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Ancient Egypt (prior to 3100 BC) is traditionally the period between the Early Neolithic and the beginning of the Pharaonic monarchy starting with King Narmer. However, the dates of the Predynastic period were first defined before widespread archaeological excavation of Egypt had taken place, and recent finds which show the course of Predynastic development to have been very gradual have caused scholars to argue about when exactly the Predynastic period ended.
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The Step Pyramid at Saqqara was the first pyramid built in ancient Egypt. It was built for the Pharaoh Djoser, one of the pharaohs of the 3rd Dynasty.
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The period of Egyptian history from the 3rd to the 6th Dynasty is commonly regarded as the Old Kingdom (2686-2134 BC) and the royal capital during this period was Memphis. During the 6th Dynasty, the nomarchs (regional governors) became powerful, while the influence of the pharaohs gradually weakened.
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200 years after the collapse of the Old Kingdom is known as the First Intermediate Period. This was a period of civil war in Egypt. After a series of battles between the rulers of Upper and Lower Egypt, these lands were reunited in around 2055 BC. The rulers of Upper Egypt won.
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Egypt once again fell into disarray. The period between the end of the Middle Kingdom and the start of the New Kingdom is known as the Second Intermediate Period.
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The start of the 18th Dynasty and the New Kingdom began with the pharaoh Ahmose I. This period of Egyptian history is noted for its expansion of territory and for its rich architecture and art.
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For many centuries, ancient Egyptians believed in and worshipped more than one god. Pharaoh Amenhotep IV made a religious revolution when he discarded the polytheistic beliefs and established the worship of only one god, Aten (the Sun God). Together with his wife Nefertiti, he closed down any temples that were not devoted to Aten.
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King Tutankhamun was just a teenager when he died. For an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, presumably well fed and fiercely protected, this was a premature demise.
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At a height of 455 feet the Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3800 years, finally exceeded by the 520-foot spire of the Lincoln Cathedral in about 1300 AD. Built by the 4th Dynasty pharaoh Khufu, the Great Pyramid is also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops.
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Ramses the Great of the 19th Dynasty reigned for 67 years. He constructed many great temples, such as the Abu Simbel. He carried out battles to recover territories. He led the Egyptian armies to the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittite king Muwatalli II.
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The Nubians, and later the Persians, conquered Egypt. In 332 BC, Alexander III of Macedon (Alexander the Great) conquered Egypt with little resistance from the Persians. Alexander gained the favor of the Egyptians by the respect he showed to their religion.
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After the death of Alexander the Great one of his generals, Ptolemy I, became his successor. He established the Ptolemaic Dynasty, which ruled Egypt for three centuries. The last member of the Ptolemaic Dynasty (and the last pharaoh of Egypt) was the famous Queen Cleopatra VII.
