Early Dynastic Period

The Early Dynastic Period of Egypt quickly followed the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by the legendary Pharaoh Menes, also believed to be King Narmer. The Early Dynastic Period includes the 1st and 2nd Dynasties which ended about 2686 BC which marks the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The First Dynasty saw the capital of a unified Egypt moved from Abydos to Memphis and an Egyptian king thought to be a god. The whole of Egypt extended from the lush Nile Delta to the first cataract at Aswan bordering the Nubians. However, Abydos did not lose prominence and still remained the center of cult worship in Upper Egypt. The Early Dynastic Period marks the beginning of what people generally know of as Egypt.

Since Egypt had primarily been a country of two states, Upper and Lower, the name the Two Lands, was used in description of Egypt and its people. At the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period the pharaohs established a national administration, appointed royal governors, and pushed for the advancement of architecture. Buildings predominately were open-air and constructed of wood or the growing in popularity sandstone. Structures originally built in brick, wood, and reeds were copied in stone, giving birth to the typical ancient Egyptian architecture. Assimilation included a single spoken language with varying dialects and common hieroglyphs. During this period Egyptians began construction of the mastabas which were "simple" dirt, wood, or stone mounds covering the dead. These led to the soon to be seen step pyramids. The Egyptians also continued to master agriculture and the cycles of the Nile and their civilization quickly rose to prominence. Another change of note is the rise of urbanism as people migrated to larger city like communities.

Authorities vary on who was the first pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period. Some start with Menes and others start with Hor-Aha. Narmer was the first ruler to claim to have united Upper and Lower Egypt, but he is also believed by many experts to be Menes himself. Others see that Egypt was unified not because of armies but because of cultural and economic reasons long before its first king ascended to the throne in Upper Egypt. Political unification would have been gradual as local districts established trading networks and organized agriculture labor on a larger scale which would have pushed divine kingship into momentum.

One of the most important tools used in deciphering some of the first ancient Egyptian kings is the Palermo Stone. A fragment of a 5th century basalt stele it details information on cult ceremonies, taxation, sculpture, buildings, warfare, along with a kings list the Palermo stone has been essential in revealing most of the rulers in the early dynasties. The Palermo Stone is now seen as Egypt's oldest history book. (The Palermo Stone is seen here to the right)

1st Dynasty Rulers

-Narmer (Menes?) | c. 3100–3050 BC

-Hor-Aha | c. 3050–3049 BC

-Djer | c. 3049–3008 BC

-Merneith (mother of Den) |less than a year

-Djet | c. 3008–2975? BC

-Den | c. 2975–2935? BC

-Anebjib | c. 2935–2925? BC (known to have reigned 10 years according to the Palermo Stone)

-Semerkhet | c. 2925–2916? BC (known to have reigned 9 years according to the Palermo Stone)

-Qa'a | c. 2916?–2890 BC

2nd Dynasty Rulers

-Hotepsekhemwy | 2890-2852 BC

-Raneb | 2852-2813 BC

-Nynetjer | 2813-2766 BC

-Weneg | 2766-2758 BC (not sure to have existed, believed to be Raneb)

-Sened | 2758-2738 BC

-Peribsen | 2738-2716 BC

-Khasekhemwy | 2716-2686 BC