Egypt from Narmer to Cleopatra

Predynastic and Early Dynastic (3500 - 2575 BCE)

Egypt in predynastic periood was divided into Upper Egypt and Southern Egypt. Note that the upper means Niles upstream so it is the southern part in a modern map.

Tomb 100, Hierakonpolis, ca. 3500 - 3200 BCE (Image credit: https://sumerianshakespeare.com/748301/855901.html)

Above is an interesting mural painting from Upper Egypt. Below it's the Palette of King Narmer. This is one of the earliest historical (versus prehistorical) artworks according to the book. The palette is used to prepare eye makeup which Egyptians used to protect their eyes against sun glare. It probably depicts unification of two kingdoms but in reality this unification might not be a single event.

Palette of King Narmer, from Hierakonpolis, Egypt, Predynastic, ca. 3000 - 2920 BCE. Slate, 2'1'' high. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. (Image credit: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap/ancient-egypt-ap/a/palette-of-king-narmer)

The tomb type popular at predynastic times is mastaba (Arabic, "bench"). It is flat roofed as opposed to the classical pyramids shape later.

Mastaba (Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastaba)

However there are some tombs resembles later pyramids:

Stepped pyramid of Djoser complex, Saqqara, Egypt, Third Dynasty. ca. 2630 - 2611 BCE (Image credit: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/862/the-step-pyramid-of-djoser-at-saqqara/)

Saqqara was the ancient necropolis (Greek for "city of the dead") of Memphis. Memphis was Egypt's capital at that time.

Old Kingdom (2575 - 2134 BCE)

Begin from Sneferu (r. 2575 - 2551 BCE), first king of the Fourth Dynasty to the breakup of the Eighth Dynasty around 2134 BCE.

The most famous wonder of Egypt came from Fourth Dynasty: The pyramids of Gizeh. They are also the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Gizeh is a place. There are 3 major pyramids at Gizeh and they are built in 75 years. They are the tombs of King Khufu (r. 2551–2528 BCE), Khafre (r. 2520–2494 BCE) and Menkaure (r. 2490–2472 BCE).

Map of the Giza pyramid complex (Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramids)

Khufu's pyramid is the largest with 146.7 meters (481 feet) height. Khafre's is closely second and Menkaure's is only half the height of them. Note many pharaohs from early dynastic to first millennium have pyramids built but only a few are as high as them.

Pyramids are symbols of the sun.

Besides these pyramids another wonder is the Great Sphinx close by. It is believed to represent King Khafre.

Middle Kingdom (2040 - 1640 BCE)

New Kingdom (1550 - 1070 BCE)

First Millennium (1000 BCE - 30 CE)