1. Chapter 7 Environmental Factors of Ancient Egypt, Kush, and Canaan
Mr. Campione

2. Water as an Environmental Factor
Fresh drinking water to live
Bathing and wash things in fresh water (prevent disease)
Source of food such as fish, water birds, and other animals near water
Water to grow their crops
Farmers dug trenches or canals to direct water (irrigation systems)
Transportation to travel and trade

3. Topography
The topography of an area was important for early human settlement. Farmers preferred to settle in flat, open areas such as plains and valleys. Large, flat spaces gave farmers room to plant crops. Also, the rich soil in coastal plains and river valleys was excellent for growing these crops.
Mountains and deserts difficult to settle. Farming and transportation is hard, but these physical features provided protection for the Egyptians.

4. Nile River Valley

5. Vegetation
There are many kinds of vegetation, such as trees, bushes, flowers, grass, and reeds. The crops people grow are also a type of vegetation.
A climate with mild weather and regular rain is good for plant life.
areas around rivers and lakes - green and fertile
mountains usually covered in trees
deserts - dry and hot, little vegetation

6. Vegetation How did vegetation influence settlement?
1) Plants are a source of food
2) Useful products made out of plants
medicine
baskets
rope
tools
paper
3) Trees provide shade from the sun
4) Flowers make areas beautiful

7. Physical Features of Egypt and Kush
Nile River → flowing north from deep in Africa, it created a long fertile valley that ended in a marshy delta (an area of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river) by the Mediterranean Sea
Surrounded by the Libyan Desert, the Arabian Desert, and the Nubian Desert → they formed a natural barrier that helped protect people living in the Nile River valley
On the north, Egypt was bordered by the Mediterranean Sea which was rich in fish and a waterway that linked ancient Egypt to other civilizations
To the east of Egypt and Kush was a long, thin channel of very salty water called the Red Sea → much of the land near the sea was desert

8. Environmental Factors and Human Settlement in Egypt and Kush
Water
natural irrigation and fertilization (Regular flooding left rich soil for crops)
fish to catch
animals to hunt (Geese, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, and ostriches)
Topography
southern end of Nile - narrow valleys and hills
wide areas of flat land around deep river bends
north - wide plains were covered by Nile flooding
Vegetation
Plentiful
Useful plants
Reeds (Baskets and roofs)
Papyrus (Ropes and paper)
Crops (Wheat and barley)

9. Papyrus (Ropes and paper) Reeds (Baskets and roofs)
Vegetation
Papyrus (Ropes and paper)
Reeds (Baskets and roofs)

10. Environmental Factors and the Early Settlement of Canaan
Environmental Factors and Human Settlement in Canaan
Water
Mediterranean Sea
Wet, fertile plains near sea were farmed
Allowed traders from many lands to visit
Sea of Galilee
freshwater lake
plentiful fish
fertile land
Dead Sea
Salty
surrounding land is hot, dry, and unsuitable for farming
Jordan River
provided hunting, fishing, and farming
did not flood regularly

11. Environmental Factors and the Early Settlement of Canaan
Topography
Easiest to live in coastal plains and near Jordan River
Hilly land difficult for crops
People were herders instead of farmers (Tended flocks of sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, and camels)
Herders were nomads (wander from place to place in search of good land for their animals to graze - no permanent home)
Vegetation
Most plentiful near the Jordan River
Some light forests
Grasslands common