Summary history 1.4, 1.5 and 1,6
1.4 The river Nile and Egypt
Irrigated agriculture
- After 4000 BC the Egyptians slowly changed to agriculture.
- Heavy rainfall in central Africa (6000 km south to Egypt) Nile carried fertile silt
(slib/modder) along annual flooding fertile silt was absorbed by the land in
Egypt fertile land after water levels dropped the Egyptians could cultivate
their crops
- Dikes and channels enough water all year round
- Channels: made it possible to irrigate fields further away from Nile
- Dikes and water reservoirs: retained water for later use.
irrigated agriculture = agriculture using water to fertilize the land
- The Nile also helped to transport and trade goods safely and fast
Trade and cities
Irrigated agriculture consequences (gevolgen):
- Big harvests enough food for growing population (due to arable and cattle
farming), there even were surpluses (overschotten)
- Not everyone needed to be a farmer anymore other occupations (beroepen):
carpenter, bronze smith, potter, weaver
- Surpluses and new product could be exchanged or sold trade with other
inhabitants on the banks of Nile and with areas outside Egypt
- Cities arose (like Ur in Mesopotamia and Memphis & Thebes in Egypt).
o The elite: administrators, priests and merchants, lived in the cities
o Also craftsmen lived in the cities, here they practiced their crafts and
trades
The used raw materials to make specific products
Goldsmiths, carpenters and stonemasons worked for powerful and
wealthy Egyptians
Writing and arithmetic (rekenen)
1.4 The river Nile and Egypt
Irrigated agriculture
- After 4000 BC the Egyptians slowly changed to agriculture.
- Heavy rainfall in central Africa (6000 km south to Egypt) Nile carried fertile silt
(slib/modder) along annual flooding fertile silt was absorbed by the land in
Egypt fertile land after water levels dropped the Egyptians could cultivate
their crops
- Dikes and channels enough water all year round
- Channels: made it possible to irrigate fields further away from Nile
- Dikes and water reservoirs: retained water for later use.
irrigated agriculture = agriculture using water to fertilize the land
- The Nile also helped to transport and trade goods safely and fast
Trade and cities
Irrigated agriculture consequences (gevolgen):
- Big harvests enough food for growing population (due to arable and cattle
farming), there even were surpluses (overschotten)
- Not everyone needed to be a farmer anymore other occupations (beroepen):
carpenter, bronze smith, potter, weaver
- Surpluses and new product could be exchanged or sold trade with other
inhabitants on the banks of Nile and with areas outside Egypt
- Cities arose (like Ur in Mesopotamia and Memphis & Thebes in Egypt).
o The elite: administrators, priests and merchants, lived in the cities
o Also craftsmen lived in the cities, here they practiced their crafts and
trades
The used raw materials to make specific products
Goldsmiths, carpenters and stonemasons worked for powerful and
wealthy Egyptians
Writing and arithmetic (rekenen)
