Ancient Egypt and KushChapter 4, Section 1

Egypt was called the “gift of the Nile” because the Nile River gave life to the desert.

Location and Physical FeaturesUpper Egypt (southern Egypt), upriver on the Nile; Lower Egypt (Northern Egypt), downriver on the Nile

The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It begins in central Africa and runs northward to the Mediterranean Sea.

Because of the flow of the river, that’s how Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt got its name.

Geography and Ancient Egypt (pgs. 86-89)

Cataracts were strong rapids that formed along the Nile because of the rough terrain.

In Lower Egypt (at the Northeastern tip of Egypt), the Nile divided into several branches that flowed into the Mediterranean Sea. ◦ These branches formed what is

known as the Nile Delta.

A delta is a triangle-shaped area of land made of soil deposited by a river.

Over ½ of Egypt’s fertile farmland was located in the Nile Delta. (about 2/3 of it)

Features of the Nile

Egypt received very little rain; therefore, it was a desert area. ◦ However, rainfall to the

south of Egypt in the highlands of east Africa caused the Nile to flood.

The Nile floods were easier to predict than those of the Tigris and Euphrates.

It was important to the Egyptians that the Nile’s flooding was consistent because it provided a bountiful growing season every year, and people knew they could count on a food supply in the future.◦ Upper Egypt flooded in

midsummer◦ Lower Egypt flooded in fall

The Floods of the Nile

Civilization developed after people began farming along the Nile.

As in Mesopotamia, farmers in Egypt developed an irrigation system. ◦ -built basins to collect water

during the yearly floods so they could store it long afterward

The Nile provided early Egyptian farmers with an abundance of food.◦ Wheat◦ Barley◦ Fruits◦ Vegetables

◦ *raised cattle and sheep◦ *river provided fish◦ Hunters trapped wild geese and

ducks◦ Like Mesopotamia, Egyptians

enjoyed eating different types of food.

Civilization Develops Along the Nile

The Nile Valley also offered natural barriers that provided protection and made Egypt hard to invade.◦ The desert to the west was too

big and harsh to cross◦ To the North, the Mediterranean

sea kept many enemies away.◦ The Red Sea provided protection◦ Cataracts made it difficult for

outsiders to sail in from the south

Because the villages were protected from invaders, they grew. ◦ Wealthy farmers emerged as

village leaders◦ The villages banded together

and developed into two kingdoms: Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt

Civilization Develops Along the Nile (con’t)