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Ancient Egypt

Late Period and Persian Rule

History >> Ancient Egypt

The Late Period of Ancient Egypt began around 653 BC. It was a time when Egypt was united under Egyptian rulers. However, this didn't last long. Around 525 BC, the Persians conquered Egypt and the Achaemenid Period of Egypt began.

What dynasties ruled during the Late Period?

The Twenty-Sixth Dynasty of Egypt ruled for 125 years during the Late Period. This dynasty is sometimes called the Saite Period because the capital city was called Sais. The Twenty-Seventh Dynasty began when the Persians conquered Egypt.

In the years before the Greeks arrived, power changed hands often with four short lived dynasties (Twenty-Eighth to the Thirty-First) ruling Egypt.

Egypt Reunites

Egypt had been divided during the Third Intermediate Period. It was the invasion of the Assyrians that caused Egypt to reunite to fight off foreign invaders. Under the leadership of Pharaoh Psamtik II Egypt united and the Late Period began.

Psamtik II, and the later leaders of the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty, sought to return Egypt to its former glory. They re-established many of the old traditions including building great monuments to the pharaohs and the gods. They also fought off invasions from a new foreign threat, the Babylonians.

The Persians Invade

In 525 BC, the Persian Empire, led by King Cambyses II, invaded Egypt. They soundly defeated the Egyptian army at the Battle of Pelusium and took control of Egypt.

Egypt Under Persia

When the Persian Empire conquered Egypt, it was the largest empire in the world. Egypt then became a "satrapy" (like a province) of the Persian Empire. The leaders of the satrapy became known as the Twenty-Seventh Dynasty. Persia ruled over Egypt for 100 years.

Egypt prospered under the rule of the Persian King Darius I. Darius built temples and presented himself like a pharaoh to Egypt. However, later Persian leaders, such as Xerxes, treated Egypt cruelly causing much inner turmoil and rebellion.

Alexander the Great Invades

Persian rule came to an end with the invasion of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. He defeated the Persians and brought Egypt into his vast empire. After Alexander died, a Greek leader named Ptolemy I Soter took control of Egypt and established the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Interesting Facts About the Late Period and Persian Rule
Activities

More information on the civilization of Ancient Egypt:

Overview
Timeline of Ancient Egypt
Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom
Late Period
Greek and Roman Rule

Monuments and Geography
Geography and the Nile River
Cities of Ancient Egypt
Valley of the Kings
Egyptian Pyramids
Great Pyramid at Giza
The Great Sphinx
King Tut's Tomb
Famous Temples
 Culture
Egyptian Food, Jobs, Daily Life
Ancient Egyptian Art
Clothing
Entertainment and Games
Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Temples and Priests
Egyptian Mummies
Book of the Dead
Ancient Egyptian Government
Women's Roles
Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics Examples
 People
Pharaohs
Akhenaten
Amenhotep III
Cleopatra VII
Hatshepsut
Ramses II
Thutmose III
Tutankhamun

Other
Inventions and Technology
Boats and Transportation
Egyptian Army and Soldiers
Glossary and Terms


Works Cited

History >> Ancient Egypt


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