Timeline

Read from the earliest period down to the latest. Dates and boundaries are approximate; a monument can span more than one period.

1. c.5300–3100 BCE

   Predynastic Period

   Farming communities and regional powers develop along the Nile. Writing emerges towards the end of this long period, before the conventional start of dynastic history.

   No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet.

2. c.3100–2686 BCEDynasties 1st Dynasty · 2nd Dynasty

   Early Dynastic Period

   Early kings consolidate the Egyptian state. Writing, royal titles and institutions develop forms that later generations adapt over a long history.

   No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet.

3. c.2686–2181 BCEDynasties 3rd Dynasty · 4th Dynasty · 5th Dynasty · 6th Dynasty

   Old Kingdom

   The age of the great pyramids at Giza and Saqqara, and of a strongly centralised state ruled from Memphis. Thebes is still a provincial town.

   No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet.

4. c.2181–2055 BCEDynasties 7th Dynasty · 8th Dynasty · 9th Dynasty · 10th Dynasty · 11th Dynasty (Theban)

   First Intermediate Period

   Central authority breaks down and power passes to regional governors. Thebes emerges for the first time as one of the two rival centres.

   No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet.

5. c.2055–1650 BCEDynasties 11th Dynasty · 12th Dynasty · 13th Dynasty

   Middle Kingdom

   Egypt reunified from Thebes. The earliest substantial building at Karnak belongs to this period, and the god Amun begins his long rise.

   Sites in Luxor

   • Karnak Temple Complex — Temple complex · East bank

   Rulers

   • Mentuhotep II — c.2055–2004 BCE · 11th Dynasty
   • Senusret I — c.1965–1920 BCE · 12th Dynasty
6. c.1650–1550 BCEDynasties 14th Dynasty · 15th Dynasty · 16th Dynasty · 17th Dynasty

   Second Intermediate Period

   Rule divided between the Hyksos in the Delta and Theban kings in the south, until Thebes drove them out and reunified the country by force.

   Sites in Luxor

   • Karnak Temple Complex — Temple complex · East bank
7. c.1550–1069 BCEDynasties 18th Dynasty · 19th Dynasty · 20th Dynasty

   New Kingdom

   A period of extensive Egyptian power and major royal building at Thebes. Many of Luxor’s best-known temples and tombs date to these centuries, alongside important earlier and later remains.

   Sites in Luxor

   • Karnak Temple Complex — Temple complex · East bank
   • Luxor Temple — Temple · East bank
   • Valley of the Kings — Necropolis · West bank
   • Temple of Hatshepsut — Temple · West bank
   • Valley of the Queens — Necropolis · West bank
   • Medinet Habu — Temple · West bank
   • Deir el-Medina — Village · West bank
   • The Ramesseum — Temple · West bank
   • Colossi of Memnon — Monument · West bank
   • Tombs of the Nobles — Necropolis · West bank

   Rulers

   • Thutmose I — c.1504–1492 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Hatshepsut — c.1473–1458 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Thutmose III — c.1479–1425 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Amenhotep III — c.1390–1352 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Akhenaten — c.1352–1336 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Tutankhamun — c.1336–1327 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Ay — c.1327–1323 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Horemheb — c.1323–1295 BCE · 18th Dynasty
   • Seti I — c.1294–1279 BCE · 19th Dynasty
   • Ramesses II — c.1279–1213 BCE · 19th Dynasty
   • Ramesses III — c.1184–1153 BCE · 20th Dynasty
8. c.1069–664 BCEDynasties 21st Dynasty · 22nd Dynasty · 23rd Dynasty · 24th Dynasty · 25th Dynasty

   Third Intermediate Period

   Power splits between kings in the north and the High Priests of Amun at Thebes, then passes to Libyan and later Kushite rulers.

   Sites in Luxor

   • Karnak Temple Complex — Temple complex · East bank
   • Luxor Temple — Temple · East bank
   • Medinet Habu — Temple · West bank
9. c.664–332 BCEDynasties 26th Dynasty · 27th Dynasty · 28th Dynasty · 29th Dynasty · 30th Dynasty · 31st Dynasty

   Late Period

   Native dynasties alternate with Persian rule, and Egyptian art deliberately looks back to the models of the Old Kingdom.

   Sites in Luxor

   • Karnak Temple Complex — Temple complex · East bank
   • Luxor Temple — Temple · East bank
   • Medinet Habu — Temple · West bank
10. 332–30 BCEDynasties Macedonian Dynasty · Ptolemaic Dynasty

    Ptolemaic Period

    Greek-speaking kings descended from one of Alexander’s generals. They build in Egyptian style and finish temples begun centuries before them.

    Sites in Luxor

    • Karnak Temple Complex — Temple complex · East bank
    • Luxor Temple — Temple · East bank
    • Medinet Habu — Temple · West bank
    • Deir el-Medina — Village · West bank
11. 30 BCE–395 CE

    Roman Period

    Egypt as a province of Rome. Emperors appear on temple walls dressed as pharaohs, and the last hieroglyphic inscriptions are cut.

    Sites in Luxor

    • Karnak Temple Complex — Temple complex · East bank
    • Luxor Temple — Temple · East bank
    • Medinet Habu — Temple · West bank