Early Dynasty (c.4000-2680 B.C.)

1st Dynasty (3050 - 2850 BC.)

3050 BC. - Menes subdues the north and unites upper and lower Egypt

Creation of the capital city of Memphis

The divine kingship became well established

Egypt was transformed from a tribal society to a state with a centralized government.

Conquer of Sinai

Culture became increasingly refined

Burial grounds at Saqqara and Abydos became sites of developed mastabas

Menes
c. 3000 BC

The Narmer Palette

This is an oversized palette 63 cm tall, discovered in the town of Hierakonpolis

It has pictures and the earliest hieroglyphics ever found, telling the story of the unification

One side shows Menes (Narmer) wearing the White Crown and grasping an enemy by the hair with one hand while raising a mace menacingly with the other
The falcon Horus is seated on a lotus, over the enemy grasping it with a rope, this represents the triumph of the Upper Egyptian divine cult over the Lower Egyptian enemy cult Both the King and god have won the battle

Two bearded men, enemies of the king, are naked and lying dead on the ground under the kings' feet

The reverse side shows Menes wearing Red Crown of Lower Egypt, and leading a procession of small men carrying banners
These processional banners narrate the various communities of Upper (south) Egypt celebrating the victory over Lower (north) Egypt
While Menes wearing the Red Crown and holding the crook and flail, representing his authority and rule over Lower Egypt

Both sides of the palette are topped with the earliest known depiction of an Egyptian goddess, possibly Hathor

2nd Dynasty(2850-2680 BC.)

c.2700 BC. - Pharaoh Peribsen and supporters of the god Seth lose struggle with supporters of the cult of Horus

Horus becomes royal patron deity.

Regional disputes and a decentralization of authority