Ancient Egypt
Important to survival in ancient Egypt was the River Nile. At 6,853km long,
it is the longest river in the world, starting in the mountains of Tanzania and
flowing through most of north-eastern Africa.
‘Black Land’ ‘Red Land’
In ancient times its soil was rich Egyptians also had ‘red land’,
for growing crops, which fed and which was the red, dry desert where
clothed the people who lived along nothing could grow. It protected
the banks of the Nile. Some of the people of ancient Egypt from
the food grown was also swapped enemies because it was so difficult
for other goods that could not be for invading armies to cross. The
found or made in Egypt. The land ‘red land’ was also full of precious
flooded every year, leaving thick, metals and gems such as gold,
black sand on the ground, which copper, granite, limestone,
made it very good for growing amethyst, alabaster and
plants. This was known as the turquoise.
‘black land’.
Egyptian people relied on the water of the River Nile for drinking
and washing. A useful crop living along the banks of the river
was papyrus reeds. They were dried and used to make a type of
paper. Travelling along the river were traders (people who sold
goods), fishermen and sailors, moving materials such as stones
for building pyramids.
Pharaohs enjoyed cruising up and down
the river. Meanwhile, ordinary Egyptians
created different ways of using the river
water as much as possible. One important
invention was the shaduf. This was
designed to scoop water from the river and
move it so that it could be sprinkled on the
land where crops were growing.
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Ancient Egypt
Questions
1. How long was the River Nile?
2. What does the author mean by the word ‘flowing’?
3. If you could choose to live in the ‘black land’ or the ‘red land’, which area would you
choose to live in and why?
4. Why do you think rivers are so important to people’s live?
5. Name two precious metals found in Egypt.
6. What is a shaduf?
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