The Nile River

The Nile River was a gift to all the people who lived in Egypt in the 5th century. One of the Niles many gifts was the flooding. Although it may seem like a curse, the flooding brought silt which made the land fertile. The ice would melt from the mountains and into the river causing it to overflow onto the banks. This happened usually in July. In October the water would recede and the land that was previously dry would become rich and covered with silt. This would make the land ready for the barley and wheat that they would plant. Every year this process would happen creating more food for the people living around the Nile during the 5th century.

Another way that the Nile was a gift was because it helped the trade. The river created a passage from Upper Egypt to Lower Egypt. Because the Nile flows north, boats that were traveling north could simply float along the river. For boats going south they would hoist a wide sail. The Nile helped to unite Egypt's villages and make trade easier. Along with the trade the Nile also helped communications. Because the people could travel easily, it caused cultural diffusion. The people in Egypt traded ideas