The Life-Giving Nile: The Central Role of the Nile River in the Development and Sustainability of Ancient Egyptian Civilization
Faculty Mentor
Richard Orndorff
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
10-5-2023 11:15 AM
End Date
10-5-2023 1:00 PM
Location
PUB NCR
Abstract
The Nile River played a vital role in shaping and sustaining ancient Egypt for over three thousand years. I explore the relationship between the Nile River and the development of Egyptian civilization. The Nile River was the main source of water and life in the deserts of ancient Egypt. Its annual flooding, which occurred between June and September, brought fertile soil onto the surrounding floodplain, making agriculture possible. The Egyptians created an intricate system of irrigation canals and dikes to utilize the river's flow and ensure that crops were watered year-round. The Nile also provided transportation for trade and commerce, as well as serving as a source of fish and waterfowl. The river's importance is reflected in ancient Egyptian religious traditions, where the Nile was worshiped as a god. The Nile was central to Egyptian mythology and to the pharaoh's power. The Nile was seen as a life-giving force, and the ancient Egyptians believed it was essential for the pharaoh to maintain the river’s flow to ensure the country's prosperity. I discuss the Nile River as the backbone of ancient Egyptian civilization, agriculture, and religion. Without the Nile River, Egyptian civilization may not have developed into the sophisticated and long-lasting society it was.
Recommended Citation
Legg, Betsy, "The Life-Giving Nile: The Central Role of the Nile River in the Development and Sustainability of Ancient Egyptian Civilization" (2023). 2023 Symposium. 44.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2023/res_2023/p2_2023/44
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The Life-Giving Nile: The Central Role of the Nile River in the Development and Sustainability of Ancient Egyptian Civilization
PUB NCR
The Nile River played a vital role in shaping and sustaining ancient Egypt for over three thousand years. I explore the relationship between the Nile River and the development of Egyptian civilization. The Nile River was the main source of water and life in the deserts of ancient Egypt. Its annual flooding, which occurred between June and September, brought fertile soil onto the surrounding floodplain, making agriculture possible. The Egyptians created an intricate system of irrigation canals and dikes to utilize the river's flow and ensure that crops were watered year-round. The Nile also provided transportation for trade and commerce, as well as serving as a source of fish and waterfowl. The river's importance is reflected in ancient Egyptian religious traditions, where the Nile was worshiped as a god. The Nile was central to Egyptian mythology and to the pharaoh's power. The Nile was seen as a life-giving force, and the ancient Egyptians believed it was essential for the pharaoh to maintain the river’s flow to ensure the country's prosperity. I discuss the Nile River as the backbone of ancient Egyptian civilization, agriculture, and religion. Without the Nile River, Egyptian civilization may not have developed into the sophisticated and long-lasting society it was.
