Chapter 4 Section 1 Gift of the Nile

Geography of Ancient Egypt The Longest River The Nile is the worlds largest River – 4,160 miles South, mixes with cataracts – waterfalls North branches out into a delta – area near a river’s mouth where it deposits silt – fine soil

Land of Plenty Begins in the south > flows north Upper Nile is south (highland) Lower Nile is north (low, flatland) Heavy rains fall on Ethopian Plateau (flatland raised sharply above other land) flooded Nile every summer Left fertile soil Predictable cycle

Black Land, Red Land Predictable weather: Black land – rich soil 8 months- sunny & hot 4 months- sunny & cooler 1 inch of rain/ year Red land – barren desert Harsh/ barrier to keep Enemies out

Land of Plenty Annual floods Followed pattern of bird migration Left fertile soil and farmers began planting Farmers worked Together to develop Irrigation (watering dry land by using ditches, Pipes and streams) *shadoof- move water *dug canals, basins & walls

Egyptian Crops Egyptian Houses Grains- wheat and barley Ground wheat to flour = made bread Vegetables- lettuce, radishes, onions and cucumbers Fruits- dates, figs and grapes Flax plant- turned flax into a material called linen (lightweight cloth) and made clothes Mud bricks and straw with small windows for sunlight Egyptian Houses

Geography Shapes Egyptian Life Farming- VERY IMPORTANT Mining – quarried (obtain stone by cutting, digging or blasting) Copper, iron, gold, limestone, granite & turquoise Fishing and Hunting Nets and harpoons to catch fish, speared hippopotamuses and crocodiles, boomerangs knocked down birds Transportation and Trade Boats traveled north (with the current) quickly, used sails to go south Traded for exotic animals, gold, ivory and incense