The river’s predictability and fertile soil allowed the Egyptians to build an empire on the basis of great agricultural wealth. Egyptians are credited as being one of the first groups of people to practice agriculture on a large scale. This was possible because of the ingenuity of the Egyptians as they developed basin irrigation.
How did the government of ancient Egypt depend on agriculture?
[15]The government of Ancient Egypt depended on two important factors; the pharaoh and agriculture. [14] In times of normal floods, Nile flood-plain agriculture could easily supply food for this number of people.
How did farmers harvest grain in ancient Egypt?
The Egyptians used the irrigation system of reserved flood water to help keep the farmland wet during the very dry months with special equipment such as a shaduf. Finally, from March until May, farmers were hard at work harvesting grain during Shemu. They used animals and tools such as a sickle to harvest.
What did farmers do during the flood in ancient Egypt?
During the period of the flood the Egyptian farmers spent time mending and making tools and looking after the animals. Many farmers also worked for the pharaoh during this time building pyramids and temples. As soon as the flood began to recede the Ancient Egyptians ploughed the soil ready for sowing.
How did the pharaohs of ancient Egypt gain control of Egypt?
In the Early Dynastic Period about 3150 BC, the first of the Dynastic pharaohs solidified their control over lower Egypt by establishing a capital at Memphis, from which they could control the labor force and agriculture of the fertile delta region as well as the lucrative and critical trade routes to the Levant. [16]
How did the Egyptians use the Nile River?
Why was the Nile River important to ancient Egypt?
What did the Egyptians eat?
What was the ancient Egyptian agriculture?
What were the fruits of the Egyptian civilization?
What were the first fruits of the Egyptians?
What was the Egyptian system of water management?
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About this website
How did the development of agriculture influence Egypt?
The civilization of ancient Egypt was indebted to the Nile River and its dependable seasonal flooding. The river’s predictability and fertile soil allowed the Egyptians to build an empire on the basis of great agricultural wealth.
How did agriculture help ancient Egypt?
Egyptians relied on agriculture for more than just the production of food. They were creative in their use of plants, using them for medicine, as part of their religious practices, and in the production of clothing.
Why is agriculture important in Egypt?
Agriculture is a major component of the Egyptian economy, contributing 11.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The agricultural sector accounts for 28 percent of all jobs, and over 55 percent of employment in Upper Egypt is agriculture-related.
What agricultural techniques did the ancient Egypt use?
Ancient Egyptians had simple farming tools such as winnowing scoops, hoes, rakes, flint-bladed sickles and ploughs. They had both hand ploughs and ones pulled by oxen. The ploughs were used to turn the soil. Another piece of equipment used by farmers was the Shaduf.
How did the development of agriculture influence the development of culture?
When early humans began farming, they were able to produce enough food that they no longer had to migrate to their food source. This meant they could build permanent structures, and develop villages, towns, and eventually even cities. Closely connected to the rise of settled societies was an increase in population.
When did Egypt develop agriculture?
Agricultural practices began in the Delta Region of northern Egypt and the fertile basin known as the Faiyum in the Predynastic Period in Egypt (c. 6000 – c. 3150 BCE), but there is evidence of agricultural use and overuse of the land dating back to 8000 BCE.
What factors led man started farming?
One is that in times of abundance humans had the leisure to start experimenting in the domestication of plants. The other theory suggests that in lean times – thanks to population growth, over-exploitation of resources, a changing climate, et cetera – domestication was a way to supplement diets.
Which details about the Egyptian gods show the importance of agriculture to Egyptian society?
The details about the Egyptian gods show the significance of agriculture to Egyptian society are: Men worked the fields and on the off-season they worked on the pharaoh’s construction projects.
What made the pharaohs of ancient Egypt so strong and powerful?
As a divine ruler, the pharaoh was the preserver of the god-given order, called maat. He owned a large portion of Egypt’s land and directed its use, was responsible for his people’s economic and spiritual welfare, and dispensed justice to his subjects. His will was supreme, and he governed by royal decree.
Why was ancient Egypt so successful?
The success of ancient Egyptian civilization came partly from its ability to adapt to the conditions of the Nile River valley for agriculture. The predictable flooding and controlled irrigation of the fertile valley produced surplus crops, which supported a more dense population, and social development and culture.
What is ancient agriculture?
Ancient farmers adopted crop rotation and inter cropping to restore soil fertility. Mixed or inter cropping with legumes in cereal and oil seed cultivation were widely practices. All these practices adopted in ancient time are now being recommended today under organic farming concept.
How did the agriculture start?
Agricultural communities developed approximately 10,000 years ago when humans began to domesticate plants and animals. By establishing domesticity, families and larger groups were able to build communities and transition from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle dependent on foraging and hunting for survival.
Who wrote the article on Agriculture in Ancient Egypt?
Written by: Tamer Ahmed Abdel Fattah, Egypt. Researcher in the history of Egyptian civilization – SEO tourism marketer. I hope that the article on Agriculture in Ancient Egypt and the secrets of ancient Egyptian civilization will be found through the site.
What were the main crops of ancient Egypt?
Agriculture in ancient Egypt – agricultural crops: Egypt relied primarily on its economy on the agricultural crops it produces that can be divided as follows: Permanent crops: barley, sesame, lentils, flax, wheat, corn, white corn, onions, alfalfa, cotton, safflower, reeds, hemp, halva, lupine, and ghoul. Known seasonal crops: mint, dill, anas …
What was the beginning of the Egyptian year?
