Introduction
The Nile River is so massive, that it is the only river that c
an
be seen from outer space. Egypt is referred to the Nile as the “Gift
of the Nile” because it gives them many things. The Nile is the longest
river in the world. It has been a part of Egyptian life since Egypt became
a civilization. All business went through the Nile. The Nile was even the
way to get to different places in Egypt. The Nile has become a part of the
ancient Egyptian’s religion. The Nile is the single most important element
in ancient Egyptian life.
Geography
The Nile River is 4,160 miles long, which is longer than any other river in
the world. It is the only river in the world that flows south to north. The
Nile flows from its 1 million square mile basin, which includes: Lake Victoria,
swamps, deserts, and valleys. The Nile empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Nile starts in the southern hemisphere and flows approximately thirty
degrees of latitude to the northern hemisphere. That is like a river flowing
from the middle of Central America to Green Bay, Wisconsin! When the Nile
flows through Cairo, the cataracts or waterfalls split into two and form the
Nile Delta.
Economy
Everyone, including farmers, merchants, and ordinary citizens, had to use
the Nile to get around Egypt. The reason for this is because the Nile is the
only source of water in one of the largest deserts in the world. Much of the
economy of Egypt is agriculture. In ancient Egypt the only place where a person
could grow crops was along the Nile. Ancient Egyptians grew dates, wheat and
citrus fruits. The Nile floods every year. This is important for agriculture
because it washes the soil to the crops. Unlike in Mesopotamia, the Nile’s
floods are predictable and are not very dangerous. The result is that the
people of the Nile where afraid of the river and where calmer.
Daily Life
Ancient Egyptian life revolved around the Nile and ended at the Nile. They
believed that after a person died their soul was ferried across the Nile to
the burial palace. If a person lived in ancient Egypt there was no chance
of survival without the Nile River. The Nile River was a great natural boundary
for Egypt. They were only bordered by land to the west. The Nile made it impossible
for invaders to overtake Egypt. For invaders to overtake Egypt they would
have to cross the Nile, which would give the Egyptians more then enough time
to prepare for battle. Many things have changed since ancient Egypt, but the
Nile River flows on.