Seven years of famine
The famine Joseph foretold struck Egypt and the surrounding lands, but Egypt had grain stored up.
The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
Genesis 41:54 (World English Bible)
People from every country came to Egypt to buy food. As the famine dragged on, Egyptians spent their money, then traded their livestock, and finally sold their land to Pharaoh for grain, with Joseph setting a permanent tax of one fifth of the harvest.
Places
Dating notes
Ussher dates the start to the harvest of 1708 BC and the seventh year to 1702 BC.