The River People Ch 2 Section 1(cont)

Nile River Nile 4000 miles Flood plain was a magnet for life Human, plant and animal Could grow crops Settle into permanent villages.

Animals Fish, ducks, crocodiles, hippos , giraffes, ostriches and geese Lived in the Nile River and delta region Some were eaten Some ate!

Regular Flooding Nile Floods more consistent and gentle Farm and live securely, Did not worry A thick layer of dark, fertile silt or mud. Flooding occurred from July to September River attained its highest level in October Lowest point sometime between April and June Called land Kemet – “the Black Land”

Successful Farmers . Used Nile Irrigation Dug basins, holes to trap waters Dug canals from basins to field Dikes (high banks) to strengthen

Successful Farmers . Planted wheat, barley, and flax Surplus food Animals separate grain Trade

Technology Shadoof (Shaduf) A bucket attached to a long pole Lift water from Nile to basin Still used today

Technology (cont) Geometry used to survey or measure land Floods washed away boundaries Divide fields again

Papyrus Reed plant grew along Nile Baskets, sandals, river rafts

Papyrus Later, paper making Cut strips from stalks Soak in water Pound flat Dry and join together

Hieroglyphics Wrote on Papyrus Rolls Developed system of writing Originally thousands of picture Stood for objects and ideas

Hieroglyphics Later created symbols that stood for sounds Combining both picture symbols and sound symbols Complex writing system – Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics Few people could read or write Some men special schools In temples to learn reading and writing Scribes Kept records Worked for rulers and priests and traders Carved hieroglyphics in stone walls and monuments Wrote on papyrus for every day work