Ancient Egypt was located along the fertile Nile River valley and consisted of three main periods or kingdoms: the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The Old Kingdom saw the construction of pyramids like the Great Pyramids of Giza. The Middle Kingdom established Egypt as a trading power and expanded its territory. The New Kingdom was the height of Egypt's power as an empire under rulers like Ramses II. The pharaoh was considered divine and ruled over a bureaucratic government and agricultural economy supported by the predictable flooding of the Nile.