Note 1: Human presence has existed in Egypt since at least 600,000 BC. The early paleolithic in Egypt extends vaguely from 600,000 - 100,000 BC, the middle paleolithic from 100,000 - 30,000 BC, and the late paleolithic from 30,000 - 25,000 BC. Very little is known about cultures from these periods.
Note 2: Most names of pharaohs from the protodynastic period are lost, and no dates are known. The Palermo stone fragment (c. 2338 BC) lists some of the names from this period as "Hsekiu", "Khayu", "Tiu", "Thesh", "Neheb", "Wazner", and Mekh". Other possible names have also been found.
Note 3: Dates for the early dynasties are very approximate and speculative, the individual pharaohs even more so. The timeline presented is a (likely incorrect) interpretation. Pharaoh names in square brackets are undetermined and named directly after the representative symbols.
Note 4: Sources are vague and conflicting for the pharaohs between Nynetjer and Khasekhemwy; The country may have been split between multiple rulers at the time. See Second Dynasty of Egypt.
Note 5: This timeline excludes the many governmers, who had effective rule over Egypt or the region under a higher ruler, due to their extreme number. These include the Roman governers under the emperor, the Islamic governers under the caliph/sultan, the British high commissioners to Egypt, and the prime ministers under the president. See Lists of rulers of Egypt.