Fall of the Pharaohs: Egypt’s Decline

What brought the age of Egypt’s pharaohs to an end? This documentary focuses on the decline of ancient Egypt, considering the fall of pharaonic power and the legacy of a civilization whose monuments outlasted its rulers.

Historical background

The end of independent pharaonic rule was a prolonged process rather than a single collapse. Egypt experienced periods of internal division and domination by powers including Assyria and Persia before Alexander the Great’s conquest. The Ptolemaic dynasty later governed the country until Roman annexation following Cleopatra VII’s defeat. Distinguishing these periods helps explain how Egyptian institutions and religious traditions could continue even as political sovereignty changed.

Related history

• Akhenaten: Aten Worship and Egypt’s Religious Revolution
• Nefertari: Egypt’s Legendary Queen