The answer is probably that they actually weren't "so ahead", at least
in Near Eastern context, then the most advanced region of the world
probably. They actually didn't incorporate bronze or iron to their
technologies till much later than other neighbours and their might is
probably just a byproduct of being a large, densely populated
centralized state, what allowed pharaohs to manage huge resources that
other princes of their time (except comparable but less stable kingdoms
of the region) didn't have. Another reason is maybe that, unlike
Mesopotamians, specially Sumerians, they used stone and not mudbrick in
their constructions, allowing them to endure te test of time much
better. But you do find other comparable civilizations in the other
rich areas of the Near East, particularly Mesopotamia and Asia Minor -
only that Egypt, more isolated and particularly needing a centralized
irrigation authority, was much more stable.
They were in the right place in the right moment while the Near East
was the "center of the world", i.e. Neolithic and Chalcolithic, they
had a very productive country when ruled in a centralized manner and
that made them very powerful and maginficent and somehow closed to the
outside (a little like China later on). They were never particularly
outstanding in sailing or warfare, but they were great in architecture,
mathematics or astronomy, for instance. Their geographical position
protected them from most threats, as Lybians and Nubians were
comparatively smaller and more backwards. Their major enemies could
only came from the Near East (and partly from the Sea).
Eventually, as the center of gravity moved a little more northwards, to
Asia Minor, where Bronze was becomng common and where eventually
Hittites had developed the most secret technique of iron casting, they
actually became a relatively isolated and technologically retarded
people, specially in metalurgy, an essential war technology. The
incursions of the Sea Peoples and the destruction of Minoan
civilization didn't help the Egyptians either to keep along with the
march of time. Yet, they were still powerful enough as to achieve a
stalemate with Hittites at Kadesh and to draw the Sea Peoples back into
the waves. But eventually they were conquered by war-mongering
Assyrians and later by Persians, bringing them the iron technologies
but ending with their independence. For then on Egypt would be ruled by
foreigners, wether as a province of a foreign empire or an independent
realm under a foreign dynasty... till the late 20th century.
Still, for more than two milennia they were a powerful, proud and
independent kingdom, able to build many hydrological and architectural
marvels that still fascinate us. Their culture was impressive indeed
but hey lost pace in the military technological race.
We might have the impression that Egypt was greater than its
Mesopotamian neighbors because Egypt is famous; its civilization has
been well preserved, as opposed to Babylon or the Hittites.
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