Ancient Egypt was never the isolated civilization popular imagination often suggests. Recent archaeological discoveries at the Red Sea port of Wadi el-Jarf have revealed the staggering extent of Egypt's trade networks during the Old Kingdom, reaching as far as modern-day Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

The port, dating to around 2600 BCE, contains evidence of extensive maritime trade. Papyrus logs discovered at the site detail the administration of expeditions to the land of Punt, likely located in modern-day Eritrea or Somalia, bringing back incense, gold, ebony, and exotic animals.

Perhaps most surprising is the evidence of trade with the Indus Valley civilization. Seals and beads manufactured in the Indus region have been found in Egyptian tombs, while Egyptian artifacts appear in Indus settlements. This trade route, spanning thousands of miles, operated through a chain of intermediaries across Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf.