Timeline
3100-2950 BC Late Predynastic Period
- Earliest known hieroglyphic writing
- Foundation of the Egyptian state
2950-2575 BC Early Dynastic Period (1st-3rd Dynasties) 
- Creation of the capital city of Memphis
- The first pyramid is built - the Step Pyramid at Saqqara
2575-2150 BC
Old Kingdom (4th-8th Dynasties)
- The Great Pyramids are built at Dahshur and Giza
- Pyramids and elite tombs include the first extensive inscriptions
2125-1975 BC1st Intermediate Period (9th-11th Dynasties)
- Egypt splits into two smaller states, ruled from Memphis in the north and Thebes in the south
1975-1640 BC Middle Kingdom (11th-14th Dynasties)
- Mentuhotep reunites Egypt
- Egypt conquers Lower Nubia under Senwosret I and III
- Classical period of art and literature
1630- 1520 BC
2nd Intermediate Period (15th-17th Dynasties) 
- Hyksos kings seize power in the north
- Theban 17th dynasty in the south
1539-1075 BC
New Kingdom (18th-20th Dynasties)
- Egyptian empire in Near East and Nubia
- Elaborate tombs of the Valley of Kings
- Rule of woman pharaoh Hatshepsut
- King Akhenaten attempts to introduce a monotheistic religion
- Brief reign of Tutankhamun
- Ramesses II rules for 67 years
1075-715 BC
third Intermediate Period (21st-25th Dynasties) 
- Disunity and Libyan settlement in Egypt
- Nubians conquer Egypt (late 8th century)
715-332 BC Late Period (20th-30th Dynasties, 2nd Persian Period)
- Egypt conquered briefly by Assyrians
- Cultural revival under kings from Sais
- Persian conquest of Egypt (525 BC)
- Egypt independent again (404-343 BC)
332 BC-395 AD Greco-Roman Period (Macedonians, Ptolemies, and Romans)
- Alexander the Great occupies Egypt
- Alexander's general, Ptolemy, becomes king and founds a dynasty
- The Rosetta Stone is carved (196 BC)
- Cleopatra VII reigns (51-30 BC)
- Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire (30 BC)