Egypt
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Nubia
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Until 3100, Kemet was divided into the Upper Nile and the Lower Nile. Enter Menes. He unified Kemet and created the first dynasty. About 500 years later, the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC) began. It featured a strong national government in Memphis and the construction of the great pyramids and the Sphinx. The Middle Kingdom (1991-1786) boasted the conquest of Nubia and trade with Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia. The capital was Thebes. Then it collapsed and the Hyksos overran it. In 1550 BC, the native Egyptians won against the Hyksos. The New Kingdom (1570-1000) began. During the New Kingdom, the Egyptians dominated the area with the technology from the Hyksos. They conquered the Levant—all the way to the banks of the Euphrates. But conflicts with the Hittites led to the decline of the New Kingdom and Ancient Egypt.
Nubia was a region, but in 1000 BC, Kush was founded by some local Nubian rulers. In 730 BC, the Kushites invaded Kemet and created the Ethiopian Dynasty. Sadly, the Assyrians kicked them out just 60 years later. In about 300 BC, a city called Meroe rose. It had charcoal and iron ore, so it could easily produce iron. Unfortunately, the environment could not sustain the iron smelting business (here's something to ponder: history will always repeat itself). Then the Romans (a major trading partner) lost wealth, and Meroe ran out of steam.