Editing Ancient Egypt (section)

===Predynastic period===
{{Main|Predynastic Egypt}}
[[File:Vase with gazelles-E 28023- Egypte louvre 316.jpg|thumb|A typical, [[Naqada II]] (Predynastic Period), jar decorated with gazelles]]

In Predynastic and [[Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)|Early Dynastic]] times, the [[African humid period|Egyptian climate was much less arid than it is today]]. Large regions of Egypt were [[savanna]] and traversed by herds of grazing [[ungulates]]. Foliage and fauna were far more prolific in all environs, and the Nile region supported large populations of [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]]. Hunting would have been common for Egyptians, and this is also the period when many animals were first [[Domestication|domesticated]].{{sfnp|Ikram|1992|p=5}}

By about [[6th millennium BC|5500&nbsp;BC]], small tribes living in the Nile valley had developed into a series of cultures demonstrating firm control of agriculture and [[animal husbandry]], and identifiable by their [[ancient Egyptian pottery|pottery]] and personal items, such as combs, bracelets, and beads. The largest of these early cultures in upper (Southern) Egypt was the [[Badarian culture]], which probably originated in the [[Western Desert (Egypt)|Western Desert]]; it was known for its high-quality ceramics, [[stone tool]]s, and its use of copper.{{sfnp|Hayes|1964|p=220}}

The Badari was followed by the [[Naqada culture]]: the Naqada I ([[Amratian culture|Amratian]]), the Naqada II ([[Gerzeh culture|Gerzeh]]), and Naqada III ([[Semainean]]).{{sfnp|Kemp|1989|p=14}} These brought a number of technological improvements. As early as the Naqada I Period, predynastic [[Egyptians]] imported [[obsidian]] from [[History of Ethiopia|Ethiopia]], used to shape blades and other objects from [[Lithic flake|flakes]].{{sfnp|Aston|Harrell|Shaw|2000|pp=46–47}}{{sfnp|Aston|1994|pp=23–26}} Mutual trade with the [[Levant]] was established during Naqada II ({{circa|3600–3350 BC}}); this period was also the beginning of [[Egypt-Mesopotamia relations|trade with Mesopotamia]], which continued into the early dynastic period and beyond.{{sfnp|Ataç|2014|pp=424–425}} Over a period of about 1,000 years, the Naqada culture developed from a few small farming communities into a powerful civilization whose leaders were in complete control of the people and resources of the Nile valley.{{sfnp|Chronology of the Naqada Period|2001}} Establishing a power center at [[Nekhen]], and later at [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]], [[Naqada III]] leaders expanded their control of Egypt northwards along the [[Nile Delta|Nile]].{{sfnp|Shaw|2003|pp=64–64}} They also traded with [[Nubia]] to the south, the oases of the [[Libyan Desert|western desert]] to the west, and the cultures of the [[eastern Mediterranean]] and [[Near East]] to the east.{{sfnmp|1a1=Shaw|1y=2003|1p=61|2a1=Ataç|2y=2014|2pp=424–425}}

The Naqada culture manufactured a diverse selection of material goods, reflective of the increasing power and wealth of the elite, as well as societal personal-use items, which included combs, small statuary, painted pottery, high quality [[hand drill (hieroglyph)|decorative stone vases]], [[cosmetic palette]]s, and jewelry made of gold, [[lapis]], and [[ivory]]. They also developed a [[ceramic glaze]] known as [[Egyptian faience|faience]], which was used well into the [[Roman Egypt |Roman Period]] to decorate cups, amulets, and figurines.{{sfnp|Nicholson|Peltenburg|2000|pp=178–179}}{{sfnp|Faience in different Periods|2000}} During the last predynastic phase, the Naqada culture began using written symbols that eventually were developed into a full system of [[Egyptian hieroglyphs |hieroglyphs]] for writing the ancient Egyptian language.{{sfnp|Allen|2000|p=1}}

[[File:Tomb 100 Hierakompolis, Naqada II culture (c. 3500-3200 BCE).jpg|thumb|center|upright=3|Early tomb painting from [[Nekhen]], {{circa|3500 BC}}, Naqada, possibly Gerzeh culture]]