Home Region:  Northeast Africa (Africa)

Egypt - Dynasty I

3100 BCE 2900 BCE
EQ 2020  eg_dynasty_1 / EgDyn1*
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
3300 BCE 3100 BCE Egypt - Dynasty 0 (eg_naqada_3)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
2900 BCE 2687 BCE Egypt - Dynasty II (eg_dynasty_2)    [continuity]

Displayed:



Learn more about polity border choices.
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.


  General Description  
The First Dynasty of Egypt (c. 3100‒2900 BCE) was a relatively geographically constricted ancient state located near the Nile delta of Egypt, which was first unified under a ruler called Menes. [1]
Population and political organization
Kings of the First Dynasty were buried in the royal cemetery in the Umm el-Qa’ab area at Abydos in Upper Egypt, where funerary enclosures and a mortuary cult supported an ideology of divine kingship. [2] However, it is believed that Memphis, downriver at the neck of the delta, was the main administrative centre because tombs of administrative officials have been discovered nearby. [3] Also known as the White Walls, [4] apparently after the colour of the palace enclosure walls, [5] Memphis probably had at least 6,000 residents at a population density of 193 per hectare. [6] The government of the Early Dynasties is thought to have developed significant divisions of labour and a more hierarchical structure under King Djer, who introduced permanent institutions, [7] although Egyptologist Hratch Papazian stresses that a true hierarchical bureaucracy emerged ’only during the latter parts of the Old Kingdom’. [8] Writing had been in use since the Protodynastic period (’Dynasty 0’, or the later Naqada periods), [9] when hieroglyphs were used for labels such as those found in the tomb of U-j at Abydos, dating to around 3150 BCE. [10]
Regional centres of the First Dynasty included Hierakonpolis, Abydos, and minor centres further south at Naga-el-Deir and Aswan. First-Dynasty Egypt was likely not yet divided into the clearly demarcated provinces, controlled by local governors, that we find in later periods. [11] There is no clear evidence for professional priests or large-scale religious organization, but there may have been temple compounds within settlements, serving different ritual functions from the funerary complexes located outside the towns. [12]
The Egyptian population during the Early Dynastic period is difficult to determine, but the archaeologist Bruce Trigger estimated that there could have been over 2 million people living in the Nile Valley at this time. [13]

[1]: (David and David 2002, 86) R. David and A. E. David. 2002. Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. London: Routledge.

[2]: (Bard 2000, 41) Kathryn A. Bard. 2000. ’The Emergence of the Egyptian State (c. 3200-2686 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 57-82. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[3]: (Bard 2000, 64-65) Kathryn A. Bard. 2000. ’The Emergence of the Egyptian State (c. 3200-2686 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 57-82. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[4]: (Malek 2000, 104) Jaromir Malek. 2000. ’The Old Kingdom (c. 2686-2160 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 83-107. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[5]: (Thompson 2012, 1) Dorothy J. Thompson. 2012. Memphis under the Ptolemies. 2nd ed. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

[6]: (Mumford 2010, 331) Gregory D. Mumford. 2010. ’Settlements - Distribution, Structure, Architecture: Pharaonic’, in A Companion to Ancient Egypt, Volume 1, edited by Alan B Lloyd, 326-49. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

[7]: (Engel 2013, 20-38) Eva-Maria Engel. 2013. ’The Organisation of a Nascent State: Egypt until the Beginning of the 4th Dynasty’, in Ancient Egyptian Adminstration, edited by Juan Carlos Moreno García, 19-40. Leiden: Brill.

[8]: (Papazian 2013, 67-68) Hratch Papazian. 2013. ’Departments, Treasuries, Granaries and Work Centers’, in Ancient Egyptian Adminstration, edited by Juan Carlos Moreno García, 41-83. Leiden: Brill.

