Egypt: The Key To Social Development Of Egypt

Egypt was, and still is now, considered “the Gift of the Nile,” because of the mighty Nile River that flows through the country bringing economic, social, and religious providence. This mighty river is unique in the fact that it flows from south to north providing Egypt with a natural protection system. The protection given by the Nile allowed Egypt to grow immensely. Without the Nile River, Egypt would have remained a desolate desert. The Nile River gifted Egypt with an abundance of goods used for economic purposes. It also helped shape the Egyptians’ religious point of view on life and death. Social advancements also came with the provision of the Nile River. The Nile River was the key to social growth in Egypt. First of all, the Nile protected

First of all, the Egyptian farmers relied on the Nile River for all of the crops they plant. One third of Egypt’s population consisted of farmers, so without the Nile, food and other resources would be hard to obtain. Every year the Nile River floods providing a fresh layer of very fertile silt perfect for growing crops on. Technological advancements were made in Egypt because of the flooding. A whole irrigation system was created to help channel the flood waters to provide water for the crops. These farmers did not have to worry about ways to keep the soil rich because the river and their irrigation system did all of that for them. The plethora of wheat and barley grown in Egypt gained it the title: “the Granary of the Ancient World.” Other crops that were grown in Egypt included; corn, cotton, rice, sugar cane, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, and dates. The Egyptians did not have to worry about obtaining fresh water because the Nile provides water for the country. The Nile is not only home to many types of plants, but it also is the home for many animals. There are fish, crocodiles, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, lions, jackals, snakes, numerous birds, hyenas, foxes, gazelles, hairs, and giraffes. Most of the animals that live in Egypt are the sacred animal of certain gods. One would be put to death if they killed any of these sacred animals, or if they ate the meat of one.

First of all, the Egyptians believed that there were many gods that controlled the Nile River. Hapi, in particular, was the god of the annual flooding and prosperity of the Nile. The Egyptians worshipped Hapi because they believed that Hapi granted prosperity to them. Secondly, they believed that the Nile River was the passageway to the afterlife. They believed that Ra, the sun god, sailed on his boat until he reached the underworld. In the Egyptians’ belief, the soul must travel with Ra through the Underworld. The soul will be faced by many trials, but eventually they would continue sailing on the Nile to the “Lands of Perfect Peace.” Also, the Egyptians believed that the rise and fall of the Nile River symbolized life and death. When the river was low, it was believed that a time of famine would hit, and when the river was high, it was a time of prosperity. The Egyptians also believed that most of the animals in the Nile were sacred to the gods, and killing them was a crime punishable by death. Lastly, because Egypt was protected by the Nile, the Egyptians could spend more time worshipping gods and perfecting their religion. It was easy to keep their religion isolated from other countries. The Nile also provided a way to keep all of the cities connected under one