Ancient Egypt was not a great empire at its outset, yet over time it became united under rulers called pharaohs. Each pharaoh was believed to be an incarnation of the god Horus. Readers will learn how this tie between Ancient Egypt's government and its religion helped forge an empire. They will also learn about the basics of Ancient Egyptian laws and draw parallels between the ancient world and today.

Readers explore different aspects of Ancient Egypt's economy, including the importance of the sea and how papermaking was an art essential to Egypt's success. Students will gain an understanding of how the culture used money and which trades flourished during this period of history.

The Nile River was crucial to the growth of Egyptian civilization. Maps help illustrate the contrast between river and desert, and engaging text explains how geography influenced Egypt's settlement and migration patterns and even its religion. This book addresses people's relationship to their environment, a key social-studies concept.