The Nile River Valley
By 5000 B.C., hunters and gatherers had moved into the Nile River valley. They settled there, farmed the land, and
built villages. These people became the earliest Egyptians. Because Egypt gets little rainfall, Egyptians relied on the
Nile River for water. They used its water for fishing, farming, cooking, and cleaning. The Nile River flows north
from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea, about 4,000 miles. Two rivers meet to form the Nile. They are the
Blue Nile in eastern Africa and the White Nile in central Africa. The water forms rapids where the rivers meet.
These are called cataracts. Large ships cannot sail through the cataracts.In Egypt, the Nile runs through a narrow
valley. Just before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea, it divides into many branches. These branches spread out over an
area of rich soil. This area is called a delta. Deserts lie on both sides of the Nile River valley. Because the deserts
were so hot, the ancient Egyptians called them “the Red Land.” These areas kept outside armies away from Egypt. To
the south, dangerous cataracts blocked enemy boats. In the north, the delta marshes kept enemies from sailing
into Egypt. The geography of Mesopotamia did not protect people in the same way. The deserts and the rivers did not
keep out invaders. Mesopotamians constantly fought off attackers. Egypt rarely faced such threats. As a result,
Egyptian civilization grew and prospered.
How the Nile River Helped the Egyptians
*River provided water for drinking
*Cataracts kept out invaders
*Marshy delta kept out envaders
The deserts and Nile rapids did not completely close Egypt to the outside world. The Mediterranean Sea was to
the north. Beyond the desert to the east was the Red Sea. These waters allowed Egyptians to trade with others.
Within Egypt, people used the Nile for trade and transportation. Winds from the north pushed sailboats
south. The flow of the Nile carried them north. This made Egypt different from Mesopotamia. There, city-states
constantly fought each other. Egyptian villages, however, had friendly contact.
By 5000 B.C., hunters and gatherers had moved into the Nile River valley. They settled there, farmed the land, and
built villages. These people became the earliest Egyptians. Because Egypt gets little rainfall, Egyptians relied on the
Nile River for water. They used its water for fishing, farming, cooking, and cleaning. The Nile River flows north
from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea, about 4,000 miles. Two rivers meet to form the Nile. They are the
Blue Nile in eastern Africa and the White Nile in central Africa. The water forms rapids where the rivers meet.
These are called cataracts. Large ships cannot sail through the cataracts.In Egypt, the Nile runs through a narrow
valley. Just before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea, it divides into many branches. These branches spread out over an
area of rich soil. This area is called a delta. Deserts lie on both sides of the Nile River valley. Because the deserts
were so hot, the ancient Egyptians called them “the Red Land.” These areas kept outside armies away from Egypt. To
the south, dangerous cataracts blocked enemy boats. In the north, the delta marshes kept enemies from sailing
into Egypt. The geography of Mesopotamia did not protect people in the same way. The deserts and the rivers did not
keep out invaders. Mesopotamians constantly fought off attackers. Egypt rarely faced such threats. As a result,
Egyptian civilization grew and prospered.
How the Nile River Helped the Egyptians
*River provided water for drinking
*Cataracts kept out invaders
*Marshy delta kept out envaders
The deserts and Nile rapids did not completely close Egypt to the outside world. The Mediterranean Sea was to
the north. Beyond the desert to the east was the Red Sea. These waters allowed Egyptians to trade with others.
Within Egypt, people used the Nile for trade and transportation. Winds from the north pushed sailboats
south. The flow of the Nile carried them north. This made Egypt different from Mesopotamia. There, city-states
constantly fought each other. Egyptian villages, however, had friendly contact.