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Period: 6000 BCE to 4400 BCE
Predynastic Egypt
traditionally defined as the period from the final part of the Neolithic period beginning c. 6000 BC to the end of the Naqada III period c. 3000 BC. The dates of the Predynastic period were first defined before widespread archaeological excavation of Egypt took place, and recent finds indicating very gradual Predynastic development have led to controversy over when exactly the Predynastic period ended. As more digs of Egypt uncovered older artifacts, "Dynasty 0/Zero" was created for Prehistory. -
Period: 4400 BCE to 3150 BCE
Prehistoric Egypt
Prehistoric Egypt and Predynastic Egypt span the period from the earliest human settlement to the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period around 3100 BC, starting with the first Pharaoh, Narmer for some Egyptologists, Hor-Aha for others, with the name Menes also possibly used for one of these kings. -
Period: 3200 BCE to 3000 BCE
Naqueda III Period
The time of Naqueda III is generally taken to be identical with the Protodynastic period, during which Egypt was unified. Naqada III is notable for being the first era with hieroglyphs (though this is disputed by some), the first regular use of serekhs, the first irrigation, and the first appearance of royal cemeteries. The relatively affluent Maadi suburb of Cairo is built over the original Naqada stronghold -
3150 BCE
Unification of the Nile
Upper and Lower Egypt period (A.K.A The Two Lands) was the final stage of prehistoric Egypt and directly preceded the Early Dynastic Period. The conception of Egypt as the Two Lands was an example of the dualism in ancient Egyptian culture and frequently appeared in texts and imagery, including in the titles of Egyptian pharaohs. -
3149 BCE
Early Dynastic Period
Early Dynastic Period/Archaic Period, also known as the Thinite Period (from Thinis, supposed hometown of its rulers) is the era of ancient Egypt that immediately follows unification of Upper and Lower Egypt in 3150 BC. It is generally taken to include First and Second Dynasty, lasting from the end of the culture of Naqada III until 2686 BC, the beginning of the Old Kingdom. With the First Dynasty, the capital moved from Thinis to Memphis, with the unified land being ruled by a god-king.