The Basic Chronology of Ancient Egypt

The basic chronology of ancient Egypt consists of:

Palaeolithic Period                   
500,000 - 5500 BCE

Predynastic  Period                
 5500 - 3050 BCE

Early Predynastic Period       
5500 - 3800 BCE      Fayum A, Merimda, Badarian
3800 - 3500 BCE      Amratian (Naqada IA - IB)

Middle Predynastic Period    
3550 - 3400 BCE       Early Gerzean (Naqada IC, IIA - B)

Late Predynastic Period       
3400 - 3300 BCE      Middle Gerzean (Naqada IIC )
3300 - 3200 BCE      Late Gerzean (Naqada IID1 - IID2)

Protodynastic Period             
3200 - 3050 BCE      (Naqada IIIA1 - IIIC1)


Early Dynastic Period            
3050 - 2613 BCE      
3050 - 2890 BCE      Dynasty I (Naqada IIIC1 - IIID)
2890 - 2686 BCE       Dynasty II (Naqada IIID)

Old Kingdom Period              
2686 - 2181 BCE        Dynasties III - VI

First Intermediate Period     
2181 - 2040 BCE        Dynasties VII - XI (1)

Middle Kingdom Period         
2040 - 1782 BCE        Dynasties XI (2) - XII

Second Intermediate Period  
1782 - 1570 BCE         Dynasties XIII - XVII

New Kingdom Period              
1570 - 1070 BCE         Dynasties XVIII - XX

Third Intermediate Period    
1070 - 713 BCE            Dynasties XXI - XXIV

Late Period                               
713 - 332 BCE              Dynasties XXV - XXXI

Graeco - Roman Period    
332 BCE - AD 395       Ptolemies and Roman Emperors

Based on W.J. Murnane, The Penguin Guide to Ancient Egypt, 1983