A chronological guide to the rulers and dynasties of ancient Egypt, from the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt through the Ptolemaic era.
Upper and Lower Egypt are traditionally treated as unified around this period, beginning the dynastic sequence.
Djoser's reign in the Third Dynasty is associated with the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, designed by Imhotep.
Khufu's reign in the Fourth Dynasty is associated with construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
The Fourth Dynasty marks the peak of Old Kingdom pyramid building and includes the Giza complex.
The Middle Kingdom follows reunification under the Theban rulers of the Eleventh Dynasty.
Hatshepsut rules as king during the Eighteenth Dynasty and sponsors major building and trade projects.
Thutmose III begins a long Eighteenth-Dynasty reign and later expands Egyptian power in western Asia.
Akhenaten relocates the royal center to Akhetaten and promotes the Aten cult.
Tutankhamun rules during the late Amarna aftermath; his tomb is later discovered largely intact.
Seti I restores temples and authority during the early Nineteenth Dynasty.
Ramses II becomes one of Egypt's longest-ruling pharaohs and sponsors monuments including Abu Simbel.
Merneptah succeeds Ramses II and is associated with the earliest known Egyptian reference to Israel.
Ramses III, the major ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty, defends Egypt against invasions.
Libyan-origin rulers establish the Twenty-second Dynasty during the Third Intermediate Period.
Piye of Kush establishes the Kushite Twenty-fifth Dynasty in Egypt.
Psamtik I reunifies Egypt and begins the Saite Twenty-sixth Dynasty.
Cambyses II conquers Egypt, beginning the first Persian period.
Alexander the Great conquers Egypt, beginning the Macedonian period.
Ptolemy I establishes the Ptolemaic dynasty after Alexander's death.
Cleopatra VII becomes co-ruler and later sole effective ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt.
After Cleopatra VII's death, Egypt is annexed by Rome.