History and Government in Egypt

Egypt’s history stretches over 5,000 years, from the pharaohs to a modern republic. This short guide gives a timeline of Egyptian history and government for visitors: ancient Egypt, Greek and Roman rule, the Islamic period, the Ottoman and modern era and how the country is governed today. It is a summary, so see the linked guides for detail.

Ancient Egypt

Egypt was united around 3100 BC and ruled by pharaohs for about 3,000 years, in the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. The pyramids belong to the Old Kingdom, and the Valley of the Kings to the New Kingdom. See our guides to the pharaohs and Giza Pyramids.

Greek and Roman rule

Alexander the Great took Egypt in 332 BC, and his general Ptolemy founded a Greek dynasty that ended with Cleopatra VII in 30 BC. Egypt then became a province of Rome and later of the Byzantine Empire.

The Islamic period

Arab armies arrived in 641 AD. Cairo grew as a capital from 969 AD under the Fatimids, and later under the Ayyubids and Mamluks, whose mosques and madrasas still fill Islamic Cairo. The Ottomans took control in 1517.

The modern era

Napoleon invaded in 1798 but the French left within a few years. Muhammad Ali took power in 1805 and began a modernising dynasty. The Suez Canal opened in 1869, and Britain occupied Egypt from 1882. A military coup in 1952 ended the monarchy, and Egypt was declared a republic in 1953. The Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s, and Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.

Government today

Egypt is a republic with a president and a parliament, and Cairo is the capital. For current political and travel conditions, check official government advice before you go.

Our verdict

The best way to follow Egypt’s long story is through its monuments and museums, from the pyramids to Islamic Cairo. See the Grand Egyptian Museum guide.