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I can use this resource in lessons 2 and 3 to help students explore the Nile River and its impact on Egyptian agriculture. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it provides a variety of visual and kinesthetic activity suggestions that can engage English learners and enhance their understanding.

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I can use this resource to engage students and activate prior knowledge of their map skills in a warm-up activity. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it visually and kinesthetically engages English learners and enhances their understanding.

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Sources: Esri, USGS | Esri, FAO, NOAA, USGS

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I can use this resource in lesson 2 to provide students with more context on the Nile River. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it provides a list of vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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Resource

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

The Nile River flows over 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) until emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, the river has provided a source of irrigation to transform the dry area around it into lush agricultural land. Today, the river continues to serve as a source of irrigation, as well as an important transportation and trade route.

Subjects

Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations

Image

Women and Children on the Banks of the Nile

Even today, families come to the banks of the Nile River to gather water for their day, against the backdrop of ancient Egyptian ruins.

Photograph by David Boyer

The Nile River flows from south to north through eastern Africa. It begins in the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria (located in modern-day Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya), and empties into the Mediterranean Sea more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) to the north, making it one of the longest river in the world. The Nile River was critical to the development of ancient Egypt. In addition to Egypt, the Nile runs through or along the border of 10 other African countries, namely, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Its three main tributaries are the White Nile, the Blue Nile, and the Atbara.

The soil of the Nile River delta between El Qâhira (Cairo) and the Mediterranean Sea is rich in nutrients, due to the large silt deposits the Nile leaves behind as it flows into the sea. The banks of the Nile all along its vast length contain rich soil as well, thanks to annual flooding that deposits silt. From space, the contrast between the Nile's lush green river banks and the barren desert through which it flows is obvious.

For millennia, much of Egypt's food has been cultivated in the Nile delta region. Ancient Egyptians developed irrigation methods to increase the amount of land they could use for crops and support a thriving population. Beans, cotton, wheat, and flax were important and abundant crops that could be easily stored and traded.

The Nile River delta was also an ideal growing location for the papyrus plant. Ancient Egyptians used the papyrus plant in many ways, such as making cloth, boxes, and rope, but by far its most important use was in making paper. Besides using the river's natural resources for themselves and trading them with others, early Egyptians also used the river for bathing, drinking, recreation, and transportation.

Today, 95 percent of Egyptians live within a few kilometers of the Nile. Canals bring water from the Nile to irrigate farms and support cities. The Nile supports agriculture and fishing. The Nile also has served as an important transportation route for thousands of years. Today, some residents of El Qâhira (Cairo) have begun using private speed boats, water taxis, or ferries to avoid crowded streets. Dams, such as the Aswân High Dam in Egypt, have been built to help to tame the river and provide a source of hydroelectric power.

However, the silt and sediment that used to flow north, enriching the soil and building the delta, is now building up behind the dam instead. Instead of growing in size through the soil deposits, the delta is now shrinking due to erosion along the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, routine annual flooding no longer occurs along parts of the Nile. These floods were necessary to flush and clean the water of human and agricultural waste. As a result, the water is becoming more polluted.

The Nile River also continues to be an important trade route, connecting Africa with markets in Europe and beyond.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Director

Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society

Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society, National Geographic Society

Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

August 2, 2023

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

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The Nile River flows over 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) until emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, the river has provided a source of irrigation to transform the dry area around it into lush agricultural land. Today, the river continues to serve as a source of irrigation, as well as an important transportation and trade route.

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I used this resource in lesson 1 to teach students the elements of maps and create a word wall. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it provided a list of vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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Geographers organize information into five themes. When we want to learn about a certain country, city, region, etc., we use the Five Themes of Geography . For each of the Five…

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I used this resource in lesson 1 to provide more context on map analysis and the elements of maps. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it provided a visual representation of the elements of a map. Also, it reiterated vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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NewsELA Ancient Egypt Agriculture Article

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NewsELA Ancient Egypt Agriculture Article

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I can use this resource in lesson 3 to provide students with more context on ancient Egypt’s agriculture. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it accurately depicts ancient Egypt’s agriculture and provides visuals alongside the text.

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I can use this resource as an extension activity to engage students and deepen their understanding of ancient Egypt. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it is an engaging and interactive way for students to deepen their understanding. Also, I can use this as a way to assess student understanding and inform my instruction in future lessons.

