6 13 IDENTIFY AND LOCATE GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF

6. 13 - IDENTIFY AND LOCATE GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF ANCIENT EGYPT, INCLUDING: • MEDITERRANEAN SEA • NILE DELTA • NILE RIVER • RED SEA • THE REGIONS OF UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT • THE SAHARA

GEOGRAPHY AND ANCIENT EGYPT • Egypt is located in Northeast Africa. • It is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, Sudan, Libya, and Saudi Arabia.  • During ancient times, however, all of the land around the Nile was considered Egypt.

THE GIFT OF THE NILE • is the longest river in the world. • runs about 4000 miles from south to north and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. • Two-thirds of Egypt's farming takes place on the delta. • A delta is a triangle-shaped area of land made of soil deposited by a river.

FLOODS OF THE NILE Inundation (flooding) June – September • The Nile’s floods were easier to predict than flood in Mesopotamia. • The year was split into 3 different seasons: 1. The Inundation 2. The Emergence 3. The Drought

THE EMERGENCE • From October to February the land would “emerge” and crops would be planted.

DROUGHT • During this part of the year, the crops would be harvested. • Harvest would take place from February to June. • The Nile made life possible in this part of the world.

EGYPT’S NATURAL BORDERS The Mediterranean Sea • Egyptians were protected from invading peoples by natural barriers. The Sahara Desert e Th Re ea d. S Cataracts, or harsh rapids, protected Egyptians from invaders.

PLANTS AND ANIMALS OF THE NILE AND ANCIENT EGYPT Papyrus Hippos Lilies Crocodiles

ALSO FOUND AROUND THE NILE • Cobras (a symbol of the pharaoh) • Birds like geese, storks, ibis, pelicans, and ducks. • Lions, jackals, and gazelles. • Granite, limestone, and sandstone mines. • Gold, copper, and silver mines.

6. 14 - HOW DID THE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IMPACT LIFE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ANCIENT EGYPT, INCLUDING THE USE OF IRRIGATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A CALENDAR?

AGRICULTURA L PRACTICES • New practices improved the life of Ancient Egyptians through the use of various tools and advancements. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

AGRICULTURA L PRACTICES New practices improved economic growth through the surplus of food.

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES • Irrigation • First dug basins, or bowl-shaped holes to trap floodwaters • Then dug canals to carry water from the basins to fields beyond the rivers reach • Also build dikes, or earthen banks to strengthen the basin walls.

OTHER TOOLS DEVELOPED • Shadoff- a bucket attached to a long pole, to lift water from the Nile to the basins • still used today • Geometry-to survey, or measure, land • Used to survey the field when boundary markers where washed away in floods This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

OTHER TOOLS • Papyrus- a reed plant that grew along the Nile • Used to make baskets, sandals, and river rafts. • Eventually used to make paper

PLOW • Could be pushed or pulled, first by people, then by animals • Plows broke up hard soil making planting easier • Also water could sink more deeply into plowed soil which allowed the plants to receive more water.

EGYPTIAN CALENDAR • The Egyptian calendar was broken down as follows: • One week was ten days. • Three weeks was one month. • Four months was one season. • Three seasons and five holy days was one year. • Each year had 365 days.

EGYPTIAN SEASONS • The first season - was called Akhet, which means flood or inundation. • The second season - was called Proyet, which means emergence. • The third season - was called Shomu, which means low water.