Ancient Egypt's Origins and Civilization Ancient Egypt, also known as Kemet, originated in the south of Africa and spread northwards towards the Nile Delta. The civilization lasted for approximately 2500 years before its downfall due to invasions from Persians, Assyrians, and Greeks.
The Ethnicity of Cleopatra Cleopatra was Greek rather than African or Egyptian. By the time she was born, ancient Egyptians had already left their ancestral lands centuries ago. Her ethnicity is irrelevant when considering the history of ancient Egypt.
The Migration Patterns of Ancient Egyptians As their civilization fell apart due to invasions, ancient Egyptians migrated back to their ancestral lands in Nubia (modern-day Sudan) and other regions south of Sahara. Genetic studies show that Kemetic genes can be found all over black Africa today.