When did Egypt fall?

As a historian with a focus on ancient civilizations, I can provide a detailed account of the fall of Egypt, which is a significant event in the history of the world. The fall of Egypt, in the context of ancient history, often refers to the end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and the subsequent Roman conquest. The Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter, a follower of Alexander the Great, declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC. The Ptolemies were a Greek-speaking Macedonian dynasty, and their reign marked a unique period of Hellenistic influence over an ancient Egyptian kingdom. The Ptolemaic rulers embraced many aspects of Egyptian culture and religion, while also promoting the use of the Greek language and culture, leading to a blend of customs and traditions. The Ptolemaic Dynasty saw a series of rulers, with varying degrees of success in maintaining power and prosperity. The most famous of the Ptolemaic rulers was Cleopatra VII, the last active Pharaoh of Egypt. She was known for her intelligence, her political acumen, and her relationships with powerful figures like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The fall of Egypt, in this context, is marked by the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. The final years of Ptolemaic rule were tumultuous, with a series of civil wars and power struggles. Cleopatra's alliance with Mark Antony was seen as a threat by Octavian (later known as Augustus), who was vying for power in Rome. The Battle of Actium in 31 BC was a decisive military engagement where Octavian's forces defeated those of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Following the defeat at Actium, Mark Antony and Cleopatra retreated to Egypt. When Octavian pursued them, Mark Antony committed suicide in 30 BC, and shortly after, Cleopatra followed suit, choosing to die rather than be paraded as a captive in Octavian's triumph in Rome. With her death, the Ptolemaic Dynasty came to an end, and Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire. The fall of Egypt to Rome had profound implications for the region and the world. It marked the end of an era of independent rule in Egypt and the beginning of Roman domination. The Roman period brought new infrastructure, architecture, and cultural influences to Egypt, but it also led to the gradual erosion of traditional Egyptian practices and the eventual decline of the ancient Egyptian language and script. In conclusion, the fall of Egypt is a complex historical event that involves the interplay of political, cultural, and military factors. It is a story of the rise and fall of a dynasty, the clash of empires, and the transition of Egypt from an independent kingdom to a conquered province.

Ptolemaic Egypt began when a follower of Alexander the Great Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of Queen Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC.