OUTLINE OF EGYPTIAN HISTORY

The traditional division into “Kingdoms” and “Dynasties” must be kept, given our incomplete knowledge of Egyptian history. The dates provided here are approximately correct from about original: "circa" 2000 B.C. onwards. I have used the more recent, lower date estimates for the Old Kingdom, as the various calculations for that era still differ by several centuries.

OLD KINGDOM.

Dynasty 3: 3000–2900 B.C.
A period that remains almost entirely unknown to us (pages 37, 66).

Dynasty 4: 2900–2750 B.C.
King Snefru (pages 38, 111) and the builders of the great pyramids—Khufu original: "Kheops" (page 36), Khafre original: "Khephrēn" (page 36), and Menkaure original: "Mykerinos".

Dynasty 5: 2750–2625 B.C.
A thriving period for art and possibly also for literature (page 54).

Dynasty 6: From 2625 onwards.
Around 2500 B.C., a political collapse occurred (see page 93); Egypt then faded into obscurity.

PERIOD BETWEEN THE OLD AND MIDDLE KINGDOMS.

Egypt has fractured into separate states. Around 2360 B.C., Akhthoes (page 81) establishes the kingdom of Herakleopolis (pages xxiv, 75, 116), and under his rule, the failing civilization begins to revive. The contemporaneous Eleventh Dynasty in Thebes eventually gains the upper hand after long-lasting conflicts (pages 79, 82).

MIDDLE KINGDOM.

Dynasty 12: 1995–1790 B.C.
A period of great achievement in both political power and general culture. Its founder, Amenemhat I original: "Amenemhēt I" (1995–1965 B.C.), puts an end to the period of civil unrest (pages 15, 72 and following original: "ff.", 111 and following).