1st Dynasty · c. 3000–2890 BCE
First Dynasty
The first kings of a unified Egypt found Memphis, record events with early hieroglyphs and are buried in great tombs at Abydos.
Open the 1st Dynastyc. 3000 – 343 BCE
Timeline of the 30 Dynasties
Nearly three thousand years, drawn to scale. Overlapping bars are rival dynasties that ruled different parts of Egypt at the same time.
Interactive timeline
Drag or scroll the timeline. Select a dynasty to see its rulers.
2nd Dynasty · c. 2890–2686 BCE
Second Dynasty
A turbulent dynasty in which Horus and Seth kingships appear to compete, ending with Khasekhemwy's consolidation of the state.
Open the 2nd Dynasty3rd Dynasty · c. 2686–2613 BCE
Third Dynasty
Djoser and his architect Imhotep build the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the first monumental stone building in the world.
Open the 3rd Dynasty4th Dynasty · c. 2613–2494 BCE
Fourth Dynasty
The pyramid builders. Sneferu perfects the true pyramid at Dahshur and his successors raise the pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza.
Open the 4th Dynasty5th Dynasty · c. 2494–2345 BCE
Fifth Dynasty
Kings build sun temples to Ra at Abusir. Unas inscribes the Pyramid Texts, the oldest religious texts in Egypt, inside his pyramid.
Open the 5th Dynasty6th Dynasty · c. 2345–2181 BCE
Sixth Dynasty
Provincial governors grow powerful. Pepi II's reign, among the longest in history, ends in a weakened state.
Open the 6th Dynasty7th Dynasty · c. 2181–2170 BCE
Seventh Dynasty
Manetho's "seventy kings in seventy days" — probably a literary way of describing a collapse of central rule after Pepi II.
Open the 7th Dynasty8th Dynasty · c. 2170–2160 BCE
Eighth Dynasty
Short-lived Memphite kings who claimed Old Kingdom legitimacy while real power passed to the provinces.
Open the 8th Dynasty9th Dynasty · c. 2160–2130 BCE
Ninth Dynasty
A new royal house at Herakleopolis, near the Faiyum, controls northern and middle Egypt.
Open the 9th Dynasty10th Dynasty · c. 2130–2040 BCE
Tenth Dynasty
The Herakleopolitan kings fight the Theban Intefs. The Teaching for Merikara, a classic of wisdom literature, is set in this era.
Open the 10th Dynasty11th Dynasty · c. 2125–1985 BCE
Eleventh Dynasty
Theban rulers expand north. Mentuhotep II reunifies Egypt around 2055 BCE and begins the Middle Kingdom.
Open the 11th Dynasty12th Dynasty · c. 1985–1773 BCE
Twelfth Dynasty
A classical age of art and literature. Senusret III fortifies Nubia and Sobekneferu becomes one of Egypt's first confirmed female kings.
Open the 12th Dynasty13th Dynasty · c. 1773–1650 BCE
Thirteenth Dynasty
Dozens of short reigns keep the Middle Kingdom administration running while the Delta slips from royal control.
Open the 13th Dynasty14th Dynasty · c. 1773–1650 BCE
Fourteenth Dynasty
A line of rulers, many with Canaanite names, governs the eastern Delta in parallel with the 13th Dynasty.
Open the 14th Dynasty15th Dynasty · c. 1650–1550 BCE
Fifteenth Dynasty (Hyksos)
The Hyksos, "rulers of foreign lands", take Memphis and rule the north, introducing the horse and chariot on a wide scale.
Open the 15th Dynasty16th Dynasty · c. 1650–1580 BCE
Sixteenth Dynasty
Minor Theban kings hold Upper Egypt under pressure from the Hyksos in the north and Kush in the south.
Open the 16th Dynasty17th Dynasty · c. 1580–1550 BCE
Seventeenth Dynasty
Theban kings launch the war of liberation. Seqenenra Taa dies in battle and Kamose pushes the Hyksos back to Avaris.
Open the 17th Dynasty18th Dynasty · c. 1550–1295 BCE
Eighteenth Dynasty
Egypt's most famous dynasty builds an empire, raises Karnak and Luxor, experiments with Akhenaten's sun-disc religion and produces Tutankhamun.
Open the 18th Dynasty19th Dynasty · c. 1295–1186 BCE
Nineteenth Dynasty
The Ramesside age. Ramesses II fights at Kadesh, signs the first known peace treaty and fills Egypt with colossal monuments.
Open the 19th Dynasty20th Dynasty · c. 1186–1069 BCE
Twentieth Dynasty
Ramesses III repels the Sea Peoples, but strikes, tomb robberies and a harem conspiracy mark the decline of the New Kingdom.
Open the 20th Dynasty21st Dynasty · c. 1069–945 BCE
Twenty-first Dynasty
Kings rule from Tanis while the High Priests of Amun govern Thebes. Royal mummies are gathered into caches for safety.
Open the 21st Dynasty22nd Dynasty · c. 945–715 BCE
Twenty-second Dynasty
Kings of Libyan descent. Shoshenq I campaigns in Palestine; later reigns splinter into rival kingdoms.
Open the 22nd Dynasty23rd Dynasty · c. 818–715 BCE
Twenty-third Dynasty
A parallel Libyan line, partly based at Thebes, reflecting Egypt's division into several local kingdoms.
Open the 23rd Dynasty24th Dynasty · c. 727–715 BCE
Twenty-fourth Dynasty
The western Delta princes of Sais attempt to unite the north before the Kushite king Piye marches down the Nile.
