This period is characterized by the constant foreign threats and invasions from Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians
25th Dynasty (752 - 656 BC.)
- Reunification of Egypt under Nubian Pharaoh Piye, who invaded and took control of Egypt
- This Dynasty is referred to as the Kushite dynasty, and was ruled by a series of Pharaohs from Nubia.
- Shabaka moved Capital city from Napata to Thebes
- Starting from the reign of Taharqa onwards, the Pharaohs of this dynasty were driven back into Nubia by Assyrians and 26th Dynasty Saite Pharaohs
- Assyrian invasion of lower Egypt during the reign of Taharqa In 663 BC., Taharqa withdraws to Napata.
- Pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty
26th Dynasty (664 - 525 BC.)
- Native Egyptian dynasty
- This Dynasty is referred to as the Saite dynasty
- Capital city Sais in Lower Egypt,
- Psamtek I and his successors attempted to reassert Egyptian power in the Near East, but were driven back by the Babylonians
- Apries was able to hold back Babylonian attempts to conquer Egypt,
- In 525 B.C. Egypt got conquered by Cambyses of Persia at the battle of Pelusium.
- Persian King Cambyses II carried Psamtek III to Susa (Persia) in chains
- Pharaohs of the 26th Dynasty
- Necho I
672 - 664 BC. - Psamtek I
664 - 610 BC. - Nekau II
610 - 595 BC. - Psamtek II
595 - 589 BC. - Apries
589 - 570 BC. - Ahmose
570 - 526 BC. - Psamtek III
526 - 525 BC.
- Necho I
27th Dynasty (525 - 404 BC.)
- Persians ruled Egypt with an iron hand
- Construction of canal connecting the Nile with the Red Sea
- Pharaohs of the 27th Dynasty
- Cambyses
525 - 521 BC. - Darius I
521 - 486 BC. - Xerxes I
486 - 465 BC. - Artaxerxes I
465 - 424 BC. - Xerxes II
424 BC. - Sogdianus
424 BC. - Darius II
424 - 404 BC. - Artaxerxes II
404 BC.
- Cambyses
28th Dynasty (404 - 398 BC.)
- Amyrtaeus expelled of the Persians in 404 BC.
- Amyrtaeus killed by successor Nepherites I of Mendes in 398 BC.
- Pharaohs of the 28th dynasty
- Amyrtaeus404 - 398 BC.
29th Dynasty (398 - 380 BC.)
- Capital city Mendes, the capital of the 16th Lower Egyptian Nome of Kha
- Psammuthes was overthrown by Hakoris, who claimed to be the grandson of Nepherites I.
- Hakoris successfully resisted Persian attempts to conquer Egypt
- Nepherites II succeeded his father Hakoris, but was unable to keep hold on his inheritance, and was deposed and killed by Nectanebo I within the same year.
- Pharaohs of the 29th Dynasty
- Nepherites I
398 - 393 BC. - Psammuthes
393 BC. - Hakoris
393 - 380 BC. - Nepherites II
380 BC.
- Nepherites I
30th Dynasty (380 - 343 BC.)
- Nectanebo I successfully defended his kingdom from Persian conquest
- Capital city Sebennytus, Delta
- Teos invaded Persian territories in Syria, but during this campaign he was deposed by his grandson Nectanebo II.
- During the reign of Nectanebo II in 343 BC. Egypt was conquered by Persians,
- Nectanebo II fled to Nubia, where he found refuge at the court of King Nastesen of Napata.
- This marked the beginning of the Second Persian rule and the end of native Egyptian rule, all the following dynasties were foreigners.
- Pharaohs of the 30th Dynasty
- Nectanebo I380-362 BC.
- Teos362 - 360 BC.
- Nectanebo II360 - 343 BC.
