From K. Kris Hirst,
Your Guide to Archaeology.
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Definition:

Ancient Egypt is considered to have begun about 3050 BC, when the first pharaoh Menes united Lower Egypt (referring to the river delta region of the Nile River), and Upper Egypt (everything south of the delta). Thereafter the civilization had three flowerings, called by historians the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, interrupted by mini-dark ages, called Intermediate Periods, when Egypt was temporarily conquered by opposing empires.

Timeline

Predynastic Egypt

• Lower Egypt 7000-3050 BC
• Upper Egypt 4500-3050 BC

Early Period, 1st-2nd Dynasties, 3000-2575 BC
Old Kingdom Egypt, 3rd-6th Dynasties, about 2575-2134 BC
First Intermediate Period, 7th-10th Dynasties, 2134-2040 BC
Middle Kingdom Egypt, 11th-13th Dynasties, 2040-1640 BC
Second Intermediate, 14th-17th Dynasties, 1640-1550 BC
New Kingdom, 18th-20th Dynasties, 1550-1070 BC
Third Intermediate, 21st-24th Dynasties, 1070-712 BC
Late Period, 25th-30th Dynasties, 712-332 BC
Ptolemaic Period, 25th-30th Dynasties, 332-30 BC
Roman Period, 31st and 32nd Dynasties, 30 BC-AD 395

The history of Egypt was divided into Dynasties about 280 BC, when the priest Manetho compiled a list of the pharaohs of Egypt and grouped the ancient rulers into 30 dynasties. Later historians grouped the dynasties into 'Kingdoms' and 'Intermediate Periods.'