The Early Dynastic Period of Egypt covers the time from the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt to the beginning of the Old Kingdom. It includes the First and Second Dynasties, and sometimes the Third, and the capital was probably at Memphis, while the kings were buried at Abydos and Saqqara. In these centuries the Egyptian state took shape: hieroglyphic writing came into use, the king was identified with the god Horus and officials began to administer the land and collect taxes. Large tombs with funerary goods show growing wealth and a belief in an afterlife. The period gave Egypt many of the institutions and symbols that lasted for three thousand years.
Before and after
- from c. 3,200 BCE to 3,060 BCENaqada III
- from c. 3,180 BCE to 2,500 BCEOrigins of Skara Brae
- from c. 3,150 BCE to 2,890 BCEFirst Dynasty of Egypt
- c. 3,101 BCENarmer unifies Egypt
- from c. 3,100 BCE to 2,686 BCEEarly Dynastic Period of Egypt
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- from 31st century BCE to 20th century BCECorded Ware culture
- c. 3,000s BCEThe Austronesian expansion begins from Taiwan
- c. 3,000s BCEYamnaya herders spread across Europe and Asia
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- c. 2,560 BCEConstruction of Great Pyramid of Giza
- 600 BCEFounding of Milan
- from January 27 BCE to January 395 CERoman Empire
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires.