Before its unification, ancient Egypt was divided into two distinct regions: Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north.

King Narmer, a ruler of Upper Egypt, is credited with conquering Lower Egypt and unifying the two lands around 3100 BCE.

The Narmer Palette, a carved stone artifact, is the key archaeological evidence depicting this unification.

Symbolism on the palette shows Narmer wearing both the white crown of Upper Egypt and the red crown of Lower Egypt.

The unification marked the beginning of the dynastic period of Egyptian history and the establishment of the First Dynasty.

Following the unification, the city of Memphis was founded at the junction of the two lands to serve as the new capital.

The concept of the pharaoh as the divine ruler of a unified kingdom became central to Egyptian ideology.

This event created a large, stable state that would endure for nearly 3,000 years.

Some historians identify Narmer with Menes, a legendary king mentioned in later Egyptian histories as the first pharaoh.

Unification allowed for greater administrative control over the Nile Valley and its agricultural resources.