The Nile River
("Perry-castañeda library map collection")
Egypt's first known settlements occurred mostly around the notorious Nile River at around 5000 B.C. Because of Egypt's naturally hot and arid climate, the river's lush land brought civilians toward it to begin farming and building a community. Numerous amounts of cultures began to come together and thrive from this famous landmark. The Nile River is a notable source of the beginning of civilization in Egypt (Mark, 2013).
The Nile flooded annually, which allowed crops to survive from summer to summer. The people of Egypt look at this river as a gift and often reflect this in their beliefs.
This river is the largest in Africa, and is used for much more than just farming. The civilians eventually used the river as a tool for communication, trade, and transportation ("Saho").
"Not only is the Egyptian climate peculiar to that country, and the Nile different in the way it behaves from rivers elsewhere, but the manners and customs of the Egyptians themselves seem to be the opposite of the typical practices of mankind’" - Herodotus ("Saho").
The Nile flooded annually, which allowed crops to survive from summer to summer. The people of Egypt look at this river as a gift and often reflect this in their beliefs.
This river is the largest in Africa, and is used for much more than just farming. The civilians eventually used the river as a tool for communication, trade, and transportation ("Saho").
"Not only is the Egyptian climate peculiar to that country, and the Nile different in the way it behaves from rivers elsewhere, but the manners and customs of the Egyptians themselves seem to be the opposite of the typical practices of mankind’" - Herodotus ("Saho").
Earliest Shelter and Housing
The Ancient Egyptians soon realized that they would need to be sheltered from the dangerously hot sun that they lived under. The people began to build villages and building out of "mudbrick". The mud would sit in rectangular molds and bake out in the sun until it was firm and able to use as a stable foundation. (Siverman, 2003). I can only imagine how long this process took, considering the circumstances.
David Silverman explains in his book, Ancient Egypt , of how these "mudbrick" towns were most likely to survive near the desert and away from the floodplains. He also stated, "Among the most meticulously excavated Egyptian houses are those in the planned workers' village that lies just to the east of Akhetaten" (Silverman, 2003). There is much research found about towns and villages built in early Egypt and by whom, often recorded on papyrus or on the insides of the walls.
David Silverman explains in his book, Ancient Egypt , of how these "mudbrick" towns were most likely to survive near the desert and away from the floodplains. He also stated, "Among the most meticulously excavated Egyptian houses are those in the planned workers' village that lies just to the east of Akhetaten" (Silverman, 2003). There is much research found about towns and villages built in early Egypt and by whom, often recorded on papyrus or on the insides of the walls.
First signs of Transportation
("Egypt solar barge," )
The first means of transportation that were noted among the Ancient Egyptians included many simple yet suitable options. The first distinguishable selection of course was walking by foot. Men and women wore sandals as protection from the hot sands, and often carried personal belongings or baskets on their heads to transport them efficiently. (Dollinger, 2001)
The wealthier civilians who could acquire a boat or ferry would use them in canals that were too wide for wading, or rivers, such as the Nile. This major discovery prompted faster communication and more efficient transportation of goods. The remaining people who did not have this fine luxury would use animals such as donkeys, carts, carrying chairs, or would simply walk the long journey. (Dollinger, 2001)
The wealthier civilians who could acquire a boat or ferry would use them in canals that were too wide for wading, or rivers, such as the Nile. This major discovery prompted faster communication and more efficient transportation of goods. The remaining people who did not have this fine luxury would use animals such as donkeys, carts, carrying chairs, or would simply walk the long journey. (Dollinger, 2001)
Population
The people of Egypt were split into regional groups from the start of ancient times. These groups include the Delta, the Nile Valley, and the Eastern and Western Deserts. People of each of these groups tended to live differently from one another. For example, many of the individuals living in the Nile Delta were peasants, while the people of the Nile Valley were more conservative. The Eastern Desert is known to possess approximately 1/8 of Egypt's population and these people mostly live in small towns. Finally, the civilians of the Western Desert were mostly herdsmen and craftsmen that take up a larger amount of the population than the Eastern Desert. The Sinai Peninsula was also a place of settlement that contained mostly people of Arabian decent (Anonymous, 2013).
