Ancient Egypt: Art & Culture Timeline

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Ancient Egyptian Art and Culture

TIMELINE

700,000 BC

Earliest evidence for hominids in Egypt.

500,000 BC

Evidence for lower Paleolithic culture in Egypt.

250,000 - 90,000 BC

Earliest evidence found of buildings in Egypt -(Homo Erectus).

100,000 - 30,000 BC

Hunter and gatherer society (Homo-neathanderthalensis).

60,000 BC

The Nile defines present course.

30, 000 - 13,000 BC (?)

Humans enter the Americas.

15,000 - 10,000 BC

Cave paintings at Lascaux (France) created.

13,000 - 9,000 BC

Evidence of ritual burial in Egypt. Some evidence for agriculture in Egypt.

10,000 - c. 5,500 BC

Evidence for more consistent settlement along the banks of the Nile.

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8000 BC+

Wheat and barley were cultivated in the Near East. This is the most important development in ancient civilization.

7000 BC+

Flax is cultivated is Syria and Turkey for fibers and seed. Agriculture in the Americas.

5110 BC

Domesticated animal in Nubia.

4000 - 3000 BC

Predynastic Period

3500 BC

Possible Sumerians use the cuneiform alphabet on clay tablets. People begin living in cities.

3200 BC

Approximate date for earliest hieroglyphics.

3150 BC

Possible date for unified Egypt.

3000 BC

Late Predynastic Period evidence individual rulers of Egypt. Evidence for Egyptian trade (especially myrrh for incense) with other lands.

2929 - 2770 BC

Early Dynastic Period - Archaic Period - Egypt is definitely united.

Dynasty I

Dynasty II

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2800 BC

The first stage of Stonehenge built in present day England. The horse is domesticated in Asia.

2750 BC

First recorded exploration expedition from Egypt.

2600 BC

The wheel comes into use in the Indus Valley.

2575 - 2134 BC Old Kingdom - theocracy develops - Pharaohs were gods on earth.
Dynasties III - VIII
	Dynasty III
	King Djoser's step pyramid (designed by Imhotep) built at Saqqara. It is the first monumental building of stone.
	Dynasty IV
	Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Mankaure built at Giza. The sphinx is sculpted from rock. Astronomers create a solar calendar based on 365 Days
	Dynasties V and VI
	Powerful and wealthy individuals have mastaba tombs.

2500 BC

Polynesians begin migrating through the South Pacific.

2400 BC

Date of earliest papyrus scroll with writing.

2200 BC

Cultivation of grain and livestock in Europe.

2134 - 2040 BC

1st Intermediate Period

Dynasties IX - X

Egypt splits into provinces that war with each other. Famine results.

2000 BC

Bronze age in the Middle East.

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2040-1640 BC Middle Kingdom
	Dynasty XI - (early) XIII
	Commoners practice mummification.
	Dynasty XI
	King Menuhotep reunites Egypt.
	Dynasty XII
	Lower Nubia is conquered, irrigation practiced, pyramids are built again. Literature becomes an important art form.
	Dynasty XIII
	The Hyksos, a foreign people settle in Egypt. Egyptians abandon Nubia.

1800 BC

Book of the Dead appears in tombs. It contains instructions for entering the afterlife and protective spells. ( we have a fragment in our exhibition).

1640 - 1532 BC 2nd Intermediate Period Dynasties XIV-XVII
	Dynasty XIV
	Phoenicians and Palestinians settle in Egypt.
	Dynasty XV - XVI (Hyksos)
	The Hyksos usurp Egyptian Rulers, make contact with rulers of Nubia.
	Dynasty XVII (Theban)
	Thebes dynasty rules with the Hyksos, but then try to expel the Hyksos. Egyptian military use horse drawn chariots.

1550 BC

Last stage of Stonehenge completed.

1550 - 1070 BC

New Kingdom

Dynasties XVIII-XX

Dynasty XVIII

Thutmoside the Hyksos are expelled, Nubia reconquered. Egypt is unified once again, and then expands to control Syria and Palestine. Kings begin hiding their tombs - separate from their mortuary temples in the Valley of the Kings.

