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Victoria Moon Bonebrake
The Predynastic settlements in Egypt can easily be viewed as a monopoly game. The
settlements may have started somewhat equal in size and wealth, but eventually some would gain
more power and wealth than others creating a monopoly of sorts. Because of Egypt’s fertile
soils, there was plenty of opportunity for a high-stakes “game” to drag out over a longer period
of time. The settlements and towns vied for resources and power, and ideologies helped amplify
that power.
In Upper Egypt, Naqada and Nekhen, would have been two major players in this
monopoly game. In Naquada, farmers began to clear out the land and open bigger farm areas.
This allowed them to provide for bigger populations. The surplus of foods would have allowed
for leveraging of economic power amongst the people. As we have learned in the past,
