The Ancient Egyptian State: The Origins of Egyptian Culture (C. 8000-2000 Bc)This book focuses on the development of Egypt in its formative phase, from ca. 5200 BC, when Egyptians first began farming wheat and barley, until 2160 BC, as Egypt's central government weakened and appears to have fallen into disorder. During these millennia, which coincide with the Predynastic, Early Dynastic, and Old Kingdom periods, Egyptian civilization became increasingly complex, and many of its greatest pyramids and other monuments were built.