Late Period of Ancient Egypt: The End of Egyptian Rule of Egypt

Q: What was the Late Period of ancient Egypt?

The Late Period of ancient Egypt was the era following the Third Intermediate Period and preceding that of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. It was the last era in which Egyptians ruled their own country.

Q: Why is the Late Period of ancient Egypt considered the end of Egyptian culture?

The Late Period has often been referenced as the end of Egyptian culture because of the Persian invasion of 525 BCE and the Persian occupation of the country. This is inaccurate. The Persians admired and encouraged Egyptian culture and religious traditions.

Q: Was the Late Period of ancient Egypt a dark age?

No. The Late Period of ancient Egypt maintained the culture and traditions of the past, and many significant monuments and buildings, including the Temple of Isis at Philae, were built during this era.

Q: How did the Third Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt end?

The Third Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt ended in 332 BCE when the country was taken from the Persians by Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death, Egypt was ruled by the Macedonian-Greek Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

The Late Period of Egypt (525-332 BCE) is the era following the Third Intermediate Period (1069-525) and preceding the brief Hellenistic period (332-323 BCE) when Egypt was ruled by the Argead officials installed by Alexander the Great prior to the rise of the Macedonian-Greek Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE). This era is often ignored or sometimes combined with the Third Intermediate Period because, as with that period, it is interpreted as the final decline of Egyptian culture following the first Persian invasion of 525 BCE. While it is true that Persians ruled Egypt during the 27th and 31st dynasties, Egyptian culture was kept very much alive, and the 30th Dynasty of Egyptian rulers gave Egypt back a brief time of its former glory before the Persians came again.

More about: Late Period of Ancient Egypt

Timeline

525 BCE - 331 BCE
The Late Period of Egyptian history.
525 BCE - 404 BCE
27th Dynasty of Egypt, Persian kings rule.
525 BCE - 522 BCE
Cambyses II of Persia rules Egypt and leads campaign to Nubia.
522 BCE - 486 BCE
Darius I (The Great) rules Egypt.
486 BCE - 465 BCE
Xerxes I rules Egypt, uses country as resource for invasion of Greece.
465 BCE - 424 BCE
Artaxerxes I rules Egypt.
460 BCE - 454 BCE
Egyptian revolt of Inaros I with assistance from Greece.
424 BCE - 404 BCE
Darius II rules Egypt.
404 BCE - 398 BCE
The 28th Dynasty of Egypt under Amyrtaeus who frees Lower Egypt from the Persians.
404 BCE - 358 BCE
Artaxerxes II rules Upper Egypt.
398 BCE - 380 BCE
The 29th Dynasty of Egypt.
392 BCE - 379 BCE
Hakor rules Egypt.
c. 380 BCE
Nepherites II reigns in Egypt, last king of 29th Dynasty.
380 BCE - 343 BCE
30th Dynasty of Egypt.
380 BCE - 362 BCE
Nectanebo I reigns in Egypt, founds 30th Dynasty, revives Egypt's past glory.
362 BCE - 360 BCE
Teos reigns briefly in Egypt until betrayed by his brother.
360 BCE - 343 BCE
Nectanebo II reigns in Egypt, last native Egyptian ruler.
358 BCE - 338 BCE
Reign of Artaxerxes III in Upper Egypt and all of Egypt after 343 BCE.
343 BCE
Nectanebo II defeated in battle by Artaxerxes III, Egypt taken by the Persians again.
343 BCE - 331 BCE
31st Dynasty of Egypt, Persian kings rule.
336 BCE - 332 BCE
Reign of Darius III in Egypt.
331 BCE
Persians defeated by Alexander the Great who liberates Egypt.