Egypt is surrounded by key geographical features such as the Mediterranean, the Sahara, and the Red Sea. The Mediterranean and the Red Sea were both used as trading hubs in ancient Egyptian times. The Sahara was important in the sense that it acted as a barrier to invasion from the west. However, ancient Egyptian life completely revolved around the Nile River. The importance of the Nile River to the civilization cannot be stressed enough; if it wasn't for the mighty Nile, the civilization would never have thrived as it did. The ancient Egyptians relied on the river for almost all aspects of their daily lives, such as farming, feeding, traveling, and trading.
The Nile River was (at the time of the civilization) and is to this day the longest river on the planet. It stretches 6,650 kilometers down eastern Egypt and has provided the possibility of life to all sorts of peoples. Ancient Egypt was much like Egypt today in terms of climate and surroundings. It was dry, barren, and simply hot. Contrary to this, the Nile provided a lavish, grassy area which allowed for abundant farming. Every year, the Nile flooded, bringing a rich, black soil called silt. This allowed ancient Egyptians to plant and harvest their crops. The civilization mainly harvested grain, wheat, papyrus reeds, and other fruits and vegetables. The Nile also assisted the farmers in the aspect of animal raising. Meat, milk, and hides were obtained from cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, goats, and oxen.
The Nile River was (at the time of the civilization) and is to this day the longest river on the planet. It stretches 6,650 kilometers down eastern Egypt and has provided the possibility of life to all sorts of peoples. Ancient Egypt was much like Egypt today in terms of climate and surroundings. It was dry, barren, and simply hot. Contrary to this, the Nile provided a lavish, grassy area which allowed for abundant farming. Every year, the Nile flooded, bringing a rich, black soil called silt. This allowed ancient Egyptians to plant and harvest their crops. The civilization mainly harvested grain, wheat, papyrus reeds, and other fruits and vegetables. The Nile also assisted the farmers in the aspect of animal raising. Meat, milk, and hides were obtained from cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, goats, and oxen.
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The ancient Egyptian civilization was broken down into two main regions or areas that functioned independently in a way. The names of these regions are quite contradictory to where they were actually located. Lower Egypt was located to the north of Egypt, mainly including the area of the Nile Delta. Upper Egypt was further south, including most of the area along the Nile below the delta.
The drawn map to the left shows the concentration of activities in the region occupied by the civilization. The northern area, or Lower Egypt, was mostly occupied by traders interested in the Mediterranean. Lower Egypt was where the interaction with other peoples or civilizations occurred - mainly because of the trade.
The southern area, Upper Egypt, dealt with the more internal, civilization-directed affairs, such as the building of pyramids.
Another way the ancient Egyptians classified the area around them was through the terms "black land" and "red land." Black land was the fertile land that surrounded the Nile River - this name was given because of the black silt that was deposited there after the floods. Ancient Egyptians used this classification to determine whether land could be farmed. On the contrary, the red lands were the dry, barren lands dominated by deserts.
The drawn map to the left shows the concentration of activities in the region occupied by the civilization. The northern area, or Lower Egypt, was mostly occupied by traders interested in the Mediterranean. Lower Egypt was where the interaction with other peoples or civilizations occurred - mainly because of the trade.
The southern area, Upper Egypt, dealt with the more internal, civilization-directed affairs, such as the building of pyramids.
Another way the ancient Egyptians classified the area around them was through the terms "black land" and "red land." Black land was the fertile land that surrounded the Nile River - this name was given because of the black silt that was deposited there after the floods. Ancient Egyptians used this classification to determine whether land could be farmed. On the contrary, the red lands were the dry, barren lands dominated by deserts.