Can you give us a brief history of Egypt through the Ages?

**1- The Pre-dynastic Period** Between 5000 and 3000 BC, about 60,000 years ago, the Nile began to flood annually on the surrounding lands along its banks, leaving behind fertile soil and rich earth. This made the area close to the floodplain attractive to settlers as a source of water and food. Around 7000 BC, the Egyptian environment became hospitable and attracted settlers. Evidence of some settled communities has been found from this time in desert areas of Upper Egypt. Several pottery artifacts were discovered in some tombs in Upper Egypt dating back to around 4000 BC, indicating the Pre-dynastic period. The Pre-dynastic period is divided into three main parts, according to the location where archaeological materials were found: the northern sites dating back to around 5500 BC, which left evidence of cultural stability, though not as developed as in the south. Evidence shows that by around 3000 BC, a significant political power emerged, leading to the formation of the first unified kingdom in ancient Egypt. The oldest discovered hieroglyphic writings belong to this period, and the names of kings and rulers began appearing on monuments. During this period, 13 rulers reigned, the last of whom was Narmer around 2950 BC, followed by the first and second dynasties, consisting of approximately 17 kings who ruled between 2950 and 2647 BC. During this time, a group of tombs was built, representing the beginnings of the pyramids in Saqqara, Abydos, and other sites. **2- The Old Kingdom** The Old Kingdom ruled for about five centuries from 2647 to 2140 BC, from the third dynasty to the sixth, with its capital in the north at Memphis. The rulers held absolute power over a strong, unified government. Religious beliefs played a significant role in Egyptian history. Evidence suggests that the pharaohs sometimes considered themselves gods on earth. **3- The Golden Age** During this era, the third dynasty ruled from 2647 to 2573 BC, with the second king being Djoser, who emphasized unity and balance between the people of the north and south through his stepped pyramid in Saqqara. The architect Imhotep, who built the stepped pyramid, used stone instead of mud brick, which was commonly used at the time. This was the first monumental stone structure in Egypt and the first step towards building the pyramids; it was used as a tomb for King Djoser. To manage state affairs and oversee construction projects, Djoser established an efficient administrative system. Overall, the third dynasty marks the beginning of the Golden Age of the Old Kingdom. The first king of the fourth dynasty, ruling from 2573 to 2454 BC, was Sneferu, who built the first pyramids at Dahshur, south of Saqqara. Sneferu was the first warrior king and led several campaigns in Nubia, Libya, and Sinai. He promoted trade and mining, leading to the kingdom’s prosperity. King Khufu succeeded his father Sneferu from 2549 to 2526 BC and built the Great Pyramid at Giza. After Khufu, his son Djedefre ruled from 2526 to 2518 BC, adding the sun god Ra to the king’s title. His brother Khafre then ruled from 2518 to 2493 BC and built another pyramid in his name at Giza. After him, Menkaure ruled from 2488 to 2460 BC, building the smallest of the three pyramids at Giza. Under the fourth dynasty, Egyptian civilization reached a peak of advancement that was maintained by the kings of the fifth and sixth dynasties. The greatness of their engineering achievements, especially in pyramid construction, was evident in other fields, including agriculture, sculpture, painting, science, engineering, navigation, and astronomy. The astronomers in Memphis were the first to describe the solar calendar with a year of 365 days. Scientists in the Old Kingdom made significant discoveries in physiology, surgery, the circulatory system, and antiseptics. **4- The Beginning of Decline** Although the fifth dynasty enjoyed economic prosperity from foreign trade, signs of weakening royal control over the administrative system began to appear, with some power shifting to non-royal officials. King Unas, one of the last rulers of this dynasty, reigned from 2435 to 2408 BC and was buried in Saqqara with some funerary texts, later known as the Pyramid Texts, inscribed on the walls of his pyramid. These texts were also used in royal tombs of the sixth dynasty. With the beginning of the sixth dynasty, the weakening of royal control over the administration increased. By the end of Pepi II’s reign, from 2360 to 2143 BC, power was nearly in the hands of his vizier. The central authority’s control over the economy weakened as tax exemptions were reduced, and local rulers became more independent. **5- The First Intermediate Period** The beginning of the First Intermediate Period can be traced to the seventh dynasty, which ruled from 2140 to 2134 BC. Due to internal conflicts, the reign of the seventh and eighth dynasties, from 2134 to 2124 BC, was a dark period. They ruled from Memphis, but their reign lasted only 16 years. During the ninth and tenth dynasties, from 2123 to 2040 BC, local rulers had complete control over their territories. They began expanding their influence, which grew to nearly encompass Memphis, the Delta, and as far south as Asyut. Competing rulers in Thebes established the eleventh dynasty, which ruled from 2123 to 2040 BC and controlled the area from Abydos to what is now near Aswan.