It wasn't like that. The pharaonic Egyptians were remarkably republican. Each citizen was expected to adhere to a moral code that is surprisingly modern, maybe even proto-Christian. They had a wealthy and powerful civilization, were highly advanced technologically, and they had extensive trade with the rest of the known world.
When Egypt collapsed, it wouldn't have been just Egypt, the rest of civilization would have been in deep trouble at the same time.
...and you know my opinion, "this has happened many times on a global scale."