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Where is Egypt?
At the Top of Africa
A View of Egypt by Satellite
Where is Egypt?
• Egypt is on the
continent of
Africa.
• The River Nile
runs through
Egypt
The Nile River Valley
• The Nile is the longest river in
the world – almost 4,000 miles
long!!
•
It is shaped like the lotus flower
so often seen in ancient Egyptian
art.
• The Nile flows from south to
north because of the
geography of the land.
• Mountains are to the south and
low lying plains are in the
north.
“Gifts of the Nile”
• The Nile River is
known as the “Giver
of Life.”
• It provided many
things for the
Egyptians to survive:
–
–
–
–
–
Fertile soil for farming
Fishing- food
Fresh water
Transportation
Trade routes
• The Nile was
unfortunately also a
taker of life.
– Many people
accidentally drowned.
– Extreme rainfall
washed away crops.
– Light flooding resulted
in poor soil and crops
would not grow.
Where did the farmers grow their crops?
The Egyptians grew their crops
along the banks of the River
Nile on the rich black soil which
was left behind after the yearly
floods.
The three seasons of
farming
The Egyptians had three seasons of farming,
with four months in each season.
Can you guess what the three seasons were?
The first season
• The first season was the
summer season which in
when the river Nile flooded
the whole land.
• The river Nile flooded
annually. During the floods
Egyptians would mend tools
or make new ones. People
would go fishing for food or
extra money. Many worked
for the Pharaoh during this
season.
• Egyptians would go around
in boats because every
thing else would be under
water.
The second season
•
Once the river Nile had gone down
again and the ground was firm
enough to walk on, the land was
ploughed, usually with the help of an
animal.
•
This was the busiest season for
ancient Egyptians, as the seeds
needed planting and the ground
needed to be maintained.
•
Seed planting was done by hand and
animals followed behind to stamp
the seeds into the ground.
The third season
• When the grain was ready for
harvest, it was cut halfway up the
stalk with sickles. It was then
bundled together and carried to a
safe place.
The third season
• Scribes would write how much
grain had been harvested and
take it to the Pharaoh.
• The harvest would then be taken
away by chariot to be stored.
• The farmers would then repair
the canals ready for the next
flood.
What crops did the Egyptian Farmers grow?
Egyptians grew crops
such as wheat, barley,
vegetables, figs, melons,
pomegranates and vines.
What else did they grow?
They also grew flax which
was made into linen.