Begin with a sweeping cinematic aerial view of the Nile River flowing through desert landscapes. Narrator (Voiceover): "Welcome to the cradle of one of humanity’s greatest civilizations – Ancient Egypt. Our story begins over 5,000 years ago, around 3100 BCE, when the lands of Upper and Lower Egypt were unified under King Narmer, also known as Menes. He became the first Pharaoh of a centralized Egypt, marking the start of the Early Dynastic Period. Fade to: early temple carvings, ancient hieroglyphs forming the name 'Narmer'. During the Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BCE), Egypt saw the rise of pyramids, built as eternal homes for the dead. Cut to: scenes of Giza Plateau, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, and the Sphinx looming in the golden sunlight. Egypt was ruled by divine Pharaohs. Society was structured: scribes, artisans, priests, peasants – all contributing to a world guided by Ma’at, the concept of order and harmony. Then came the First Intermediate Period, a time of chaos and regional fragmentation. But Egypt was reborn during the Middle Kingdom (2055–1650 BCE), centered in Thebes. Art, literature, and architecture flourished again. Cut to: bustling scenes of Thebes, nobles reading scrolls, canals being dug. Invasion struck during the Second Intermediate Period, when the Hyksos, foreign rulers from Asia, introduced new technologies like the horse-drawn chariot. Egypt eventually repelled them and entered its golden age – the New Kingdom (1550–1077 BCE). Show: Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s temple, Thutmose III’s conquests, and Akhenaten’s strange monotheism. Egypt's most famous king, Tutankhamun, ruled young and died mysteriously – his tomb would later become one of the greatest archaeological finds in history. Show: dramatic recreation of Howard Carter discovering the tomb in 1922. The last of the great pharaohs, Ramses II, ruled for 66 years. A warrior and builder, he left his mark with grand monuments like Abu Simbel. As centuries passed, Egypt weakened. It was conquered by Libyans, Nubians, Assyrians, and eventually by Persians. But in 332 BCE, Alexander the Great marched in. Egypt became part of the Hellenistic world, ruled by the Ptolemies, a Greek dynasty. The final chapter came with Cleopatra VII, Egypt’s last queen. Intelligent and ambitious, she allied with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony. Their defeat by Rome at the Battle of Actium marked the end of ancient Egyptian rule. In 30 BCE, Egypt became a Roman province. Show: Cleopatra looking over the Nile, Roman legions marching in. Yet Egypt's legacy never died. The pyramids, temples, language, and gods continue to inspire wonder today." End with: scenes of tourists walking through Karnak, Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings. Text on screen: “Ancient Egypt – A civilization that defied time.”