The Nile Delta

Africa’s environment has been one of the most important factors in the growth of ancient Egyptian civilizations. They started their community around the Nile River. The Nile is the most important part of their location because it helped the Egyptians establish their community, emerge into a complex society, travel to nearby communities, and help their crops and livestock thrive.

The Nile River is the longest river on the planet Earth. There is the main part of the Nile, called the Nile Valley, and then there is what is known as the Nile Delta. The Nile Delta is what really helped this civilization thrive. It was known to have the most fertile soil. Around 4000 B.C. this is what helped the early Egyptians maintain their crops. In addition to the crops, this also allowed tons of water to be provided for the people and for the animals. It was constantly replenished so they always had an abundant supply. The Nile was the start to a sustainable community. This was what really made them

grow.
The Nile Delta also helped this community grow economically.

Growing their own crops and raising their own cattle made it possible for them to trade with other growing communities. They were able to take their product and trade for other things they didn’t have yet or that had more value to them. This was one way they were able to expand and emerge. People believe that this civilization had help from outside sources due to the Nile River and the easy traveling it provided. “Recent research has demonstrated the inaccuracy of the traditional notion of ancient Egypt as culturally a “sealed test tube,” for Egypt was influenced during its entire formative era by Western Asian cultures.” says Wenke. This is indeed a very possible idea but the Egyptians had enough resources and were flourishing on their own that I don’t think other cultures had as much of an impact. They ended up becoming one of the wealthiest of the civilizations because of their almost endless supply of natural

resources.
The Nile also allowed the civilization to emerge socially. They were able to travel to nearby communities and trade goods and spread religion. Religion was extremely important to these individuals. Being able to impact other people’s views and give them some of their knowledge of religion was a way of showing faithfulness to the gods. In return they believed the gods would help them by sending them good fortune and blessing them with resources.
The early Egyptian civilizations were fast growing all due to their location. They were able to grow rapidly due to the agriculture the Nile Delta provided. Their community lived of off the Nile River and Nile Delta. If it weren’t for their location they probably wouldn’t have had the same success. Wenke says, “Similarly, most sociological/behavioral interpretations of early states emphazie “power” and “domination” as effective concepts with which to categorize and analyze early complex societies.” This would not have been possible without their geographical location. It all goes back to the Nile River and all it did for these early Egyptian people.

Works Cited
Wenke, Robert J. “The Evolutionary of Early Egyptian Civilization: Issues and Evidence.” Journal of World Prehistory, vol. 5, No. 3 (September 1991), pp.279-329.