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For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

Media

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

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Test your knowledge of ancient Egypt with this fun Kahoot!

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I used this resource to provide more context on life in ancient Egypt. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it visually represents the content. Also, it provides a list of vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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The ancient Egyptian civilization, famous for its pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and tombs, flourished for thousands of years. But what was its lasting impact? Watch the video below to learn how ancient Egypt contributed to modern-day society with its many cultural developments, particularly in language and mathematics.

Subjects

Anthropology, Archaeology, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations

Idea for Use in the Classroom
The world of ancient Egypt is different from students' contemporary lives in many respects. The Ancient Egypt 101 video (above) is an ideal place to start them on their exploration of that civilization. Before they watch the video, have student volunteers to share any information they already know about ancient Egypt. Ask: What do you know about the pyramids? Are you familiar with any Egyptian pharaohs? After watching the video once, as a whole class, watch it a second time, section by section, and make a list of topics reflecting the major themes of the video. Discuss how students' prior knowledge fits into this schema. Your class list may look something like this:

Dates

Locations

Development into an empire

Important leaders and their roles

Religious beliefs

Practices related to religious beliefs

STEM innovations and their uses

Writing system innovations and their uses

How the empire ended

For each topic, discuss how thorough students feel their knowledge is after the video. Divide the class into three groups to brainstorm ancient Egyptian topics they would like to know more about. Ask: What are some topics that the video did not cover, or covered only a little? For example, the students may note that they would like to know about ancient Egyptian economics, relationships with neighboring states, social structures, or the arts beyond pyramids and tombs. Have each group record the results of their brainstorming in a list. After each group presents its list to the class, have each student use the discussion to generate a research question to explore during the study of ancient Egypt.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Director

Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society

Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society, National Geographic Society

Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

September 27, 2022

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

Media

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The ancient Egyptian civilization, famous for its pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and tombs, flourished for thousands of years. But what was its lasting impact? Watch the video below to learn how ancient Egypt contributed to modern-day society with its many cultural developments, particularly in language and mathematics.

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I can use this resource in lesson 3 to provide students with more context on farming in ancient Egypt. I can divide the reading into sections and do a Jigsaw activity with it. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it accurately depicts ancient Egypt’s farming and reiterates vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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Painting on tomb walls at Deir el-Medineh depicting farming

Egypt could never have sustained its massive empire unless it enjoyed the security brought by self-sufficiency in the basic essentials of life. The most important of these was food.

Living on fertile ground

Fortunately for the pharaohs, ancient Egypt was located on the banks of the Nile, the longest river in the world. From June to October each year, the Nile flooded the surrounding countryside, before receding again over the winter.

Every time the Nile waters ebbed away, they left rich silt on the previously flooded plains. This made the soil along the Nile extremely fertile, enabling the farmers to enjoy good harvests year in, year out. They planted their crops every February, after the Nile had receded back to the river bed, and harvested them each June, shortly before the floods came.

Bread and beer

The fertile soil meant that Egypt's farmers could grow a huge variety of crops. The most basic of these were emmer wheat and barley. These were used to make bread, the staple of the Egyptian diet, as well as cakes and beer, which were often flavored with spices, honey or dates. The bread was often supplemented by lentils, garlic, peas and fava beans.

Fruit and veg

Egyptians also ate a wide variety of vegetables and fruit. Lettuces, cucumbers, leeks, onions and radishes could all be grown in the fertile floodplains. There were also plenty of orchards, in which pomegranates, dates, melons and figs were grown.

Many estates by the Nile had vineyards (the Egyptians liked their wine), while the floodplains also provided fertile ground for flax and the castor-oil plant, both of which contained oils used for cooking and medicine.

Lunch that walks

Although meat and poultry were too expensive for most Egyptians to eat everyday, they were a common sight in the countryside. Ducks and geese lived along the banks of the Nile, and farmers would keep sheep, goats, cattle and pigs, as well as donkeys, the basic working animal in ancient Egypt.

Of course, the Nile itself was a fantastic source of fresh fish, including perch, catfish and tilapia. What's more, during the summer flood, huge numbers of water birds would flock to the Nile. These were often trapped or snared to provide a little seasonal variety on the dinner table.