According to the map below, the Ancient Egyptian population clearly centered around its greatest natural resource as mentioned previously, the Nile River. Its fertile land made for easier living and built a successful society.
According to the map below, the Ancient Egyptian population clearly centered around its greatest natural resource as mentioned previously, the Nile River. Its fertile land made for easier living and built a successful society.
Population - 1950
The above graph shows the Population Pyramid for the year of 1950 in Egypt. One thing I noticed about this graph was the amount of babies being born in this year in the "0-4" age group. About 16 percent of the population was under the age of four in this year which was particularly surprising to me . I assumed that an abundance of women were expected to have many children in order to work for the family, or just to have many babies to populate their families. The lasting legacy of each family is important in any country, but since Egyptians were only living until about 80 years old, the mothers had many children to increase the family's name survival.
Population- 2010
The above graph of the population of Egypt in 2010 is incredibly different from the graph from sixty years prior. The most obvious difference is how much longer Egyptian civilians are living. Compared to 1950, Egyptians in 2010 were expected to live 10 more years than the previous predicted age. In 1950. the expected age of death was about 80 years old while in 2010 it was about 90 years old. This progress shows a very large leap of improvement in the society. One other interesting trend is the decrease in amount of children under the age of four compared to the other graph. Additionally, the larger amount of people found in the 20-30 year old range.
Ancient Egyptian Settlement on Dipity.
Summary
The earliest civilizations in Ancient Egypt settled around the Nile Valley because of its diverse and plentiful advantages to the society. The country itself being so hot and dry was "blessed" with this gift to help the people thrive in such a harsh desert. People began to farm and use agriculture to feed themselves, being lucky that the Nile would flood annually. By around 4500 B.C, boats and ships were used for transportation needs of goods and people ("Bm and ag",). The first walled towns were built of mud to keep the civilians sheltered from the hot sun around 3000 B.C ("Bm and ag",). The population was very dense around the Nile Valley at the beginning of Egypt's time because of the immense opportunities of agricultural success.
References:
Anonymous. (2013). Egypt. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/180382/Egypt/43455/Settlement-patterns
Bm and ag for kids. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/access/egypt/timeline_egypt.htm
Dollinger, A. (2001). Ancient egypt: Means of transportation. Retrieved from http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/means_of_transportation.htm
Mark, J. (2013). Ancient encyclopedia history. Retrieved from http://www.ancient.eu.com/egypt/
Saho. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/nile-river-and-its-influence-settlement
Silverman, D. (2003). Ancient egypt. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=x7p_QMIjESwC&dq=egyptian settlement&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Maps:
(n.d.). Population density. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/egypt_pop.jpg
Perry-castañeda library map collection. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/egypt_pol97.jpg
Photos:
Rosenberg, J. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://flashtrafficblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/egypt-camel.jpg
(n.d.). Egypt solar barge osiris. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.crystalinks.com/EgyptSolarBargeOsiris.jpg
Anonymous. (2013). Egypt. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/180382/Egypt/43455/Settlement-patterns
Bm and ag for kids. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/kids/access/egypt/timeline_egypt.htm
Dollinger, A. (2001). Ancient egypt: Means of transportation. Retrieved from http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/means_of_transportation.htm
Mark, J. (2013). Ancient encyclopedia history. Retrieved from http://www.ancient.eu.com/egypt/
Saho. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/nile-river-and-its-influence-settlement
Silverman, D. (2003). Ancient egypt. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=x7p_QMIjESwC&dq=egyptian settlement&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Maps:
(n.d.). Population density. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/egypt_pop.jpg
Perry-castañeda library map collection. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/egypt_pol97.jpg
Photos:
Rosenberg, J. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://flashtrafficblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/egypt-camel.jpg
(n.d.). Egypt solar barge osiris. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.crystalinks.com/EgyptSolarBargeOsiris.jpg