The ancient Egypt's history starts around 3000 BC, when the legendary king Menes unified the Lower and Upper Egypt for the first time in history, and founded the 1^st dynasty. This period is called the Old Kingdom (dynasties 1-6); the first two dynasties are sometimes refered to as Early Dynastic Period. The pharaohs of this time include the 3^rd dynasty's Djoser, the 4^th Sneferu, Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure (Mycerinos) and 5^th dynasty Unas, mostly known for the pyramids they built. Hence, the Old Kingdom is also known as the age of pyramids.

But the prosperity only lasted until 22^ndC BC, when the central rule collapsed and several rulers competed for the power. This period of bloodshed and anarchy is known as the First Intermediate Period. Around 2000 BC, a king called Mentuhotep II reestablished order and cetral power.

Thus, the Middle Kingdom emerged. This was a period of foreign trade and building. The Pyramid of Hawara, or The Labyrinth, and another pyramid at Dashur, were built by Amenemhet III. The military campaigns of the Sesostris pharaohs in the south (Nubia) are known from this period. This period spans over 11^th (partially) and 12^th dynasty.

The Hyksos, attracted by the internal instability, which again shaked Egypt, arrived from the east, conquered the Nile delta and dominated the rest of the country. The 15^th and 16^th dynasty pharaohs were actually Hyksos. Their rule lasted until the end of 16^thC BC, when they were defeated by Kamose. This period is known as the Second Intermediate Period.

Egipty rose again, for its best time, in the period known as the New Kingdom (dynasties 18-20). It saw the military campaings of the 18^th dynasty pharaoh Thutmose III, who expanded the kingdom down to Nubia and up into Syria. The 18^th dinasty ended with Ekhnaton, the most controversial of the pharaohs. He attempted to establish a belief in a single god, Aton, the son god, instead of Amon. His plans were strongly opposed by then already overpowerful priests, and not only ended unsuccessfully, but also led the country to anarchy. The greatest pharaoh of the 19^th dynasty was Ramesses II, who built large temples and tombs and left many inscriptions glorifying his deeds. He successfully defended the northern frontier in Syria against the Hittite expansion. After that, things only went down and around 1070 BC came the end for the New Kingdom. Many of the kings of this period have tombs in the Valley of the Kings in the southern Egypt.

During the late period, many new buildings were erected, but the country was mostly under the foreign rule. First, it was conquered by Libyans (dynasties 22-24), then by Nubians (25^th dynasty). Assyrians invaded Egypt several times around 670 BC. Egyptians defended fiercely, but as a revenge, Assyrians destructed the Temple of Amon at Karnak. A kind of renaissance came with 26^th dynasty or Saite Period. The monuments of the Old Kingdom were unburied from the sand and the art of that period was coppied. Neko even sent a phoenician fleet to sail around Africa. The task was successfully completed for the first time in history. In 525 BC, Persians conquered Egypt, but in 404 BC the Egyptians managed to get rid of them. Not for long, in 343 came the definite end. The last egypitan-born king, Nectanebo of the 30^th dynasty, realising he would not be able to withstand the persian final attack, gathered as much of his property as he could and fled south.