Egypt
Pyramidsandpharaohs,mummiesandmagic,picturewritingonpapyrus—ancientEgypthadallthis,andmuchmore.Rich,powerful,andpeace-loving,thisNorthAfricankingdomwashometoasplendidcivilizationthatlasted3,000years,fromabout3300bcto30bc.
REDLAND,BLACKLAND
AncientEgyptwasavastterritory,stretching700miles(1,100kilometers)southwardfromtheMediterraneanSea.Mostofitwashot,dry,anddusty.TheEgyptianscalleditDeshret(redland).Buttheworld’slongestriver,theNile,runsthroughthisdesert.Everyyear,theriverfloodedthesurroundingland.Thefloodsleftsticky,smellymudcoveringthelandalongtheriverbanks.EgyptianscalledtheriversideareaKemet(blackland).Thislandwasveryfertile.About5000bc,theancientEgyptiansbuiltsomeoftheworld’sfirstfarmsandvillagesthere.
THEGIFTOFTHENILE
Egyptwassometimescalled“thegiftoftheNile.”AllEgyptianlifedependedontheriver.Farmersdugditchestobringitswatertofieldsofwheat,grapes,andonions.Richnobles,towntraders,andpoorcountryfamiliesallbuilthomesmadeofsun-driedrivermud.CraftspeopleshapedclayfromtheNileintopottery,andwoveclothfromtheflaxplantthatgrewonitsbanks.Familiescaughtfishandriverbirdsforfood.Childrenplayedinriversidepools,buttheyhadtowatchoutforkillercrocodiles!
