The civilization of ancient Egypt emerged on the Nile River in eastern Africa. The Nile provided fertile soil and plentiful water amid the hot, dry climate. A Greek historian by the name of Herodotus once wrote that Egypt was the "gift of the Nile," and it was for that reason that the ancient Egyptians worshiped it as one of their gods.

Pharaohs also stood at the center of Egyptian worship, yet whereas in ancient Mesopotamia kings were representatives of the gods, Egyptian kings were considered gods. In addition, pharaohs were believed to rule even after death, and therefore an intricate mummification process was developed to preserve them for the afterlife. Massive pyramids were also constructed as tombs for their protection.

As in Mesopotamia, the development of writing was an important feature of the ancient Egyptian civilization, and much of what is understood about the ancient Egyptian culture was uncovered through the decoding of the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone.