The Egyptian Empire was centered around the Nile River in Northern Africa. Farmers first settled in Egypt around 500 BC and built one of the world's earliest civilizations. The Pharaoh was considered a god and owned all of Egypt. Pharaohs led Egypt's armies in battles against enemies like the Hittites. The Pharaoh had a large court and government that collected taxes, kept records, and trained troops. Traders used the Nile to transport goods and traded with other lands, traveling as far as Punt to acquire valuable goods like myrrh trees. Travel within Egypt was largely reliant on boats along the Nile, though the royal family and priests also had large wooden boats imported from