The Egyptian civilization began in 3150 BC with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh. Its history is that of a series of stable kingdoms, separated by some less stable periods.
The success of the ancient Egyptian civilization came partly from its ability to adapt to the conditions of the Nile River valley for agriculture. The predictable flooding and controlled irrigation of the fertile valley produced surplus crops, which supported a more dense population, and social development and culture.
With resources to spare, the administration sponsored mineral exploitation of the valley and surrounding desert regions, the early development of an independent writing system, the organization of collective construction and agricultural projects, trade with surrounding regions, and a military intended to defeat foreign enemies and assert Egyptian dominance.
The many achievements of the ancient Egyptians include quarrying, surveying and construction that supported the building of monumental pyramids, temples, and obelisks. They also developed a system of mathematics, a practical and effective system of medicine, irrigation systems and agricultural production techniques, the first known planked boats, Egyptian faience and glass technology, new forms of literature.
Egypt’s art and architecture were widely copied, and its antiquities carried off to far corners of the world. Its monumental ruins have inspired the imaginations of travelers and writers for centuries. And it’s not over!
Awakened from his 5000 year slumber, Pharaoh Sobek II proclaims that Egypt’s future lies in its past. Restoration of historic sites up and down the Nile, including Thebes will call to people around the world to witness the renaissance.
