The Nile River THE LIFELINE OF EGYPT

Giver of life The river was a part of Egyptian life: Was a highway Farming Religion Governing Brought people together. Was a highway Led to trade, Communication, and Growth

Taker of Life Little rainfall caused death. Crops died Too much rainfall caused death Crops died and people were washed away

Source of Innovation Farmers were able to predict when the yearly floods would come. Inundation Egyptian calendar based on it. Emergence Time to plant crops Floods went away Harvest Crops were ready Built dams and canals Shaduf Long pole with a basket for holding water. Allows farmers to take water from the river.

Source of Religion Egyptians used stories about their gods to explain events in nature. Sun God (Re) Born each Day Died each night Believed in many gods Controlled the floods of the Nile Believed in the Afterlife. You go somewhere when you die. Prayers were collected in the Book of the Dead.

Unified Egypt 5000 B.C. – small villages appear along the Nile River. Turned into City-States. Capital was called a Nome. 3500 B.C. -Joined into two large kingdoms Upper Egypt Lower Egypt 3000 B.C. Menes/Narmer conquers Lower Egypt and unites it. World’s First Nation State. Lasted 3000 Years

What does living next to a river lead to? These are the three magic words of the class.

Trade

Communication

Growth