Ancient flood technology

The Egyptians made the most of the flood season in other ways too. They built embankments and dykes along the Nile to control the flow of water, so that the flooding would give maximum benefit to the farming areas without threatening nearby buildings and villages.

The dykes helped Egyptian farmers to take advantage of natural depressions in the floodplain, called flood basins. Water was allowed to flow downhill from one basin to another, and artificial channels were built to take water to far-flung areas if the floodwater was low in any given year.

The post is here

During the New Kingdom, farmers invented a new way of lifting floodwater, known as shaduf. A cross-pole was attached to a post in the ground: one end had a container attached; the other had a counter-weight. The container was filled with water from a channel before being raised up by the counterweight and swung to where the farmer wanted the water to go.

Although this may not seem much today, over 3,000 years ago it was the height of farming technology. The shaduf helped Egyptian farmers to spread the water around, fertilizing dry areas and so extracting the maximum benefit from seasonal flooding, keeping Egypt fed and fit for action.

Where to Next:
Natural Resources
Day in the Life - Farmer

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Egypt's Golden Empire . New Kingdom | PBS

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Painting on tomb walls at Deir el-Medineh depicting farming Egypt could never have sustained its massive empire unless it enjoyed the security brought by self-sufficiency in the basic essentials of life. The most important of these was food. Living on fertile ground Fortunately for the pharaohs, ancient Egypt was located on the banks of the Nile, the longest river in the world.

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I can use this resource in lesson 3 to provide students with more context on ancient Egypt’s natural resources. I can divide the reading into sections and do a Jigsaw activity with it. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it accurately depicts ancient Egypt’s farming and reiterates vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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The river Nile was central to the development of Egyptian civilization

Egypt's dominance of the ancient world was a result of more than just determination and brute force. Ancient Egypt was blessed with an abundance of natural resources - not least the river Nile.

The Nile provided vast amounts of fertile land and was a major route for communications and travel - it was the freeway of ancient Egypt. Boats moved cattle, grain and soldiers across the Kingdom and the Nile linked Egypt's provincial centers to its capital, Thebes. This enabled Egypt to function as an integrated kingdom, rather than a collection of independent provinces.

The golden touch

Egypt also had many other natural resources that helped it achieve new levels of wealth and sophistication. The most important of these was gold. Egypt's gold turned it into a superpower, respected and courted by friends and enemies alike. Gold-bearing rocks were crushed and the fragments carried to the river by donkeys, where they would be washed and the precious nuggets extracted.

Salt of the earth

The desert regions also gave Egypt a rich supply of salts, particularly natron, brine and soda. These were used in medicine, to preserve and flavor food and to tan animal hide.

Natron was used to make ceramics and glass, and to solder precious metals together: it was even used as a mouthwash. Mixed with salt, it was used to preserve fish, meat and to mummify dead bodies; mixed with oil, it became an early form of soap.

Rock solid

The deserts around Egypt also provided building materials for temples, palaces and tombs. Sandstone and limestone were quarried and shaped without any machinery or cutting tools. Instead, wedges were pushed into channels cut into blocks of rock to split stones away from the rest of the rock.

Getting the most from your vegetables

Flax, a winter vegetable, was also essential. Flax had two main uses: oil and fiber. The flax stems were combed to remove the bolls, which contained linseed oil. The remaining fibers were spun to make linen threads, which could then be woven into clothing, sheets and blankets.

Out of the woods

One natural resource Egypt lacked was good quality timber. Although palm trees were used in construction, other native trees, such as sycamore, acacia and tamarisk, were usually too knotty and brittle to be used in construction or for top quality decorations. Instead, these trees were used for firewood and charcoal. They were also turned into furniture and coffins for ordinary Egyptians. Someone with enough money could improve their coffin's appearance by covering it with ivory, ebony and other expensive woods. Any other woods were easily imported from abroad, usually from the Lebanon.

Reed all about it

Egyptians had a winning way with reeds, which grew in huge numbers beside the Nile. Reeds were the material with a million uses: they were turned into mats, baskets and sandals, while the mud they grew in was used as clay for pottery and bricks.

They also had a massive supply of papyrus, a plant that grew in marshes and swamps near the Nile. Papyrus was used to make paper. The stalks were sliced into strips: these were then laid over each other and beaten to make a sheet.

