During the Old Kingdom, Egyptian civilization really came of age. The power of Egypt expanded considerably through the four dynasties of the Old Kingdom. This was probably due in part to the increasing centralization of government and the creation of an efficient administrative system.

The concept of kingship changed too, with greater emphasis being placed on the divine nature of the office. The king was considered to the incarnation of Horus, and from the fifth dynasty, son of the sun god Re. At the same time, the advances begun in previous centuries, in building, technology, hieroglyphic writing and artistic representation, reached new heights in the Old Kingdom.

This can be seen best in the spectacular program of pyramid construction, which reached its height in the 4th Dynasty. Djoser's step pyramid at Saqqara, the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza and the Sphinx are among the most remarkable structures in the world.