campaigns against the Hittites and succeed in gaining Hittite lands, gaining lands in Northern Syria providing lucrative trade routes to Mesopotamia.

Fact 17 on Egyptian Empire: 19th Dynasty: Ramses the Great was renown for his  military prowess that resulted in the suppression of threats from the Nubians, the Libyans and Hittites and secured the borders of Egypt from hostile attacks.

Fact 18 on Egyptian Empire: 19th Dynasty: Egypt conquers the African land of Nubia. and incorporated parts of the area into its provinces.

Fact 19 on Egyptian Empire: Egypt continued to build a series of fortresses in every area of the Egyptian Empire. It is documented that some of the fortresses were surrounded by crocodile-infested ditches or canals. moat

Fact 20 on Egyptian Empire: The 19th Dynasty saw Moses and the Israelites released from Egypt to travel across the Arabian desert towards the Promised Land.

Fact 21 on Egyptian Empire: The 20th dynasty of the New Kingdom heralded the decline of the empire.

Fact 22 on Egyptian Empire: Post Empire: For a short period of time the Libyans conquered Egypt and ruled as part of the 22nd dynasty.

Fact 23 on Egyptian Empire: The Assyrians invade Egypt.

Fact 24 on Egyptian Empire: The Persians expel the Assyrians and conquer Egypt in 525BC

Fact 25 on Egyptian Empire: Military defeat of Persia by the Greeks at Marathon in 490 B.C. when Egypt is conquered by the Greeks led by Alexander the Great.

Fact 26 on Egyptian Empire: The Ptolemaic dynasty of kings was established by Alexander the Great who ruled Egypt for over one hundred years.

Fact 27 on Egyptian Empire: The last ruler of Egypt was Cleopatra, the mistress of Julius Caesar and the wife of Mark Anthony. Octavian and the Romans defeat Anthony and Cleopatra at Battle of Actium.

Fact 28 on Egyptian Empire: Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire

Fact 29 on Egyptian Empire: The last ruler of Egypt was Cleopatra, the mistress of Julius Caesar and the wife of Mark Anthony. Octavian and the Romans defeat Anthony and Cleopatra at Battle of Actium.

Fact 30 on Egyptian Empire: Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire

Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Empire Fact Sheet

Egyptian Empire
Learning about the ancient Egyptians inspires everyone to visit historical sites and undertake Egypt Travel and Tours to experience the wonders of this magical land at first hand. Many people choose to experience a tour of Egypt on a Nile Cruise stopping at the famous destinations and sites of Egypt such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. The information and facts about the history of Egypt will provide you with a great insight into Egypt and the legacy of the ancient Egyptians.