How do rivers affect the development of a civilization/city? What do the three rivers mean to the city of Pittsburgh? How have the three rivers affected the development of Pittsburgh?

Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile

The Land: Its Geography and Importance

Landscape

12,000 years ago: Swampland–Egypt Today: Mostly desert

Geographical Factor: Nile River.–Fostered one of the earliest and richest civilizations.

About the Nile River

The longest river in the world–4,160 miles

Flows from South to North.Forms a large delta

–Empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Nile Fosters Civilization

Flow: S to N allows people to move goods upland (North)

Winds: blew from N to S off of the Med. Sea

–allows boats to sail Southward

The Nile Fosters Civilization

Nile River: Linked all parts of Nile Valley.–Pathway of travel/trading of goods and ideas.

–Helped Ancient Egyptians unite into one kingdom.

Flooding: caused by heavy summer rains.–Left rich and fertile soil deposits.

Farmers plan work around annual floods–Harvest crops before flood.–Large crop yields = population growth.*Climate: Sunny and frost free.~ Easy to grow crops.

The Nile and Early Civilization

The Nile ValleyLocation: surrounded by desert and

sea.–natural protection against invaders.–Built unique culture

Isthmus of Suez: broke the natural barriers.–Land bridge between Africa and

Asia–Route for trade with Middle East

Early Steps Toward Civilization

Hunter-gatherers: 12,000 B.C.By 3,000 BC: important steps toward civilization.–Developed farming communities.

–Created Tools: Copper/Bronze.

–Developed a writing system.

Hieroglyphics

~More than 600 signs and pictures- represent words and sounds.

~Carved into stone.

~Later written on papyrus.

Papyrus

~Plant found in the Nile marshes

~Cut into slices and pressed together.

~Written on with ink.

Rosetta Stone~Translated Hieroglyphics

–discovered by French soldiers in 1799

~Passages carved in Greek, Hieroglyphics and Demotic.

~Eyewitness account of Egyptian history.