Evidence of Early Dynastic contacts are basically a continuation of the predynastic above with further extensions into Sudan. There are also some indications of contact with the Aegean and Crete in this period, but this evidence is weak. Narmer had Egyptian pottery produced in southern Canaan — with his name stamped on vessels — and then exported back to Egypt. Production sites included Arad, En Besor, Rafiah, and Tel Erani. An Egyptian colony that was stationed in southern Canaan dates to this same era. First Dynasty Egyptian pottery has been found in southern Canaan, some bearing the name of Narmer. Other reflections of Near Eastern contact particularly include a design of a flint knife.
Evidence of Old Kingdom trade extends southward to Nubia and Punt, eastward to the Near East, northward to the Aegean and the Greek islands, and westward with Libya. The Darb el-Arbaintrade route, passing through Kharga in the south and Asyut in the north, was used from as early as the Old Kingdom for the transport and trade of gold, ivory, spices, wheat, animals and plants.
Evidence of Middle Kingdom contacts reaches southward to Nubia, in particular Buhen and Kerma. Nubians also lived in ancient Egypt in this period. Eastward contacts are represented by objects and motific works of ancient Egypt found in the Near East, including modern Anatolia and Byblos and those ancient regions around Canaan and Syria. Some kings of Byblos have been found buried with Egyptian items. Westward, evidence of contact with Libya is generally limited to military expeditions. Northward, evidence of contact with the Aegean includes Minoan relics found in Egypt.
contacts seem to have been dominated by military activities. Strong northerly contacts with Crete, Mycenea and the Helladic seem to have persisted during this time. Southward, Egypt conquered Nubia. Eastward, the Egyptians successfully conquered the ancient regions of Palestine and Syria, being opposed by the Mitanni and the Hittites. Although, limited trade between the regions seems to have continued, culminating in the world's earliest known peace treaty, between Ramesses II and the Hittites. Westward, contact with Libya is again generally limited to military activities.
Late Period (before c. 343 BC)
Foreign contacts in the Late Period of Ancient Egypt seem to have been mere extensions of those of the New Kingdom. Military expeditions again persist, everywhere but in ancient Greece. In fact, there is in this period evidence of Greek soldiers fighting for Egyptian pharaohs and the establishment of a Greek trading post, called Naucratis, within Egypt. Nubia would become dominated by ancient Egypt in this period. Eventually, however, by the 25th dynasty, Nubia conquers and controls Egypt, only themselves to become later ousted by the Assyrians. Further, some scholars believe the Assyrians were then later driven out by the Napatans. Described by Herodotus as a road "traversed... in forty days," the Darb el-Arbain trade route became by his time an important land route facilitating trade between Nubia and Egypt. Eastward, Egypt gained control over Cyprus but, despite numerous attempts, never over Palestine. Again Libyan contacts in this era are generally limited to military activities.
