Egyptian early-era
Egyptian middle-era
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Egyptian final-era

Ancient Egyptian Artifacts Final Era 1069BC to 400AD

Introduction

The final era of ancient Egyptian history lasted about a fifteen-hundred years and is broken into three periods: the third intermediate period, the late period, and the Greco-Roman period. The third intermediate period covers the 21st through 26th Dynasties, covering about five hundred years

A highly confusing period when often many dynasties operated simultaneously and when the balance of power in all of the Near East was constantly in flux. There was almost constant fighting in Palestine. Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Greeks all attempted to control the Eastern end of the Mediterranean. According to some recent scholars who have looked at the evidence, this Egyptian period may be as much as two hundred years shorter, which would throw all of Egyptian chronology into disarray. See the chronology for more information. The time links between old testament Biblical history and Egyptian history are not clean. However, the chronology is fairly well established from the first Persian occupation of Egypt about 374 BC forward into modern history.

The late period is composed of Dynasties 27 to 31, covering about two hundred years. The Greco-Roman period lasts from the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great to the end of the Roman period about 400AD, covering about seven-hundred-fifty years.

Third Intermediate Period

As the Ramesside pharaohs lost power to control the country, the Theban priesthood and the Libyan chiefs in the delta moved to fill the power vacuum. With the death of Ramesses XI, Smendes, the high priest at Thebes moved in and assumed the power of the king. However his authority was recognized only in the South. The Delta was effectively independent and run by the descendants of Libyan mercenaries who Ramesses III had settled in the Delta to use as a standing army.

Nubia to the South of Thebes began to exert power and control of the area above Elephantine and the upper reaches of the Egypt were lost. Eventually Nubia, became more powerful than the Thebians and conquered Thebes gaining control of all Egypt. Next Assyrians invaders came and drove out the Nubian occupiers, forcing them back to Nubia.

This began the Saite governance of Egypt, which based itself in a capital, Sais, in the Western Delta. Even Thebes bowed to the new Assyrian controlled 26th dynasty.

Late Period

The Saites' failed to have a well defined and defended border to the West, which allowed the Persian King Cambyses to put an end to Assyrians control of Egypt.

The Egyptians hated the Persians and enlisted Greek help to drive them out; this lasted about a half century, but the Persians came back to reoccupy the country.

This lasted until Alexander the Great came and conquered both Egypt and Persia.

Continue with the Greco-Roman Period.

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Egyptian early-era
Egyptian middle-era
Egyptian high-era
Egyptian final-era

2005-03-08