a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC.

The world's most powerful and complex early civilization developed along the Nile river in northern Africa. The separate kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were unified about 3100 BC by an unknown king, but each retained its own symbols and identity throughout the 3,000-year reign of the pharaohs. In fact, pharaohs were known as Ruler of Two Lands in recognition of the importance of Upper and Lower Egypt. More than 170 pharaohs ruled Egypt between 3100 BC and 343 BC, when Nectanebo II, the last of the native-born kings, died. The Egyptian empire endured under the Persians and Greeks, ending dramatically in 30 BC with the suicide of Cleopatra. Romans then seized power and ruled Egypt from afar until 641 AD, when the country was overtaken by the forces of Islam and the ancient ideas and religion vanished from daily life. 


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