Ptolemaic Kingdom

Ptolemaic Kingdom was a state in Egypt (North and West Africa) that lasted from 305 to 30 BCE, about 275 years. Its people spoke Greek languages (Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine, modern Greek).

Macedonian dynasty founded by Alexander's general Ptolemy. Alexandria's Library and Lighthouse made it the centre of Greek learning. Cleopatra VII's defeat at Actium made Egypt Roman in 30 BCE.

See Ptolemaic Kingdom on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

305 to 30 BCE

Duration

275 years

Type

State

Region

Egypt, North and West Africa

Language family

Greek

Capital

Alexandria

Came from

• Late Period of Egypt 664 to 332 BCE

Became

• Roman Egypt 30 BCE to 395 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

• 146 BCE Destruction of Carthage
• 30 BCE Death of Cleopatra

Neighbours in North and West Africa

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE
• Kingdom of Kush (Meroitic period) c. 300 BCE to 350 CE
• Roman Africa 146 BCE to 439 CE
• Kingdom of Kush (Napatan period) c. 785 to 300 BCE
• Roman Egypt 30 BCE to 395 CE
• Numidia 202 to 46 BCE
• Garamantes c. 500 BCE to 700 CE
• Cyrene and the Greek Pentapolis 631 to 96 BCE
• Mauretania c. 300 BCE to 44 CE
• Masaesyli kingdom c. 220 to 202 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE, Central and North Asia
• Western Han 202 BCE to 9 CE, East Asia
• Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE, South Asia
• Qin dynasty 221 to 206 BCE, East Asia

Questions