[9]: (Bard 2000, 75) Kathryn A. Bard. 2000. ’The Emergence of the Egyptian State (c. 3200-2686 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 57-82. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[10]: (Bard 2000, 60) Kathryn A. Bard. 2000. ’The Emergence of the Egyptian State (c. 3200-2686 BC)’, in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, 57-82. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[11]: (Moreno García 2013) Juan Carlos Moreno García. 2013. ’Building the Pharaonic State: Territory, Elite, and Power in Ancient Egypt during the 3rd Millennium BCE’, in Experiencing Power - Generating Authority: Cosmos and Politics in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, edited by J. A. Hill, Ph. H. Jones, A. J. Morales, 185-217. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

[12]: (Bard 2000, 78) Kathryn A Bard. 2000. ’The Emergence of the Egyptian State (c.3200-2686 BC)’ in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt edited by Ian Shaw. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[13]: (Trigger 1983, 51) Bruce G. Trigger. 1983. ’The Rise of Egyptian Civilization’, in Ancient Egypt: A Social History edited by Bruce G. Trigger, Barry J. Kemp, David O’Connor and Alan B Lloyd, 1-70. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1) was in:
 (3100 BCE 2901 BCE) Upper Egypt
Home NGA: Upper Egypt

General Variables
Identity and Location Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 36 R 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Original Name Egypt - Dynasty I 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Capital 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Alternative Name 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Temporal Bounds Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Duration
Loading...
Political and Cultural Relations Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations none 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity Egypt - Dynasty II 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity
2900 BCE 2687 BCE
Egypt - Dynasty II (eg_dynasty_2)   [continuity] 
Loading...
Preceding Entity
3300 BCE 3100 BCE
Egypt - Dynasty 0 (eg_naqada_3)   [continuity] 
Loading...
Degree of Centralization 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Language Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Language 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Religion Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Polity Territory 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Polity Population 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Hierarchical Complexity Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Religious Level 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Military Level 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Administrative Level 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Professions Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Professional Priesthood 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Professional Military Officer Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Bureaucracy Characteristics Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Merit Promotion 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Full Time Bureaucrat 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Examination System Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Law Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Judge 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Court 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Irrigation System 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Food Storage Site 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Drinking Water Supply System 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Entertainment Building 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Transport Infrastructure Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Port 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Canal 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Bridge 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Special-purpose Sites Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Information / Writing System Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Script 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Nonwritten Record 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Non Phonetic Writing 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Scientific Literature 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Sacred Text Present Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Religious Literature 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Practical Literature 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Philosophy 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Lists Tables and Classification 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
History 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Fiction 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Calendar 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Information / Money Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Token 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Precious Metal 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Paper Currency Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Indigenous Coin Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Foreign Coin Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Article 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Information / Postal System Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
General Postal Service Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Courier 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Information / Measurement System Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Present Uncertain 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Wooden Palisade Absent Uncertain 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Non Mortared 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Non Mortared 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Mortared 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Stone Walls Mortared 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Settlements in a Defensive Position 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Modern Fortification Absent 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moat Present Uncertain 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moat Absent Uncertain 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Fortified Camp 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Earth Rampart 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Ditch Present Uncertain 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Ditch Absent Uncertain 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Complex Fortification 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Long Wall absent 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Military use of Metals Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Iron 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Copper 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Bronze 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Projectiles Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Sling Siege Engine 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Sling 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Self Bow 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Javelin 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Handheld Firearm 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Gunpowder Siege Artillery 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Crossbow 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Composite Bow 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Atlatl 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Handheld weapons Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Sword 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Spear 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Polearm 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Dagger 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Battle Axe 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Animals used in warfare Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Donkey 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Dog 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Camel 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Armor Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Shield 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Scaled Armor 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Plate Armor 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Limb Protection 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Leather Cloth 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Laminar Armor 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Helmet 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Chainmail 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Breastplate 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Naval technology Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Present Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Inferred 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 3100 BCE  2900 BCE
Loading...
Human Sacrifice Egypt - Dynasty I (eg_dynasty_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions