Geography
↑ A modern map of Egypt
↑ A map of ancient Egypt
↑ A map of Egypt's governorates
Q: How did geography impact the ancient Egyptians?
A: Geography impacted the ancient Egyptians by choosing how they farm, choosing how they travel, and how they trade. First of all, geography chooses how they farm. In You Rule it states, “…seasons were marked by changes in the Nile.” and follows by stating, “…called it akhet…farmlands were covered in water.” This shows that during each Egyptian season would be a different part in farming. For example, during the season called peret, the planting would begin. Second, geography affected how they traveled. The geography of Egypt shows that it is surrounded by harsh deserts. So, the ancient Egyptians did not travel on mounts or on foot very often. The geography of Egypt also shows that the Nile, which is a large river running through Egypt, is often flooded. That means that it would be dangerous to sail on the Nile due to it being so unpredictable. The last way to get out of Egypt is via the seas. This would work but it would take a while to get anywhere. Lastly, geography impacted how ancient Egyptians trade. In You Rule it states, “…natural barriers that protect it. To the east and west, the desert…triangle of marshland…rocky rapids…” This shows that not many traders will come due to the geography and harsh landscapes. Also, ancient Egyptians will not always go trade for the same reasons. For example, people do not want to cross strange landscapes where you can yourself killed just to trade. Overall, I think geography has affected the ancient Egyptians by determining how they cultivate crops, choosing how they get to places, and how they exchange goods.
Q: How did the geography of ancient Egypt help agriculture develop?
A: The soil around the Nile River was very rich and fertile due to the periodic flooding. This would make crops flourish and Egyptians could often grow a surplus of crops. Combine this with the predictable flooding of the Nile, means that Egyptians can effectively and successfully grow a large number of crops. With all this extra food, most Egyptians could focus on other tasks, such as inventing. This could result in better tools to farm with. So, agriculture in Egypt advanced extremely fast and very efficiently giving it a edge over other civilizations.
Q: Why was the Nile River important to ancient Egyptians?
A: The Nile River was important to the ancient Egyptians because it assisted them in farming. When Egyptians grew a surplus of crops, other Egyptians could devote their time to other things such as thinking up new ideas. Since they grew a surplus, the Egyptian's population could increase. As a result of this, Egyptians developed new tools, gained knowledge of math and astronomy, and increased the size of their army. With this, Egyptians could gain wealth through tribute and conquering other territories. Following this, the pharaoh and everyone in Egypt would have a decent life. The pharaoh could build many temples and pyramids and Egypt would flourish. The Nile river was the key to success for the ancient Egyptains.
↑Painting from the Tomb of Nakht depicting a bountiful harvest
Q: How were the Egyptians protected by their physical environment?
A: The Egyptians were protected by their environment because the only way to invade Egypt is through the Mediterranean Sea. To the west, there is a vast expanse of desert known as the Western Desert. To the east, there is a desert named the Eastern Desert. To the south, a desert called the Sahara Desert is there to discourage most invaders. Even the way in is hard to navigate. There are lots of dangerous currents, which are known as cataracts. These physical features make it hard to invade Egypt.
Q:How did flooding of the Nile affect the ancient Egyptians?
A: The flooding of the Nile affected the ancient Egyptians because it affected how they farmed. In each of their three seasons, the Egyptains did something different. In the first season, akhet, they watched the Nile flood. The next season, peret, they planted their seeds in the fertile soil. Finally, they harvested the crops in a season called shemu. This could make it very predictable and therefore very easy to farm and grow lots of crops.