The physical features of Ancient Egypt
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Geographical Setting
Egypt is at the northeast corner of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered on the west by Libya, on the south by the Sudan, and on the east by the Red Sea and Israel.
Natural Features
Egypt has many natural features, some of them are:
- Nile River that runs down the middle of Egypt
- The arid desert to the east and west
- The fertile Nile Valley and Delta, and the waterfalls of the Nile.
Ancient Egyptians believed that Egypt was divided into two sections - Kemet, the 'black land' which referred to the fertile land on the banks of the Nile, and Deshret, the ‘red land’ which was the arid desert.
Importance of geographical setting and natural features in Egypt's development
- The water from the Nile river was used for many things like; irrigation, washing clothes, drinking water etc. Water was and still is very precious for people who live in Egypt because it is a dry desert.
- The deserts of Egypt also provide a big supply of salts, including natron, brine and soda.
- The geography of the area influenced where the Ancient Egyptians built most of their civilisation.
- The harsh climate pushed the early Egyptian tribes toward the Nile River Valley, where the long, strong river kept the surrounding areas lush and green through regular flooding. This allowed the civilisation to thrive even in the hot, dry desert. Egyptian culture and daily life revolved around the river because it brought the different seasons.
- The stones available in the land determined what kind of buildings the people were able to build, and the abundance of stones to mine led to the many monuments left behind thousands of years later. Without the solid stone available, such things as the pyramids would not have been possible.