The rich lands of Egypt became the property of Rome after the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BCE, which spelled the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty that had ruled Egypt since the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. After the murder of Gaius Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, the Roman Republic was left in turmoil. Fearing for her life and throne, the young queen joined forces with the Roman commander Mark Antony, but their resounding defeat at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE brought the adopted son and heir apparent of Caesar, Gaius Julius Octavius (Octavian), to the Egyptian shores. Desperate, Cleopatra chose suicide rather than face the humiliation of capture. According to one historian, she was simply on the wrong side of a power struggle.
More about: Roman EgyptDefinition
Timeline
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30 BCEEgypt becomes province of the Roman Empire.
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30 BCEDeath of Cleopatra VII, end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt.
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c. 50 CE - c. 60 CEEstablishment of various Christian communities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece, Egypt, and at least the city of Rome.
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269 CEZenobia invades and conquers Egypt.
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285 CEThe Roman empire is split into the Western and Eastern Roman empires.
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c. 527 CE - 646 CEThe Byzantine Empire controls Egypt.
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529 CEEmperor Justinian closes the Temple of Isis at Philae, Egypt, effectively ending worship of the goddess.
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c. 640 CEArab invasion of Egypt; Memphis ruins used as source of stone for building cities of Fustat and Cairo.
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641 CE - 646 CEThe Byzantine Christians and Arab Muslims fight for control of Alexandria and Egypt.
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646 CEThe Arab Muslims conquer Egypt under Caliph Umar.
