Ancient History is divided by terms that refer to materials being used at the time. The Stone Age was followed by the Bronze Age and then the Iron Age. The Bronze Age is divided into the Early, Middle  and Late Bronze Age. The division of the Bronze Age is actually a division based on the Egyptian dynasties. The Early Bronze Age occurs during the Early Kingdom, the Middle Bronze Age to the Middle Kingdom and the Late Bronze Age to the Late Kingdom.

(The Great Courses – The Holy Land Revealed)