The Importance of the River Nile

Where is Egypt?

Geography… The Egyptians, like the Mesopotamians, settled near a river because of the benefits and contributions it gave. Do you remember some of the reasons? Travel Trade Irrigation for crops Water for drinking and cooking Yearly flooding, which left behind rich, fertile soil

Nile River Valley The Nile - longest river in the world – almost 4,000 miles! shaped like the lotus flower The Nile flows from south to north As the water comes down the mountains it flows through the river delta and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Class notes

Natural barriers of protection The ancient Egyptians enjoyed many natural barriers. There were deserts to the east and west of the Nile River, and mountains to the south. This isolated the ancient Egyptians and allowed them to develop a truly distinctive culture. Other natural barriers included the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east.

The Nile’s natural barriers of protection

Innovations Shaduf-used to transfer water from the Nile to canals Control of flood waters with irrigation, canals, dams Calendar-predicted when the Nile would flood -based on Solar Cycle-365 days CLASS NOTES

Gift of the Nile Civilization started along the Nile about 5,000 years ago Each spring, water would run off the mountains and the Nile would flood. Egypt is a desert without this flooding. Blackland-rich, dark soil called “Kemet” left after flood waters receded. Redland-desert beyond the banks of the Nile, called “Deshuret” CLASS NOTES

Death on the Nile flooding could cause death, and washing away of crops, no flooding caused drought-crops dried up CLASS NOTES

Three Seasons Inundation (flooding which usually lasted 4 months) Emergence (planting & growing) Harvest (crops picked) CLASS NOTES

Gifts of the Nile Fertile soil for crops was not the Nile's only gift. The Nile gave the ancient Egyptians many gifts. Thanks to the Nile, these ancient people had fresh water for drinking and bathing. The Nile supported transportation and trade. It provided materials for building, for making cloth for clothes, and even for making paper - made from the wild papyrus weed, that grew along the shores of the Nile.

“Gifts of the Nile” The Nile River is known as the “Giver of Life.” It provided many things for the Egyptians to survive: Fertile soil for farming Fishing- food Fresh water Transportation Trade routes The Nile was unfortunately also a taker of life. Many people accidentally drowned. Extreme rainfall washed away crops. Light flooding resulted in poor soil and crops would not grow.

Test stop Questions? Copy and answer the following questions. What continent is Egypt located on? What are the 2 types of “land” in Egypt and what do they represent? What are the 3 stages of the annual flooding of the Nile River called? Besides the rich soil, what are some (at least 3) of the “Gifts of the Nile?” How does the Nile “Take Life Away?”