Ancient Egypt was a civilization in Northeast Africa along the Nile River valley that developed between 5500 BC and 3000 BC. The culture was based around beliefs in divine kings and gods who were worshipped and invoked for protection. One of the most notable aspects of ancient Egyptian culture were the pyramids, which began as stacked mastabas decreasing in size to the top, and contained royal tombs filled with treasures to be used in the afterlife.