Dynasty Notes
There is quite a bit of argument over who to include in the Early Dynastic period. Some chronologies includes Narmer as the founding king of the first dynasty, while others assign that honor to Menes -- the near-mythical figure possibly associated with Horus Aha.
Leaders prior to the ones listed here are plopped into a "Dynasty 0" in the pre-dynastic period of history. This is necessary because more data and artifacts are being found from periods before the "first dynasty" and Egyptologists are just starting to put them in some sort of order.
The major accomplishment of the early dynasties was to unify the two lands (north and south) and consolidate Egypt into a single political entity under a single king. At this point in time, Egypt is quite small -- Upper Egypt probably stopped at Aswan -- but the unification of Egypt into a single land was the starting point.
These early kings are known mostly through Manetho and record on fragmented stone. Little is known about them, but their monuments are some of the most studied artifacts in the world. Papyrus was invented some time during the first dynasty, and writing was used to support the government administration. Egypt was prosperous, which laid the groundwork for some fabulous monuments.
The second dynasty opened with a few rival claimants to the throne, which was eventually claimed by Hetepsekhemwy, who may have brokered an agreement between the rival factions. Pharaohs ruled from Thinis, in the Eastern Delta.
dynasties