“Proto-States” of Upper Egypt and the unification of the Nile Valley.

Abstract

The political unification of the Nile Valley, reached around 3.000 B.C., was the result of the expansion of State practices emerged in Upper Egypt about 3.400 B.C. Initially (Nagada Ilc-d), three “proto-States” centered in Hierakonpolis, Nagada and Abydos appeared and, subsequently, they joined in a unique Upper Egyptian “proto-State”. Besides, during the same time, the cultural influence of these centers would be expanded along the territory comprised from the First Cataract of the Nile to the Mediterranean Sea. In the next phase (Nagada Illa-b), the cultural homogeneity of the Nile Valley would give way to the political integration, started with the territorial expansion of the southern “proto-State”