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Introduction
Ancient Egypt was one of the oldest civilizations
ever to develop upon the face of the earth. This civilization had its origin
from full-time farmers who established themselves in the valley of the Nile
between 5000 and 4000BC. These farming settlers grew into large regional states
with the passage of time, culminating into the establishment of Upper and Lower
Egypt, by 3500BC.
Emergence
of the Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt
The civilization of Pharaonic Egypt was
made possible by the adoption of agriculture as a way of life from about
4400BC. The main features of this period were:
a)
The establishment of village communities
or permanent settlement.
b)
The domestication of plants and animals
(Wheat, Barley, Cattle, Sheep and Goat) which served as a source of food.
By 3400BC small farming communities had
grown in the Nile Valley. Among these were Fayum (in middle Egypt), Merinde, Badari and Naquada where Wheat
and Barley were cultivated and livestock kept. They made simple rough pottery
for cooking and storage. Some of the pottery was decorated with painted
designs. The people also engaged in both internal and external trade. Evidence
of external trade has been made possible by discovery of materials such as
copper objects and pieces of Cedar wood which were not indigenous to Egypt.
Early traders possibly used overland route that went through Palestine and
Syria into Western Asia. Villages in the Nile valley started to grow into towns
after 3400BC. Houses in these areas were rectangular in shape and were built of
mud bricks.
Some of these towns appeared to have been
fortified. Around 3100B, the towns were unified into two main kingdoms. These
were:
a) Lower Egypt (Extending from the
shores of the Mediterranean to the apex of the Nile Delta).
b) Upper Egypt (Stretching from the apex
of the Nile Delta to Aswan)
Initially, Upper and Lower Egypt were
ruled as separate states, but they were unified as one kingdom under Narmer
(Menes), the first Pharaoh (King) of ancient Egypt. A united Egypt had its
capital at Memphis. Egypt became the first country in the ancient world to
establish a civilized Monarchical state. It was also from Egypt that Europe
received the first element of civilized life.
Narmer, the first Pharaoh (King) of ancient Egypt was regarded not as a mortal but a god into the guise of a man. Egyptian kings are called Pharaohs which also means from “Great house”.
Economic
activities by the people of Fayum (Egypt)
The people of Fayum in middle Egypt were
engaged in the following economic activities. These include:
i.
Cultivation of crops
ii.
Livestock rearing
iii.
Fishing in the Nile
iv.
Making of pottery for cooking and storage
v.
Trading with outside people
The
importance of the Nile to the Egyptians
As the people of Egypt
were mainly farmers they relied heavily on the Nile River for the water to
irrigate the land. The irrigation was necessary in view of the fact that the
land was dry on both banks of the river. The over-dependence of the people on the
Nile created a popular adage, which says, “Egypt is the Nile and the Nile is
Egypt”. The Greek historian, Herodotus, who explored Egypt in the 400SBCE
wrote, “Egypt is the gift of the Nile”, and that there would be no Egypt
without the Nile.[1]
Without the river, farming activities could have been impossible in the
kingdom. The following are some of the various ways in which Egyptians benefited
from the Nile;
1.
One benefit that Egypt derived from
the Nile was the deposit of Silt for farming. The Nile River deposited silt on
its banks which helped agricultural activity. The River flooded its banks in
July and the silt (fine soil found on river bottoms) left behind assisted to fertilize
the land for agriculture. The farmers plough the soil using oxen and grow crops
such as wheat, barley, cotton, olive
trees and vegetables
2.
Another benefit Egypt derived from
the Nile was the invention of the Shaduf.
The Nile encouraged the people to make further technological breakthrough. The
farmers invented the Shaduf, a simple machine which consisted of a bucket and a
pole fixed with a pivotal device. Usually, the pole was provided with a pivot
with the bucket hanging from one end of the pole. The bucket was lowered into
the river to fetch the water. After the bucket had been filled, it was then
poured into the canal to be distributed to all parts of the farmland so that
the dry lands can be properly irrigated.
3.
Also, the Egyptians derived
commercial farming from the Nile. The Nile helped the people to cultivate not
only for domestic uses, but for export, particularly surplus food. Crops that
were cultivated included wheat, barley, sugarcane, vegetables and cotton.
4.
The Nile River brought about
transportation and shipbuilding. The Nile facilitated in land transport system.
People travelled across the river in boats to buy and exchange commodities.
Besides, the river encouraged the people to build ships for external trade with
neigbours of the Nile Valley like Nubia and Axum.
5.
The Nile River was used for defensive
purposes by the Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians used the river to defend
themselves against their enemies and also to attack the less powerful
communities around them. They built Navies on the Nile to defend the
territories of Egypt and to expand its boundaries. For instance, it was the use
of the Nile which helped the Egyptians to derive away the Hyksos in 1750BC. It
was that same River that the Egyptians used in their conquest of Syria,
Palestine and Mesopotamia (modern Iraq).
6.
The Nile River encouraged large-scale
fishing. The Nile was beneficial to the people as it enabled them to engage in
much fishing. Fishes caught in the river was used for domestic consumption and
export. The Nile was also used for domestic chores and it included cooking,
drinking, washing etc. The Nile was also used for building purposes,
essentially the building of the Pyramids.
Past
Questions.
1. Outline
any four benefits the Pharaonic Egyptians derived from the Nile
2. Describe
any four agricultural practices of the Pharaonic Egyptians.
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