CHAPTER 17 SECTION 1 EGYPT

EGYPT  Nicknamed “Gift of the Nile”  Very little rainfall.  Almost all desert.  Size of Texas and N.M.

A) The Land  3 major land areas in Egypt.  1) Nile River Valley  2) Sinai Peninsula  3) Desert Areas  Most of Egypt has a desert climate where it is very hot in the summer and mild in the winter.

Nile River

1) Nile River Valley  Nile river supplies 85% of the countries water supply.  Nile river is the world’s longest river (4,160 miles long)

2) Sinai Peninsula  It is in SW Asia.  Human made waterway called the Suez Canal separates Sinai peninsula from rest of Egypt.  Egyptians and Europeans built this canal in 1860’s.  Used for ships to pass between Red & Mediterranean Seas.

Super Hard Africa Test  Fact: Last year, every kids grade dropped after taking the Super Hard Africa test!!!  Fact: Nobody has ever gotten an A+ on this Africa test!!!  Fact: The test is only 15 days away!!!

3) Deserts  Libyan desert covers 2/3 of Egypt’ land areas.  Oases are found in deserts.  Libyan & Arabian deserts are part of the Sahara Desert.  Sahara desert is the size of the U.S.  Sahara is an Arabic word meaning desert.

SAHARA DESERT

B) The Economy  Developing economy.  GDP: billion (#27)  Agriculture, Services, and Industry are Egypt’s main economic activities.

1) Agriculture  2% of Egypt’s land is used for farming.  Best farmland is in the Nile River Valley.  Farmer’s grow cotton, grains, vegetables, sugarcane, dates and fruit.  Cotton is the leading agricultural export.

2) Aswan High Dam  In 1968 this dam was built to stop the floods in the Nile River Valley.  Advantage: Farmers used to be only to plant crops once a year before the dam was built.  Advantage: After dam was built, farmers can plant crops 2-3 times a year.  Disadvantage: The dam stops rich silt that fertilizes farms; so farmers must rely on expensive fertilizers.

Aswan High Dam

3) Industry  Aswan high dam provides hydroelectric power.  Largest industrial cities are Cairo (capital city) and the seaport of Alexandria.  Produce food products, textiles, and consumer goods.  Oil ranks as the most important natural resource.

C) The People  Population: 84 million (#15)  Ethnic group: Egyptian 99%  Language: Arabic (official)  Religion: Islam (90%) *Mostly Sunni  Life Expectancy: 73 years (#122)  Literacy Rate: 72% (Boys are 17% higher than girls)

The People: Continued  Most people live within 20 miles of the Nile river.  99% of the people live on 3.5% of the land.  The Nile river valley is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

1) Rural Life  Rural means that you live in the country.  43% of people live in rural areas.  Egyptian farmers are called Fellahin.  Fellahins (farmers) raise enough crops to support their family.  Fellahins raise enough crops to support their family.

2)City Life  Cairo is a huge and rapidly growing city.  Leading center of Muslim world.  Very high birth rate.  People moving to Cairo for work.  Students attend split sessions.

Cairo

3) Influences of the Past  Egyptians use hieroglyphics.  Egyptians created a calendar to keep track of dates for farming.  Egyptians are excellent at building Monuments such as the Great Sphinx and pyramids.

4) Government  Became a republic in  Very important president was Gamal Abdel Nasser ( )  Under Nasser, Egypt became the most powerful country in Arab world.  Lots of protests  New Constitution passed in 12/22/12.  They have a president and a prime minister. (Both elected summer 2012)

Current Events: Updated: March 21, 2011  Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, erupted in mass protests in January 2011, as the revolution in Tunisia inflamed decades worth of smoldering grievances against the heavy-handed rule of President Hosni Mubarak. After 18 days of angry protests and after losing of the support of the military and the United States, Mr. Mubarak resigned on Feb. 11, ending 30 years of autocratic rule. The military stepped forward and took power. It quickly suspended unpopular provisions of the constitution, even while cracking down on continuing demonstrations. On March 20, a set of constitutional amendments that pave the way for elections was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum that drew record numbers of voters. Tunisia Hosni Mubarak.