The Old Kingdom ended when a severe drought caused the collapse of the central government, already weakened by corruption and civil war. Egyptian vessels traveled the Mediterranean and Red Seas, trading for items such as food, spices and Lebanese cedar, as well as luxuries like myrrh (a type of incense), ebony, and gold.

The Old Kingdom period is best known for the large number of pyramids constructed as tombs for pharaohs. This period spans the years from approximately 2600 BC to 2100 BC. During this period Egypt extended its control south along the Nile and east and west along the coast of the Mediterranean. The First and Second Dynasties are known collectively as the 'Early Dynastic Period' and last from approximately 3100 BC to 2600 BC. His 'First Dynasty' would last for some two centuries. The first king mentioned in the historical records is Menes, who founded the capital Memphis, is credited with many irrigation works. By approximately 3000 BC much of Egypt was unified.

Increased wealth also allowed for the creation and maintenance of military forces which could be used to conquer other nearby cultures. Luxury items such as mortuary pottery, copper ornaments, beads, and cosmetics begin to be seen in burial sites from that period, suggesting a significant growth in wealth and leisure in the culture. By 5000 BC crops were being raised in local settlements along the river, and, as agriculture improved, the settlements grew in size and power. The first settlers of the Nile valley are thought to have arrived around 7000 BC, driven to the river as climate change turned the surrounding once-fertile lands to desert. A mild and generous sea, the Mediterranean encourages exploration and trade between all civilizations who live on its borders. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the north of Egypt. The Nile also provided a good deal of protein to the Egyptians, who were adept fishermen and who early on mastered the construction and handling of small watercraft. Egyptian farmers relied on these floods to bring water and fresh nutrients to their fields, and a dry year could easily spell famine and disaster to the population. Until the implementation of damming projects in the 20th century, the Nile flooded its banks in the summer of every year. While the physical area of Egypt extended a great distance to the east and west, the vast majority of that terrain is empty useless desert, and through its history almost all Egyptians have lived within walking distance of the river. Egypt occupies the northern section of this river in a narrow but extremely fertile corridor running through otherwise harsh desert terrain of the North African Sahara desert. And of course, the Egyptians were the ancient world's greatest architects, creating monuments and temples that still awe and inspire us today.Įgypt is a riparian ( river-based) civilization lying alongside the Nile, which, at some 4000 miles in length, is the longest river on the planet. Using sophisticated mathematics, Egyptian scholars plotted the movement of the planets with great precision. Among many other firsts, Egypt is credited with the invention of writing around 3000 BC. Living astride the mighty Nile River for some 5,000 years, Egypt is one of the oldest surviving civilizations on the planet. When focusing on a few large cities with high Production for wonders, the other abilities provide a supporting role: the Burial Tomb helps keep the civilization very happy - an additional benefit that can help you start Golden Ages more often, which in turn also helps indirectly with wonder construction.įew civilizations have left such an indelible mark on history as that of Egypt. Having a source of Marble in one of your cities can boost wonder production even more (if only for the first two eras in Brave New World). Aristocracy can further cement this advantage in wonder production, which provides a significant advantage over your competition. This bonus is versatile and can be helpful for any victory type because there are powerful wonders for every strategy. Regarding the War Chariot, removing the Chariot Archer's Horses requirement means that early military production can proceed with reckless abandon, allowing rapid expansion against an early neighbor.Ĭonversely, the Egyptians' unique ability is one of the best for those who wish to build lots of wonders in a tall Tradition empire. Replacing the Temple, the Burial Tomb has per- city Happiness and no maintenance cost - perfect for a wide empire. The Egyptians have two exceptionally powerful unique components: their Burial Tomb and War Chariot are flexible for both an expansive Liberty empire, or a defensive Tradition civilization.

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