Egypt: The gifts of the Nile

Mariam Shavliashvili
History 9D block
Mr. Levan Ghambashidze
January 10, 2019
BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 https://www.mrdowling.com/604egypt.html

2 https://study.com/academy/answer/why-is-egypt-
sometimes-called-the-gift-of-the-nile.html

3 https://egypt.mrdonn.org/gifts-of-the-nile.html

4 The Gift of the Nile: Hellenizing Egypt from Aeschylus to

Alexander – book

5 Gifts of the Nile: ancient Egyptian arts and crafts in

Liverpool Museum – book

6 https://www.rom.on.ca/en/learn/travelling-
programs/travelling-exhibitions/egypt-gift-of-the-nile
7 https://www.britannica.com/place/Nile-River
 The Nile, is the longest river in the world, and is settled 
in northeast Africa. Its main source is Lake Victoria, in east central
Africa. The Nile runs north through Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt to the
Mediterranean Sea, with a total length of 5584 kilometers.
Dependent on agriculture, this state, called Egypt, relied on the
flooding of the Nile for irrigation and new territories. It dominated vast
areas of northeastern Africa for millennia Ruled in Egypt
for nearly 1800 years, the Kush region of northern Sudan subjugated
Egypt in the 8th BC. Pyramids, temples, and other memorials of these
civilizations blanket the river valley in Egypt and northern Sudan. To
Egypt, the Nile is considered as the fount of life. Every year, between
the months of June and October, the great rivers of the Nile rush north,
and flood the highlands of Ethiopian.
The flooding surges of the land, and leaves behind water for the
people, and fertile land, which can be used for agriculture. The impact
the Nile has on Egypt during the ancient times and present are
considerably apparent. The influence the Nile has is so extensive, that
even the speech is transposed. For example, "To go north" in the
Egyptian language is the same as, "to go down stream"; "to go south"
the same as "to go upstream." Also, the term for a "foreign country" in
Egypt would be used as "highland" or "desert", because the only
mountains or deserts would be far away, and foreign to them. The Nile
certainly had an exceptional influence on Egypt’s, both lifestyle and
thinking. The Nile also forced a change on the political system and
ruling in Egypt. Because of the vast floods every year, the country
needed a ruler that was capable of enforcing of the farming and
methods used. Such as the hoarding of the water and the stocking of
the food harvested. Second, only a strongly centralized administration
could manage the economy properly.
The Nile River slithers through some of the driest desert land
on  dry land  to  make  a narrow green valley . Every  springtime , the
snow  along  the mountains of East Africa melted , sending a  flood 
of water that  spilled over  the banks of the Nile and flooded the
river valley . The rushing river picked up  pieces  of  dirt and plant
life called silt . As the annual flood receded , a  slip  of black topsoil
emerged every  year , along the banks of the Nile . The was rich in
nutrients , and it  furnished  the people of Egypt with two or three
crops every year . The ancient Greeks, named  this land Egypt . For
more than five thousand years , famous and often mysterious
civilizations thrived along the banks of the Nile About 450BCE .
Greek historian named Herodotus called Egypt " The Gift of
the Nile " for many reasons, including the abundant agriculture
from the  deep  waters, the extended trade, and the protection
from attack from the surrounding deserts and guarded Nile ports .
The Nile River  runs over 600  miles  through the Sahara Desert and
ends in the Mediterranean Sea , one of the few rivers flowing
South to North .
The twisting currents carried mud and silt to the cataracts ,
and every year at Inundation , or the Annual Flooding , the old
used dirt from the agricultural people was washed  aside  and
replaced with  fresh ,  rich dirt . Because of the annual flooding and
the  near - by , everlasting supply of  urine  from the Nile , Egypt was
a rich agricultural society , able to maintain different crops ,
vineyards , and  creatures  such as oxen ,  and goats. This agricultural
advantage allowed Egypt to be almost self – reliant , because they
were supplied with olives and  grapevines  to make essential wines ,
oils and foods , and meat from the animals they  produce . For this
reason the only  deal  they needed was for non – essential items ,
luxury items per say , such as exotic woods , spices ,  gems , and
more Importantly; gold . Because the Nile stretches through the
desert , the Egyptians then were able to trade with ports all
through Africa upstream , and the European societies when they
traveled downstream and out into the Mediterranean . They were
able to  find forests from Cypress and Lebanon , turquoise from the
Sinai Desert , and gold which they didn‘t mine from their own
lands they  took  in from Nubia in the  S . Egypt was  much  envied
by other civilization because of its richness and beauty , and the
strategic advantage of the  urban centers  and ports. The Nile no
longer spills over its banks because modern Egyptians built a huge dam
in Aswan.
Since 1970, the Aswan High Dam has held back the water that
annually flooded the banks of the Nile River. The dam also provides
a dependable stream of water for Egyptian farmers in the dry time of
year. The masses of Egypt are now capable to change over the
predictable flow of the Nile into electricity.
The Aswan High Dam initially provided electricity to more than half
of the village along the Nile. The population of Egypt has risen since
then, but the Aswan High Dam still contributes about fifteen percent of
Egypt’s Electricity. Unlike oil, the flowing water is renewable,
which signifies that the river will not carry away.
To sum up, The Nile plays a major role in the countries through
which it winds. Egypt and the Sudan have certainly profited from it, but
the upstream countries tend to suffer from poverty, and depression
because of their inability to gain access to the water’s capacity. While
the Nile is responsible for the great civilization of ancient Egypt and the
prosperity of Egypt and the Sudan today, it appears to have been the
cause of immense strife between the countries it travels through.
Perhaps, someday, the countries of the Nile will be able to reach an
agreement to equitably share its resources and allow all of them to
prosper. One can only hope that with the advancement of technology
and the growth of knowledge about the Nile, its people, and its
resources, that like Egypt, one day other countries will be seen as “gifts
of the Nile”.
 NOTES

 The Nile, is the longest river in the world

 Its main source is Lake Victoria, in east central Africa
 To Egypt, the Nile is considered as the fount of life.
 The impact the Nile has on Egypt during the ancient times
and present are considerably apparent.
 Because of the vast floods every year, the country needed
a ruler that was capable of enforcing of the farming and
methods used.
 Every  springtime , the snow  along  the mountains of
East Africa melted , sending a  flood  of water that
spilled over  the banks of the Nile and flooded the
river valley .
 Greek historian named Herodotus called Egypt " The
Gift of the Nile "
 The Nile River  runs over 600  miles  through the Sahara
Desert and ends in the Mediterranean Sea , one of the
few rivers flowing South to North .
 South Egypt was  much  envied by other civilization
because of its richness and beauty , and the strategic
advantage of the  urban centers  and ports. The Nile no
longer spills over its banks because modern Egyptians built
a huge dam in Aswan.
 Ancient and modern civilizations have relied on the mighty
river, trying out that Egypt truly is the “Gift of the Nile.”
 Since 1970, the Aswan High Dam has held back the water
that annually flooded the banks of the Nile River.