Open the 24th Dynasty25th Dynasty · c. 747–656 BCE
Twenty-fifth Dynasty (Kushite)
The kings of Kush conquer Egypt and revive classical traditions, until Assyrian invasions drive them back south.
Open the 25th Dynasty26th Dynasty · 664–525 BCE
Twenty-sixth Dynasty (Saite)
A Saite renaissance reunites Egypt, revives Old Kingdom art and builds ties with the Greek world.
Open the 26th Dynasty27th Dynasty · 525–404 BCE
Twenty-seventh Dynasty (First Persian)
Achaemenid Persian kings rule Egypt as a satrapy. Darius I completes a canal from the Nile to the Red Sea.
Open the 27th Dynasty28th Dynasty · 404–399 BCE
Twenty-eighth Dynasty
A single king, Amyrtaeus of Sais, leads a successful revolt against Persia.
Open the 28th Dynasty29th Dynasty · 399–380 BCE
Twenty-ninth Dynasty
Delta kings of Mendes defend independence by allying with Greek city-states against Persia.
Open the 29th Dynasty30th Dynasty · 380–343 BCE
Thirtieth Dynasty
The last native Egyptian pharaohs. A final burst of temple building ends when Persia reconquers Egypt in 343 BCE.
Open the 30th DynastyEra by era
The same history as a list, grouped by the great periods Egyptologists use.
Early Dynastic Periodc. 3000–2686 BCE
Upper and Lower Egypt are unified under a single crown. Writing, royal tombs at Abydos and the capital at Memphis take shape.
Old Kingdomc. 2686–2160 BCE
The age of the pyramids. A centralised state channels the wealth of the Nile valley into monuments at Saqqara, Dahshur and Giza.
- 33rd Dynastyc. 2686–2613 BCE · MemphisDjoser, Sekhemkhet, Khaba, Huni
- 44th Dynastyc. 2613–2494 BCE · MemphisSneferu, Khufu, Djedefra, Khafra, Menkaura…
- 55th Dynastyc. 2494–2345 BCE · MemphisUserkaf, Sahura, Neferirkara, Nyuserra, Djedkara Isesi…
- 66th Dynastyc. 2345–2181 BCE · MemphisTeti, Userkara, Pepi I, Merenra, Pepi II
- 77th Dynastyc. 2181–2170 BCE · MemphisEphemeral kings, poorly attested
- 88th Dynastyc. 2170–2160 BCE · MemphisQakara Ibi, Neferkaura, Neferirkara II
First Intermediate Periodc. 2160–2055 BCE
Royal authority fragments. Rival houses at Herakleopolis in the north and Thebes in the south compete for control of the valley.
Middle Kingdomc. 2055–1650 BCE
Theban kings reunify Egypt. Literature flourishes, Nubia is fortified and the Faiyum is developed.
- 1111th Dynastyc. 2125–1985 BCE · ThebesIntef I, Intef II, Intef III, Mentuhotep II, Mentuhotep III…
- 1212th Dynastyc. 1985–1773 BCE · Itjtawy (near el-Lisht)Amenemhat I, Senusret I, Amenemhat II, Senusret II, Senusret III…
- 1313th Dynastyc. 1773–1650 BCE · Itjtawy, later ThebesSobekhotep I, Neferhotep I, Sobekhotep IV, Ay
Second Intermediate Periodc. 1650–1550 BCE
The Hyksos rule the north from Avaris while a Theban dynasty holds the south, until Theban kings drive them out.
New Kingdomc. 1550–1069 BCE
Egypt's imperial age. Pharaohs campaign from Nubia to Syria and are buried in the Valley of the Kings.
- 1818th Dynastyc. 1550–1295 BCE · Thebes, briefly AmarnaAhmose I, Amenhotep I, Thutmose I, Thutmose II, Hatshepsut…
- 1919th Dynastyc. 1295–1186 BCE · Pi-Ramesses (Delta) and MemphisRamesses I, Seti I, Ramesses II, Merenptah, Amenmesse…
- 2020th Dynastyc. 1186–1069 BCE · Pi-Ramesses and ThebesSethnakht, Ramesses III, Ramesses IV, Ramesses VI, Ramesses IX…
Third Intermediate Periodc. 1069–664 BCE
Power divides between Tanis in the Delta and the priests of Amun at Thebes. Libyan and then Kushite dynasties rule.
- 2121st Dynastyc. 1069–945 BCE · TanisSmendes, Amenemnisu, Psusennes I, Amenemope, Siamun…
- 2222nd Dynastyc. 945–715 BCE · Bubastis and TanisShoshenq I, Osorkon I, Takelot I, Osorkon II, Shoshenq III
- 2323rd Dynastyc. 818–715 BCE · Leontopolis and ThebesPedubast I, Osorkon III, Takelot III, Rudamun
- 2424th Dynastyc. 727–715 BCE · SaisTefnakht, Bakenrenef
- 2525th Dynastyc. 747–656 BCE · Napata and MemphisPiye, Shabaqo, Shabitqo, Taharqa, Tanutamani
Late Period664–332 BCE
A Saite revival is followed by two Persian conquests. The 30th Dynasty is the last line of native Egyptian pharaohs.
- 2626th Dynasty664–525 BCE · SaisPsamtek I, Necho II, Psamtek II, Apries, Ahmose II (Amasis)…
- 2727th Dynasty525–404 BCE · Persepolis (satrapy at Memphis)Cambyses II, Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, Darius II
- 2828th Dynasty404–399 BCE · SaisAmyrtaeus
- 2929th Dynasty399–380 BCE · MendesNepherites I, Hakor, Nepherites II
- 3030th Dynasty380–343 BCE · SebennytosNectanebo I, Teos, Nectanebo II