The Late Period

The Late Period of Ancient Egypt refers to the final flowering of native Egyptian kings following the Third Intermediate Period in the 26th Saite Dynasty founded by Psamtik I, but it also encompasses the period of Achaemenid Persian dominance over Egypt following Cambyses II's conquest in 525 BC. The Late Period lasted from 664 BC to 332 BC, after a period of foreign rule by the Nubian 25th Dynasty and beginning with a brief period of Neo-Assyrian suzerainty, with Psamtik I ruling as their vassal at first. The period concluded with Alexander the Great's conquests of the Persian Empire and the foundation of the Ptolemaic dynasty by his general Ptolemy I Soter, one of the Hellenistic diadochi from Macedon in northern Greece. The age of Hellenistic Egypt began with the Macedonian Greek conquest in the later half of the 4th century BC.

The Assyrians handed over power of Egypt to a succession of vassals known as the Saite monarchs of the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty. By 653 BC, the Saite king Psamtik I had defeated the Assyrians with the assistance of Greek mercenaries hired to construct Egypt's first navy. Greek influence grew significantly as the city-state of Naucratis became the Nile Delta's home for Greeks. The Saite kings based in the new capital of Sais saw a brief but fervent recovery in the economy and culture, but in 525 BC, the mighty Persians led by Cambyses II launched their conquest of Egypt, eventually capturing Pharaoh Psamtik III at the Battle of Pelusium. Cambyses II took the official title of pharaoh, but ruled Egypt from Iran, leaving Egypt in the hands of a satrap. The 5th century BC saw a few successful revolts against the Persians, but Egypt was never able to completely oust the Persians.

Following Persia's acquisition, Egypt was joined with Cyprus and Phoenicia in the Achaemenid Persian Empire's sixth satrapy. This first period of Persian rule over Egypt, known as the Twenty-Seventh Dynasty, came to an end in 402 BC, when Egypt recovered independence under a series of native dynasties. The Thirtieth Dynasty, which ended with the reign of Nectanebo II, was the final native royal house of ancient Egypt. The Thirty-First Dynasty, a brief restoration of Persian authority, began in 343 BC, but shortly after, in 332 BC, the Persian monarch Mazaces turned Egypt up to Alexander the Great without a fight.

Period: 664 - 332 BC