Egypt is located in northern Africa along the Nile River, which provided water for early settlers. In ancient Egypt, powerful pharaohs ruled as absolute monarchs over a society of farmers and artisans who spoke Hieroglyphics. Today, Egypt is a republic with a population of 100 million people who primarily speak Arabic and practice Islam. Some top tourist destinations in Egypt include Cairo, the capital city, Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, Luxor with its wealth of archaeology, and Aswan in the south.