Early Civilizations and Ancient Egypt
The Paleolithic Age marked the beginning of human civilization, with nomadic hunter-gatherers roaming in search of food. As societies developed, they settled near rivers, forming the first ancient river valley civilizations.
Ancient Egypt emerged along the Nile River, which provided a crucial water source in the desert climate. The river's annual flooding cycle shaped Egyptian life and agriculture:
- Inundation flooding
- Growth
- Harvest
Highlight: The Nile Delta, where the river splits into smaller streams before flowing into the Mediterranean Sea, was particularly fertile for agriculture.
Ancient Egyptian irrigation techniques were crucial for their agricultural success. They developed systems to channel water from the Nile into their fields, maximizing crop yields.
Vocabulary: Basin irrigation in ancient Egypt involved creating a network of canals and basins to distribute floodwater across farmland.