Travel through our timeline of major events in Egypt's history.

3100-332 B.C.:
Egypt is established when the Upper and Lower Kingdoms are united. Hieroglyphic writing is developed. The pyramids and the Great Sphinx are built.

332 B.C.:
Alexander the Great, of Macedonia, conquers Egypt. After he dies, in 323, his general Ptolemy begins a dynasty that rules for 300 years.

30 B.C.:
After romances with Romans Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, Queen Cleopatra commits suicide. Rome takes control of Egypt..

642-1517 A.D. :
In 642, Arab leader 'Amr ibn al-'As captures Alexandria, after which many convert to Islam.

1869:
The Suez Canal opens, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. The canal cuts in half the distance that ships travel between Europe and parts of Asia.

1914-1922:
Britain gains control of Egypt. Seven years later, Egypt declares independence. Fu'ad I is named king.

1952-1956:
The army seizes power. Later, Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes prime minister and then president.

1958-1961:
Egypt and Syria form one country called the United Arab Republic. The union lasts until Syria withdraws.

1967:
Israel defeats Egypt, Jordan and Syria in the Six-Day War, then occupies the Sinai peninsula.

1978:
Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin sign the Camp David Peace Accords. Israel returns the Sinai to Egypt.

2005:
The country holds its first presidential election in which voters have more than one choice. Hosni Mubarak is reelected for a fifth term as president.