Dynasty 0-II

Over time, the unaffiliated cultures of Pre-dynastic Egypt banded together, until there were two recognizable nations: Upper Egypt to the south, and Lower Egypt in the north. It is unknown how exactly Upper and Lower Egypt eventually came together, and there is some disagreement between Egyptologists as to the name of the first pharaoh. But the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt created the first pharaohs, governors, and centralized government. Many of the recognizable aspects of Egyptian art, religion, and architecture began to arise during this period, as well as very early hieroglyphs.

Legends and texts seem to contradict themselves, suggesting the first pharaoh was either a man named Narmer, a man named Menes, or a man named Hor-Ah—or, possibly, that they were all the same person. Narmer is typically credited with unifying Upper and Lower Egypt due to his appearance on the Narmer Palette, a decorated cosmetics palette where he is depicted taming two great beasts, and wearing the combined crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.