Because it could quickly be written on with pen and ink, and easily rolled up and carried, papyrus soon became indispensable. Bureaucrats could now ensure that a famine could be averted and its soldiers properly supplied. Lessons could be learned and knowledge could be stored, bringing Egypt to new levels of efficiency. While its power was based primarily on gold, it was papyrus that gave Egypt its sophistication.

Where to Next:
Farming
Art & Architecture

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Egypt's Golden Empire . New Kingdom | PBS

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The river Nile was central to the development of Egyptian civilization Egypt's dominance of the ancient world was a result of more than just determination and brute force. Ancient Egypt was blessed with an abundance of natural resources - not least the river Nile.

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A Day in the Life of the Egyptian Farmer Article

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A Day in the Life of the Egyptian Farmer Article

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I can use this resource in lesson 3 to provide students with more context on ancient Egypt’s agriculture. I can encourage students to make connections, compare, and contrast their lives to Egyptian farmers’ lives. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it accurately depicts ancient Egypt’s farmers and provides context to authentic experiences of ancient Egyptian farmers.

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Egypt's Golden Empire . Special Features . A Day in the Life . Farmer | PBS

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Life for a farmer is governed by the sun. As it rises on another hot day in the Egyptian countryside, Shenti wakes up and throws off the rough linen sheet that was woven by his wife. He crawls out of bed to wash, shave and get dressed.

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I can use this resource in lesson 4 to provide students with more context on ancient Egypt’s trading practices. I can divide the reading into sections and do a Jigsaw activity with it. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it provides visuals alongside the text and reiterates vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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Ancient Egypt enjoyed an abundance of natural resources and wealth but wasn't able to achieve self-sufficiency, so it relied on trade, which is considered to be one of the most vital aspects of any civilization, whether it was on a local or international scale.

The geographic strategic location of the ancient Egyptian kingdom opened the door for international trade, which elevated the lives of everyone who took part in it. For three millennia, ancient Egypt traded countless goods with various kingdoms like Nubia, Kush, and Punt.

History of the Ancient Egyptian Trade

History of the Ancient Egyptian Trade - Egypt Tours Portal

The history of the ancient Egyptian trade goes back to the time of the Early Dynastic period ( 3050-2686 BC), which marked the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. Then followed the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC), where trade increased because of the elevation of art and architecture and the centralized administration of agricultural products. In the middle kingdom of ancient Egypt (2134-1690 BC), Nubian gold and minerals became valuable trade goods. During the new kingdom of ancient Egypt (1549-1069 BC), the import of bronze and exotic woods plus the restoration of historic trade routes and networks, towards the end of the new kingdom between 672 BC and 332 BC, Egypt fell under the control and conquest of Assyria, Babylon, and Macedonia that brought new trade opportunities but was surrounded by great oppression of the Egyptian public.

During the Ptolemaic dynasty ( 332-30 BC), trade rose to a new level after the establishment of the city of Alexandria, which was considered a second capital of the Hellenistic times; the city was a symbol of art, culture, a foreign power, and trade center of Chinese silk, Asian gems, hardwood from northern Europe and spices from the far orient. The trade of ancient Egypt had its ups and downs, but it all came to an end after the death of Cleopatra in 30. After the Egyptian trade attracted traders from Phoenicia, Greece, Persia, and India, everything became under the control of the Roman Empire for many centuries to come.

The Types of Goods that the Ancient Egyptians Used For Trading

Goods of Ancient Egypt Trade - Egypt Tours Portal

The types of goods they traded were diverse, reflecting Egypt's rich resources and the various needs and luxuries of the ancient world. Here are some of the primary goods ancient Egyptians used for trading:

● Wood

Ancient Egyptians had most of everything they needed within their country's bordures, but their environmental condition prevented some goods from existing in a mass quality, like wood, which existed of inferior quality and was the main material used for the creation of ships, houses, and furniture, so in the old kingdom, Egypt established an economic relationship with the Byblos kingdom on the Lebanese coast which became one of its closest allies for two millennia. The ancient Egyptians imported cedar wood, which was used to build naval ships defending the country against foreign forces like the sea people. They also imported numerous varieties of hardwoods like ebony and fragrant wood from Africa.

