- Egypt was divided into Lower and Upper Egypt, with different customs and dialects. Lower Egypt was in the fertile Nile Delta region, while Upper Egypt was further south. - The Old Kingdom saw the rise of powerful pharaohs who ruled as absolute monarchs and living gods. They oversaw large construction projects like the pyramids and employed peasants as laborers. - The New Kingdom expanded Egypt's empire through military campaigns but internal divisions later weakened Egypt. It was eventually conquered by foreign powers like the Greeks and Romans. Famous pharaohs included Hatshepsut, the first female ruler, and Ramesses II, who had a long and prosperous reign.