Ancient Egypt: The Gift of the Nile PDF

the gift of the nile  a life-giving River The world’s longest river, the Nile, brought life to Egypt and allowed it to thrive. The river was so important to people in this region that an ancient Greek historian named Herodotus (hih-RAHD-uh- tuhs) called Egypt the gift of the Nile. The Nile River f...

the gift of the nile  a life-giving River The world’s longest river, the Nile, brought life to Egypt and allowed it to thrive. The river was so important to people in this region that an ancient Greek historian named Herodotus (hih-RAHD-uh- tuhs) called Egypt the gift of the Nile. The Nile River flows northward more than 4,000 miles from the highlands of eastern Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Ancient Egypt formed along the northern part of the Nile. The southern part of the land, was called Upper Egypt. The northern part, located downriver, was called Lower Egypt. The Nile created a fertile river valley surrounded by deserts on both sides. In Lower Egypt, the Nile split into several branches. These branches formed a delta, covered by swamps and marshes. Most of ancient Egypt’s farmland was located in the Nile Delta. South of Egypt, the Nile flowed through rocky, hilly land. This rough terrain caused cataracts to form. The cataracts made sailing difficult and dangerous. THE FLOODS OF THE NILE Most of Egypt was desert and received little rain. Rainfall far to the south in East Africa caused the Nile to flood each year. The Nile’s flooding coated the land around it with a rich silt, which made it great for farming. Without the floods, people never could have farmed in Egypt. The annual flooding of the Nile River was so important that the Egyptians organized their year around it. ancient egyptian seasons MONTHS ACTIVITY WHAT EGYPTIANS DID Egyptians did work flooding June - September other than farming as season waters rose. Egyptians tilled, plowed, and planted growing October - February seeds in the fertile season soil left by the floodwaters. Egyptians harvested harvesting March - May crops before the next season flood season began. The ancient Egyptians also used the Nile to travel and to move goods and materials. They became expert sailors and shipbuilders. They built canals and walls to direct the flow of the Nile River and connect Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. This allowed farmers to water crops like wheat, barley, and fruits and vegetables. Farmers also raised animals such as cattle and sheep. Many types of fish lived in the Nile, and hunters trapped wild geese and ducks along its banks.  two kingdoms The geography of the Nile River valley provided many benefits. Hunter-gatherers first moved into the area more than 12,000 years ago. They found plants, wild animals, and fish to eat. In time, these people learned how to farm, and they settled along the Nile. By 4500 BCE, small farming villages had formed. Egypt’s location offered another advantage. It had natural barriers that made it hard for enemies to invade. The desert to the west was too big and harsh to cross. More desert and the Red Sea to the east also provided protection. The Mediterranean Sea to the north and cataracts in the Nile River to the south made invasion by water difficult. This protection allowed the villages of Egypt to grow and thrive. Over time, wealthy farmers from the most prosperous villages emerged as strong leaders. They eventually gained control over several villages. By 3200 BCE, they had formed into two separate kingdoms. Each kingdom had its own capital city where its ruler was based. For centuries, Egyptians referred to their country as the two lands. the kingdoms of egypt Lower Egypt Upper Egypt downriver, Location upriver, south North Pe, in the North Nekhen, on the west bank Capital West Nile Delta of the Nile Symbol of Ruler red crown white crown  pharaohs unify egypt A new ruler rose to power in Upper Egypt. Historians writing about him centuries later called this ruler Menes. Menes’s armies took control of Lower Egypt, unifying all of Egypt. He built a new capital city at the southern tip of the Nile Delta. Many historians consider Menes to be Egypt’s first pharaoh. The word pharaoh means “great house.” Menes founded Egypt’s first dynasty. Under dynasties, rule is generally passed from one generation to the next. The First Dynasty lasted for about 200 years.