Following Alexander’s death, control of Egypt fell first of all to [[Phillip Arrhideaus]], then [[Alexander IV]], before passing to [[Ptolemy I]], a former general of Alexander. His decedents would rule Egypt with greatly varying degrees of success until the death of [[Cleopatra VII]] in 30BC. Although sometimes thought of as a period of unity equivalent to the New Kingdom, the Ptolemaic period was often highly unstable and wracked by rebellion. Ptolemaic rule became increasingly exploitative, thought the dynasty kept a superficial adherence to Egyptian religious and social traditions that ensured support, or at least neutrality, of the priesthood. | Following Alexander’s death, control of Egypt fell first of all to [[Phillip Arrhideaus]], then [[Alexander IV]], before passing to [[Ptolemy I]], a former general of Alexander. His decedents would rule Egypt with greatly varying degrees of success until the death of [[Cleopatra VII]] in 30BC. Although sometimes thought of as a period of unity equivalent to the New Kingdom, the Ptolemaic period was often highly unstable and wracked by rebellion. Ptolemaic rule became increasingly exploitative, thought the dynasty kept a superficial adherence to Egyptian religious and social traditions that ensured support, or at least neutrality, of the priesthood. |