First two dynasties of a unified Egypt founded by Narmer/Menes, centered on Memphis and Abydos.
The Early Dynastic Period of Egypt (Dynasties 1–2, c. 3100–2686 BCE) transitioned into the Old Kingdom when the Third Dynasty and its stronger centralized monarchy replaced the looser political structures of the first two dynasties, c. 2686 BCE; no external conquest was involved.
A focused study of the first two dynasties of unified Egypt.
Authoritative survey including the Early Dynastic Period (broad context).
Primary source — Manetho's king-lists and dynastic framework are essential for understanding the transition from Predynastic to Early Dynastic; Loeb Classical Library vol. 350