● Metal

Egypt didn't enjoy a rich quality of metal; it had a small number of gold deposits with little silver, iron, copper, and lead, which didn't fully satisfy the country's metallic needs. Egypt began the conquests of Nubia and the Sinia and exploited their gold and copper mines, which had positive improvements and international consequences. The ancient Egyptians shipped the copper from Cyprus, and they used significant amounts of gold that were traded with Asiatic kings to gain their political support in favor of the Egyptian empire. Asiatic copper was a natural bronze alloy that was produced using tin.

● Jewelry & Precious Stones

The ancient Egyptians took a major interest in precious stones and luxury goods. The land of the punt was the main source of resins of myrrh, frankincense, and fragrant wood, which was used as incense and the preparation of certain products. They imported lapis lazuli from the northern land of Kush in Bactria. From eastern Iran and Afghanistan, vegetable oils, eye paints, and cosmetics were imported. During the Roman era, glass products were manufactured in Alexandria. Many materials like Turquoise, gold, agate, carnelian, and other precious gems were carried on the Oxus road from the Persian Gulf overland to Egypt or by ships around the Arabian Peninsula or the Canal of Nile-Red Sea.

● Cattle & Animals

Many animal products from West and South Africa found their way to Egypt, like Ivory, ostrich feathers & eggs, and leopard and lion skins. Many cattle and animals were introduced to the ancient Egyptian kingdom, like horses, which appeared for the first time in the 13th dynasty and were highly famous in the time of the Hyksos; chickens were brought from India in the new kingdom, and camels became very common in Egypt during the Persian conquest. Also, a number of domestic animals, such as donkeys, goats, sheep, dogs, and cats, were introduced to Egypt in prehistoric times.

● Agriculture & Crops

Egypt was the leading producer of grains in the ancient world, but they did not have enough corn, which was imported from the ancient kingdom of Lebanon. It also sold dates abroad all across the Roman Empire. Egypt was the only producer of papyrus in the Mediterranean region. It produced some sort of paper and remained the main writing material in Europe until the end of the Middle Ages, and it was marketed in the form of long rolls. Egypt also exported artifacts, as in Byblos of Levant statues and sarcophagi have been found, and amulets, scarabs, and rings were found in Malta, plus beads made from faience and torch holders. With the land of punt, Egyptian weapons, jewelry, and mirrors were exchanged with frankincense, exotic woods, and ivory.

● Transportation

Ancient Egypt was successful in controlling the flow of goods all over the world from Africa to Europe and the Near East. They transported their merchandise by ship as in the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the lighthouse of Alexandria was constructed to symbolize the extreme value and importance of shipbuilding and sea trade as the lighthouse was used to facilitate and increase the goods transported from all the corners of Africa, but the ancient Egyptians also resorted to other methods as the limitations of the ships rigging prevented them from sailing into the wind and the storms of the Mediterranean and the red sea & the cataracts of the Nile. The alternative methods were the crossing of the eastern and western desert, camels and caravanserais were ideal, and the usage of chariots, which took full advantage of the wheel technology between 1674 BC and 1549 BC.

● System of Management

The concept of trade can be defined as an exchange of goods between merchants, which was solely handled by scribes as representatives of mainly the kings or the priests. Trade was organized by a central authority, and there was no trace of middlemen to profit from these exchanges. In short, there were no government-sponsored incentives for trade in ancient Egypt, as the king owned all the land and the entire produce. The king was ordained by the gods and served as the mediator between the gods and the public; he, therefore, was recognized as the land's legitimate steward. But in reality, from the time of the Old Kingdom onward, the Cult of Amun owned large tracts of land that were tax-exempt. Since there was no law prohibiting priests from engaging in trade, and the entire profit went to the temple instead of the crown, it allowed the priests to live as extravagant as royalty. The traders in ancient races, like the Asiatic merchants who traded Iranian goods of metal and precious stones into Egypt to protect the merchants and the trade, a police force and armed guards protected the caravans from theft, the border crossing, collected tolls and kept a close eye on everyone who might cause them harm and damage.

