The Bronze Age Energy Crisis

Non-interest in expansion is the lesson of Egyptian Civilization. While at times Egypt has created buffers for self defense, it has never tried to build an empire beyond the Nile Valley...Egypt has never tried to make "Egypt" describe a larger area, never tried to claim a greater Egypt, or conquer land to extract wealth.

Considering 6000 years of history, Egypt is pretty much as self-autonomous today as it has always been when it has been independent.