1. Chapter 4 Section 1
Gift of the Nile

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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