Ancient Egyptian Trade Routes

Ancient Egyptian Trade Routes - Egypt Tours Portal

Trade was able to leave a lasting impact on ancient Egyptian society, art, and technology, plus the entire world, as trade made the whole world like a small village where traders and merchants took many routes across land and waters to export and import their goods. There used to be a historically significant land route that passed through Wadi Hammamat, thus connecting the Nile River to the Red Sea, dating back to pre-dynastic times. This pathway facilitated travel from Thebes to the Red Sea's Elim port and contributed to the growth of ancient cities along its route. During the Old Kingdom of Egypt (2700 - 2500 BC), the Darb el-Arbain served as a vital trade route for various commodities like gold, ivory, spices, wheat, animals, and plants. This route linked Kharga in the south to Asyut in the north, thus becoming a crucial passage between Nubia and Egypt. Egyptians displayed early maritime prowess, constructing ships around 3000 BCE through the innovative method of binding wooden planks and filling gaps with reeds. The Mediterranean Sea established trade with powerful civilizations across the Mediterranean, including Byblos (known for its cedar wood), and the Aegean islands provided access to new resources and cultural influences.

Many historical figures like Pharaoh Sahure of the Fifth Dynasty and Queen Hatshepsut engaged in maritime trades in all directions. Sahure dispatched ships to Lebanon for cedar and to the Land of Punt for myrrh, malachite, and electrum. Queen Hatshepsut famously organized expeditions to Punt for myrrh, expanding Egyptian trade to regions now known as modern-day Somalia and the Mediterranean. The roots of the Suez Canal's concept trace back to the ancient era, which aimed to link the Nile River and the Red Sea for strategic and commercial purposes with beliefs suggesting that Pharaohs Senusret II or III from the Twelfth Dynasty initiated an early form of the canal project which inspired the creation of the Aswan High Dam in the 60s.

Countries & Partners Ancient Egyptians Traded With

Countries & Partners Ancient Egyptians Traded With - Egypt Tours Portal

The ancient Egyptian traders established a massive network across Africa, the Near East, and the Mediterranean, where all kinds of goods were traded, and the fate of the world was changing for the better. Egyptian traders went all across Africa by land and water, which included Nubia, found in southern Egypt, where materials like gold, ivory, ebony, and precious stones were provided all the time. The land of punt in modern-day Somalia or Eritrea was a trade partner that offered Egyptians myrrh, frankincense, resins, and exotic animals like baboons and giraffes. Near East Africa, the kingdom of Byblos, present-day Lebanon, was a crucial partner for the Egyptians, providing cedar wood that was used in creating ships and coffins. The kingdom of Canaan was the main source of wine, olive oil, and textiles that enriched the lives of Egyptians and fueled their export trade.

The lands of Syria and Mesopotamia were the main providers of metals, glass, textiles, and even horses, plus the cultural and knowledge exchange was able to influence art, architecture, and religious beliefs on both sides. The connection between Egypt and the Islands of Aegean was deep, where pottery and papyrus were exchanged at that time. The Phoenicians were renowned traders in the Mediterranean and had trade relations with Egypt, exchanging goods like cedar wood, glass, and dyes. The Minoans from Crete were also part of the trading network with Egypt for goods like pottery, metals, and possibly luxury items. The one thing that ancient Egyptians traded with all their partners and neighboring countries included ideas and technologies.

Ancient Egyptian Trade Ships

Ancient Egyptian Trade Ships - Egypt Tours Portal

Egypt's strategic location between Africa, Asia, and Europe enabled it to become a significant trading hub in the ancient world for centuries as the Nile River facilitated this trade by providing a natural transportation route for goods to move in and out of Egypt plus the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea enabled the exchange of these goods with their neighboring countries in the most ideal and swift manner. They used various types of boats and ships for trade, which included Papyrus Boats, which were among the earliest vessels used by the ancient Egyptians.

They were made from bundles of papyrus reeds lashed together and could range from small, simple boats to larger vessels used for trade along the Nile. River Boats, on the other hand, were designed for navigating the Nile River and were usually flat-bottomed with a simple design suited for calm waters. Seagoing Ships were built for maritime trade in the Mediterranean Sea as they were sturdier and capable of handling rougher waters. Cargo ships were used to transport goods, including foodstuffs and luxury items like gold, ivory, spices, and other materials for trade along the Nile and across the Mediterranean.

