The Nile River

THE LIFELINE OF EGYPT

Giver of life

The river was a part of Egyptian life: Farming Religion Governing Brought people

together. Was a highway

Led to trade, Communication, and Growth

Taker of Life

Little rainfall caused death. Crops died

Too much rainfall caused death Crops died and

people were washed away

Source of Innovation

Farmers were able to predict when the yearly floods would come.

Inundation Egyptian calendar based on it.

Emergence Time to plant crops Floods went away

Harvest Crops were ready

Built dams and canals Shaduf

Long pole with a basket for holding water.

Allows farmers to take water from the river.

Source of Religion

Egyptians used stories about their gods to explain events in nature.

Sun God (Re) Born each Day Died each night

Believed in many gods Controlled the floods of

the Nile Believed in the Afterlife.

You go somewhere when you die.

Prayers were collected in the Book of the Dead.

Unified Egypt

5000 B.C. – small villages appear along the Nile River. Turned into City-States.

Capital was called a Nome.

3500 B.C. -Joined into two large kingdoms

Upper Egypt Lower Egypt

3000 B.C. Menes/Narmer conquers Lower Egypt and unites it.

World’s First Nation State. Lasted 3000 Years

What does living next to a river lead to?

These are the three magic words of the class.

Trade

Communication

Growth