The Early Dynastic Period of ancient Egypt, following the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt around 3150 BCE, includes the First and Second Dynasties, lasting until around 2686 BCE.^[3] This period saw the capital move from Thinis to Memphis, the establishment of a god-king system, and the development of key aspects of Egyptian civilization such as art, architecture, and religion.^[4]

Before 3600 BCE, Neolithic societies along the Nile focused on agriculture and animal domestication.^[5] Rapid advancement in civilization soon followed,^[6] with innovations in pottery, extensive use of copper, and adoption of architectural techniques like sun-dried bricks and the arch. This period also marked the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Narmer, symbolized by the double crown and depicted in mythology as the falcon-god Horus conquering Set.^[7] This unification laid the foundation for divine kingship lasting three millennia.

Narmer, identified with Menes, is considered the first ruler of unified Egypt, with artifacts linking him to both Upper and Lower Egypt. His rule is recognized as foundational by First Dynasty kings.^[8] Egyptian influence extended beyond its borders, with settlements and artifacts found in southern Canaan and lower Nubia, indicating Egyptian authority in these regions during the Early Dynastic Period.^[9]

Funerary practices evolved, with the rich constructing mastabas, precursors to later pyramids. Political unification likely took centuries, with local districts forming trade networks and organizing agricultural labor on a larger scale. The period also saw the development of the Egyptian writing system, expanding from a few symbols to over 200 phonograms and ideograms.^[10]