How Trade Affected Ancient Egyptian Culture

How Trade Affected Ancient Egyptian Culture - Egypt Tours Portal

Trade was the magical door that opened a whole new world filled with endless riches that led to the entire evolution and development of the entire ancient Egyptian civilization by transforming Egypt into a powerful regional force. Trade played a highly important role in the flourishing of the economy by exporting and importing valuable resources like gold, papyrus, linen, grain, ivory, timber, and incense, thus bolstering the Pharaoh's wealth and enabling the construction of incredible monumental projects like pyramids and temples. Trade also offered the chance for all professionals of craftspeople, artists, and shipbuilders to harness and enhance their skills by working on different and more luxurious materials, thus fostering a vibrant culture of innovation and refinement in craftsmanship by developing new artistic styles, techniques, and technologies like shipbuilding, navigation, metallurgy, and agricultural methods.

The way the ancient Egyptians expressed their art changed with time through trade, as seen across the artistic and architectural works of the ancient Egyptians in Upper Egypt. Trade is able to create a bridge where it is easy to exchange ideas and beliefs about ancient deities, myths, and religious practices from neighboring cultures often infiltrated ancient Egyptian religion thus adding new layers of complexity, meaning, and diversity. Interactions with foreign traders enriched the Egyptian language with loanwords and contributed to the development of the complex hieroglyphic writing system, and the inspiration of the creation of other writing systems in different countries. Trade also led to the creation of many political and diplomatic relationships between many countries that made many periods of prosperity and peace. The spread and rise of trade brought changes in the rigid social hierarchy by creating the middle class, merchant class, and elite class.

Ancient Egyptian Trade Facts

Ancient Egyptian Trade Facts - Egypt Tours Portal

Egypt's location along the Nile River made it a hub for trade. The river provided a natural route for transportation and facilitated trade between the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East.

Egypt was famous for exporting various goods, including papyrus, linen, grain, gold, ivory, precious metals, and stones like limestone and granite. Papyrus, used for writing and making scrolls, was one of the most significant exports.

Luxury items like incense, spices, ebony, and other exotic goods from far-off lands were also traded in Egypt. These items were highly prized among the elite class.

Trade significantly contributed to the wealth and prosperity of ancient Egypt, allowing them to acquire rare resources and establish their dominance in the ancient world.

The Nile River was not only vital for transportation but also for agriculture. It facilitated the movement of goods from Upper Egypt to Lower Egypt and helped sustain a surplus of agricultural products for trade.

Ancient Egypt traded with neighboring regions such as Nubia (present-day Sudan), the Levant, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean civilizations (Greece, Rome, and Phoenicia). They had extensive trade relations with regions as far as the Indus Valley.

Trade often occurred through a barter system where goods were exchanged directly, but there was also the use of standardized weights and measures for more complex transactions.

Key trade routes included both overland routes and maritime routes. Overland routes connected Egypt to Nubia and the Levant, while maritime routes connected it to the Mediterranean, allowing for trade with Greece, Rome, and other Mediterranean civilizations.

Ancient Egyptian cities like Memphis and Thebes were significant trade centers. Ports like Alexandria, situated on the Mediterranean coast, played a crucial role in facilitating international trade.

Trade wasn't just about goods but also about cultural exchange and diplomatic relations. It led to the sharing of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and customs among civilizations.

Adventure Tours to Ancient Egypt

Egypt has always been the home of wealth, art, and beauty since the beginning of time and you have the chance to enjoy one of our Egypt private packages to discover all the hidden secrets of this great nation in Cairo & Alexandria cities and explore the true meaning of true beauty by boarding a Nile river cruise to the majestic cities of Luxor, and Aswan and enjoy the enchanting beaches of Hurghada.

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Explore the ancient Egyptian trade history, goods, routes, trading partners, ships, cultural impact, and fascinating facts in this comprehensive article.

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Ancient Egypt Trade and Transport Reading

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Ancient Egypt Trade and Transport Reading

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I can use this resource in lesson 4 to provide students with more context on ancient Egypt’s trading practices. I can divide the reading into sections and do a Jigsaw activity with it. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it accurately depicts ancient Egypt’s trade and reiterates vocabulary terms that can be used to support English learners in learning domain-specific vocabulary.

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MFG LibGuides All: Ancient Egyptian Life: Trade and transport

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Resources to support the Year 7 Humanities unit on Ancient Egyptian Life

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I can use this resource in any of my lessons to help students take notes. I chose this as a multicultural/diverse resource because it can support learners in organizing their thoughts and comprehending texts.