Out of the banks of the riverNilerose a civilization descending from none other nor fathering none later, but exhibiting an endurance never since repeated. The 600-mile long Nile river in northern Africa was isolated enough from the civilizations ofMesopotamiato develop its own unique culture and religion. Egyptians built a profoundly religious civilization that would last over 2000 years, from the first dynasty around 3200 BC, until the end of the 19th dynasty in 1075 BC.  It is unique in the annuls of history for its extensive use of religion as a means to control its masses.  A land full of uneducated people, and no means of mass communications, can be rallied, controlled, and governed in only a very few ways.  How can a central ruling body make certain that cities and tribes 500 miles away obey laws, contribute labor, and pay taxes? Simple military dictatorship could work, but in Egypt, a strong central religion served as well as any sword.