The Geography of the Nile

1. The Geography of the Nile Chapter 3 Sec. #1

2. The Course of the Nile • The Nile is the world’s longest river • The Blue Nile begins in Ethiopia and is one source of the Nile • The White Nile begins deep in Central Africa and is the other source of the Nile • Both rivers meet in Khartoum which begin the Nile’s journey north to the Mediterranean Sea

3. The Nile Through Ancient Nubia • The Nubian section of the Nile contained 6 cataracts, or breaks in the river • Lower Nubia was located between the first and second cataract • These areas had little farm land

4. Ancient Nubia • Farther South between the second and sixth cataracts is Upper Nubia, an area with more farmland • The farm land was a 2 mile strip on either side of the river

5. The Path of the Nile • The Egyptian part of the Nile ran for 700 miles from the first cataract to the Mediterranean Sea • In the North, the Nile spread out to form a fertile, marshy area called Lower Egypt

6. The Delta • At the end of the Nile in the North, the river split into several streams that flowed into the Mediterranean Sea • These streams were shaped like a triangle and are called the delta which contained rich farmland

7. The Gifts of the Nile • In the spring water comes rushing down and carries rich soil called silt to the land • The Egyptians praised Hapi, the god of the Nile for providing food to its people

8. Black Land and Red Land • Black land was the land that had fertile soil good for farming • Red land was the desert lands surrounding The Nile River protecting it from invaders • Egypt did not have to worry about invaders and enjoyed 2000 years of peace

9. Growth of Civilization Along the Nile • From 4000 B.C. communities appeared long the Nile • Nubians fished in the Nile because farming was difficult • The Nile was a highway for trade • The Red Sea was a link to Mesopotamia as well • Goods were brought by caravan and overland trade routes to towns in Egypt