The periods not accounted for by the dates are believed to be times of decline known as the Intermediate periods.
Early Egyptian history is divided into three major eras: the Old Kingdom (about 2575–about 2130 bc), the Middle Kingdom (1938–about 1630 bc), and the New Kingdom (about 1539–1075 bc). By the dawn of the Old Kingdom, the characteristics of Egyptian civilization had already been firmly established. The periods not accounted for by the dates are believed to be times of decline known as the Intermediate periods.