How was a single state formed in ancient Egypt? The pre-dynastic era

Ancient Egypt is one of the earliest cultures of world history. This civilization originated in the territory of North-East Africa. As the researchers believe, the word "Egypt" comes from the ancient Greek "Aygyptos", which in translation meant "mystery, mystery." Historians believe that the ancient Egyptian state originated from the city of Het-ka-Ptah, to whom the Greeks later named "Memphis". The inhabitants of ancient Egypt called their country by the color of the soil - "Ta Kemet". In translation this phrase meant "Black Earth".

How did the settlements in the Nile Valley appear?

People lived here long before the formation of a single state in ancient Egypt. It is believed that the first local settlements belong to the Paleolithic era. Researchers have found here remains of parking of primitive hunters. Flocks of predators, growing along the banks of the Nile acacia, insects - so met the first people inhospitable ancient savannah. It is believed that they were forced to migrate to the Nile valley due to the deterioration of natural conditions.

What was the Nile Valley long before the emergence of a single state in ancient Egypt?

The climate of Egypt at that time was not as droughty as it is now. The melting of glaciers that covered part of the European territory ended very recently. Over the valley of the Nile there were constant rains, blowing wet winds. On the place where there is now a vast desert, savannahs used to stretch before.

The territory of the present Sahara used to be inhabited by primitive hunters of the Mesolithic and early Neolithic period. It was after them that the first drawings of buffaloes, elephants, antelopes that were now known were left. These animals are not residents of the desert. Another proof that the Nile Valley was once a savanna is wadi. Wadi are the dried up riverbeds that once flowed into the Nile.

The beginning of the drought and the migration of tribes

By the beginning of the V millennium BC. E. The climate becomes more arid. The damp winds subside. Slowly the savannah begins to turn into a desert. Hunting tribes at this time turn into shepherds, and more and more of their settlements are approaching the banks of the Nile.

In the V millennium BC. E. Representatives of the Neolithic era have not yet learned how to smelt copper. They used stone tools for hunting. Despite the fact that hunting and fishing are still the primary sources of subsistence, at this time primitive agriculture and cattle breeding appear. At the end of the V - the beginning of the IV millennium BC. E. The beginning of the copper age - the era of the Eneolithic. At this time, the ancient inhabitants of the Nile Valley, there are articles of copper, which they used in everyday life - beads, piercings. Begin to build irrigation canals. However, hunting and fishing do not lose their role in the life of primitive people.

BOMs - prototypes of states

The next era before the formation of a single state in ancient Egypt, it is customary to call the first pre-dynastic period. It refers to the first half of the IV millennium BC. E. At this time the main role is already beginning to play agriculture. Settlements increase in size, begin to unite and wall to wall. Copper is now used not only for the manufacture of household items and ornaments, but also for tools. In this era, objects made of gold appear for the first time.

By the middle of the IV millennium BC. E. The ancient Egyptians finally come to a settled way of life. Now the main role in providing livelihoods of villages is played by agriculture and cattle breeding. The clan community is replaced by the neighboring one, and economic inequality arises. There is still a small layer of slaves - prisoners captured in the process of constant skirmishes between the settlements. Before the union of Ancient Egypt in a single state occurred, the settlements were united in noma - closed centralized areas.

What was the association of communities for?

These territorial formations were created on the basis of tribal associations, which together created irrigation systems, entering into a struggle with the unprofitable forces of nature. Each nom, in fact, was a walled city in which there was a temple, and where already had its own government apparatus. Before the formation of a single state in ancient Egypt, in the Nile valley there were already about forty nomas.

Since the creation of irrigation systems required considerable effort, the need to unite nomas grew more and more acute. So on the territory of the Nile valley appeared two states - Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. These times are illustrated by drawings on slate tablets. They depict scenes of wars, associated captives, hijacking of cattle herds. The further war between the two associations ultimately led to the victory of Upper Egypt. Thus ended the pre-dynastic period and the formation of a single state in ancient Egypt began. The date that completes this era in history - 33 in. BC. E.

What is known about the leaders of Lower and Upper Egypt?

About those masters, under the leadership of which this association took place, there was practically no information left. Almost the only information is a few dozen ancient Egyptian names. It is also known that the rulers of Upper Egypt wore a white headdress, and the red crown was the distinguishing sign of the leaders of the Lower Egyptian nomas. After the formation of a single state in ancient Egypt, the crown of red and white remained a symbol of power until the very end of the ancient times in the Nile Valley.

The merger of states was a long and bloody process. However, some researchers are convinced that some of the nomas were united among themselves by peaceful means. It is believed that the center of the new state was one of the northern nomas. The ancient capital of a single state in Egypt is a city with a center in Butoh. People who lived in the ancient Egyptian state, spoke the Egyptian language, which is now dead.

The late language of the Egyptians - kopstky - came along with the Arabic to the Middle Ages. Judging by the remaining drawings, the Egyptians were a dark-haired people of medium height. They were slender, broad-shouldered people with straight hair. Images of women were painted in yellow, men - in a brick shade.