1500 BC

The Ebers Papyrus is written recording methods of diagnosis, treatment, spells and recipes for medicines. Earliest metalwork in South America.

1485 BC

After ruling as regent for her stepson Thutmosis III, Hapshepsut declares herself Pharaoh of Egypt.

1384 BC

In China, writing is well established by this time.

1380 BC (circa)

Amarna period - Ankhenaten and Nefertiti establish and enforce a monotheistic religion based upon the solar disk, the Aten. Visual arts and literature become much more naturalistic. Tutankhamun restores traditional religion.

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1325 BC

Tutankhamun entombed.

Dynasty XIX

First Ramesside Egyptians fight with the Hittites and then make peace, then conquer Israel.

1295 BC

The Fall of Jericho.

1290 BC

Ramesses II succeeds to the throne. He was one of the most powerful pharaohs in Egyptian history. He lived to be at least 90 years old, commissioned many building projects, include Abu Simbel and fathered an estimated 400 children.

Dynasty XX

Second Remesside Remesses III repels dislocated tribes from Asia Minor (aka Sea Peoples). Moses and the Israelites exodus from Egypt. Time of political and economic decline. Priests gain power.

1200 BC

The Middle East enters the Iron Age.

1070 - 712 BC 3rd Intermediate Period
	Dynasty XXI
	Tanite Egypt is divided - partly ruled by a Dynasty in the Nile delta which shares power with the high priests of Amun at Thebes. Egyptians trade for iron and iron tools. Secret reburial of royal mummies from plundered tombs.
	Dynasty XXII-XXIII
	Lybian Egypt is further fragmented - many dynasties, including those with rulers of Lybian descent coexist. Art declines.
	Dynasty XXIV Saite

776 BC

First Olympic Games in Greece.

712- 332 BC Late Period (?)
	Dynasty XXV Kushite
	Napatan Egypt is reunited under Kushite (Nubian) invaders, art and architecture once again thrive, until Assyrians invade.
	Dynasty XXVI Saite
	The Assyrians withdraw and kings from Sais (the western delta) rule. Greeks begin to settle in Egypt.

650 BC

First papyrus arrives in Greece from Egypt.

625 BC

First coins struck at Lydia (present day Turkey).

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563 BC

Birth of Buddha.

551 BC

Confucius is born in China.

525-330 BC Late Dynastic Period
	Dynasty XXVII
	First Persian Domination Acheamenid Persians invade and rule Egypt.
	Dynasty XXVIII
	Rebellion Persians are repelled.
	Dynasty XXIX Mendesian.
	Dynasty XXX
	Last of the Native Egyptian Dynasties.
	Dynasty XXXI
	Second Persian Domination.

447 BC

The Parthenon built in Athens.

332 BC - 395 AD

Greco-Roman Period

332-305 BC

Macedonian Rule- Alexander the Great frees Egypt from Persian rule. They declare him Pharaoh. He founds Alexandria which becomes one of the centers of learning and trade in the ancient world.

304-30 BC

Ptolemaic Dynasty - Descendants of the Greek general Ptolomy (including Cleopatra) rule, after Alexander's death, but Egyptian Style is preserved. Ptolomaic Egypt had a large empire, at times including parts of Syria, Asia Minor, Cyprus, Lubya, Phonecia, and parts of other lands.

229 BC

The library at Alexandria is founded with the mission to collect all the books in the inhabited world.

146 BC

The Rosetta stone is cut. It contains writing in ancient Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphics.

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140 BC

The Dead Sea scrolls are written.

36 BC

Earliest Mayan monuments.

30 BC

Roman Conquest - Cleopatra VII and Antony are defeated by Augustus Caesar. Major buildings are built in Egyptian style, but Greco-Roman features mix with Egyptian elements. Egypt becomes a source of wealth and grain. Occasional attacks by Ethiopians.

Jesus Christ, founder of Christianity born.

The library at Alexandria burns. 40,000 of its 70,000 volumes burn.

The Colosseum completed in Rome.

120

Romans build Hadrian's Wall between what is approximately present day England and Scotland.

212

All Egyptians are granted Roman Citizenship.

Post AD 300

Ascendancy of Christianity in Egypt.

570? (570-623)

Mohammed, founder of Islam born.

600 - 900