The decline began in the late New Kingdom, weakened by internal power struggles and economic problems.

A series of invasions by the 'Sea Peoples' around 1200 BCE further destabilized the region.

The Third Intermediate Period was a time of political fragmentation, with Egypt often split between different rulers.

A series of foreign powers came to rule Egypt, starting with the Libyans and then the Nubians (Kushites), who established the 25th Dynasty.

The Assyrian Empire conquered Egypt in the 7th century BCE, followed by a brief period of independence.

The Persian Empire conquered Egypt in 525 BCE, incorporating it into its vast empire.

In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, ending Persian rule.

After Alexander's death, his general Ptolemy established the Ptolemaic Dynasty, a period of Greek rule over Egypt.

The last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty was Cleopatra VII.

Egypt finally lost its independence in 30 BCE when it was conquered by Rome and became a Roman province.