Editing Ancient Egypt (section)

===Early Dynastic Period ({{circa|3150–2686}} BC)===
{{Main|Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)}}

The Early Dynastic Period was approximately contemporary to the early [[Sumer]]ian-[[Akkadian Empire|Akkadian]] civilization of [[Mesopotamia]] and of ancient [[Elam]]. The third-century{{nbsp}}BC Egyptian priest [[Manetho]] grouped the long line of kings from [[Menes]] to his own time into 30 dynasties, a system still used today. He began his official history with the king named "Meni" (or Menes in Greek), who was believed to have united the two kingdoms of [[Upper Egypt|Upper]] and [[Lower Egypt]].{{sfnp|Clayton|1994|p=6}}
[[File:Narmer Palette.jpg|thumb|The [[Narmer Palette]] depicts the unification of the Two Lands.{{sfnp|Robins|2008|p=32}}]]

The transition to a unified state happened more gradually than ancient Egyptian writers represented, and there is no contemporary record of Menes. Some scholars now believe, however, that the mythical Menes may have been the king [[Narmer]], who is depicted wearing [[Regalia of the Pharaoh|royal regalia]] on the ceremonial ''[[Narmer Palette]]'', in a symbolic act of unification.{{sfnp|Clayton|1994|pp=12–13}} In the Early Dynastic Period, which began about 3000{{nbsp}}BC, the first of the Dynastic kings solidified control over Lower Egypt by establishing a capital at [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]], from which he could control the [[labor force]] and agriculture of the fertile [[Nile delta |delta region]], as well as the lucrative and critical [[trade route]]s to the [[Levant]]. The increasing power and wealth of the kings during the early dynastic period was reflected in their elaborate [[mastaba]] tombs and [[mortuary cult]] structures at Abydos, which were used to celebrate the [[deified king]] after his death.{{sfnp|Shaw|2003|pp=66–67}} The strong institution of kingship developed by the kings served to legitimize state control over the land, labor, and resources that were essential to the survival and growth of ancient Egyptian civilization.{{sfnp|Early Dynastic Egypt|2001}}