1. advanced cities - grew out of farming villages on the nile. memphis was the first capital of unified egypt.
2. specialized workers - traders on the nile. laborers, priests farmers, artisans, soldiers, and doctors
3. complex institutions - some form of gov. and religion life. many rituals surrounding death.
4. record keeping - hieroglyphics represented sounds. papyrus is paper.
5. improved technology - solar calendar and advanced medicine