The Egyptian year began with the emergence of the star Sotis (Sebedet), which was a sign of the coming of the flood of the Nile, which represented the beginning of the Egyptian year, it was not in spring, as is the case for other peoples, but in summer.
How many chapters are there in the Egyptian year?
The ancient Egyptians divided the Egyptian year in the ancient civilization of Egypt into three chapters (flood, preparation, harvest). Each season contained four months, and the year began around March. The summer (the flood) ends, the waters of the Nile recede and the arable and moist lands are exposed with water, …
What did the Egyptian peasant play in the work a row?
They wait for their plantation to grow until the end of the harvest” when the farmer begins to harvest the wheat, the farmers go out with small sections with their hands, with a fist, and while they find in the work a row, to entertain himself the Egyptian peasant liked to play the flute that he himself made of bamboo, music that refreshes minds.
What is an axe used for?
Axe: Used to dig or break large blocks of silt, its catch was made of metal and was also used to cut down trees and divert the stream.
What were the agricultural holidays in ancient Egypt?
Agriculture in ancient Egypt – agricultural holidays: As for the months of agricultural holidays, they were held when canals were cut, when crops were collected and deposited in warehouses, when bridges were cut, when seeds, etc. All of these feasts were related to the stages of planting, in which the statue of the god was carried on …
Why did the Egyptians depend on the Nile River for water?
[16] . Because Egypt gets little rainfall, Egyptians relied on the Nile River for water. [8] .
How did Egypt’s agriculture work?
Unlike other regions of the world, Egyptian agriculture was dictated entirely by the cyclical flooding of the Nile River, a natural form of irrigation that divided the farming calendar into three distinct seasons. [11] Osiris is said to have taught Egyptians agriculture and religion, while Isis restored Osiris to life when his jealous brother, Seth, murdered him. [12] Agriculture in ancient Egypt was the most important aspect of the life of ancient Egyptians. [13] The ancient Egyptians used the pet animals to help them to cultivate the agriculture lands very quickly; we are going to focus on the most important animals which the peasants have used in the farms in ancient Egypt agriculture. [14] Now we are going to focus on special irrigation tools which the Pharaohs used to irrigate their agricultural lands in ancient Egyptian agriculture. [13]
What was the most important aspect of Egyptian agriculture?
The yearly inundation was the most important aspect of Egyptian agriculture, but the people obviously still needed to work the land. (More…) We know from ancient writings that Egypt was experiencing many low Nile floods toward the end of the Old Kingdom. (More…) Historians usually group the history of Ancient Egypt into three major kingdoms …
What type of agriculture did ancient Egyptians practice?
Agriculture in ancient Egypt distinguished by the diversity of the crops, consequently; the ancient Egyptian peasant was planting different types of crops such as fruit, vegetables, beans, and grains in the ancient Egypt, as also they were planting other different types of crops which he has known from neighboring countries which have the same weather of Egypt. [14] The ancient Egypt agriculture has been discovered by the ancient Egyptians in the Neolithic era” the new stone age”. [13] Ancient Egyptian agriculture was the first within the history of the mankind. [14] These are the most important steps which the ancient Egyptian peasants were following in the ancient Egyptian agriculture. [13]
Why did ancient Egyptians use pets?
The ancient Egyptians used the pet animals to help them to cultivate the agriculture lands very quickly; we are going to focus on the most important animals which the peasants have used in the farms in ancient Egypt agriculture. [14] .
How many kingdoms did Egypt have?
[12] Historians usually group the history of Ancient Egypt into three major kingdoms called the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. [15] .
What did Osiris teach Egyptians?
Osiris is said to have taught Egyptians agriculture and religion, while Isis restored Osiris to life when his jealous brother, Seth, murdered him. [12] . Agriculture in ancient Egypt was the most important aspect of the life of ancient Egyptians. [13] .
What was the Nile River called?
Very predictably, the Nile River flooded every year. This was called inundation and occurred from June until September. During this time, the river would flood the land surrounding the banks of the river. Though this sounds like it would be terrible, Egyptians learned to build their houses away from the banks of the river. The flooding also left a rich black soil, called silt. This silt was so important to Egyptian agriculture that they called it ‘The Gift of the Nile.’
Why did the Egyptians live in the desert?
Living in the desert with a flooding river meant that the Egyptians had a surplus of water at certain times and none at all during others. They needed to create a way to harness the water from the flooding so they could use it during the rest of the year to water their crops.
What was the harvest season in Egypt?
From March to May, the Egyptians would harvest the wheat, barley and other crops they grew. They used a hand tool called a sickle that had a semicircular blade for cutting the crops.
What did the Egyptians learn from the floods?
Though this sounds like it would be terrible, Egyptians learned to build their houses away from the banks of the river. The flooding also left a rich black soil, called silt. This silt was so important to Egyptian agriculture that they called it ‘The Gift of the Nile.’.
What was the Egyptian Empire’s irrigation system?
In 3100 BCE, two kingdoms came together to form a powerful and unified group, the Egyptian Empire. This group created an extensive irrigation system that allowed them to harness the flooding of the Nile River and create an abundance of food for their growing empire. Create an account.
What was the purpose of a shaduf?
A shaduf was used to help move water from the canal to the fields. The shaduf was a long tool on a seesaw type of bottom, with a weight on one end and a bucket on the other. The bucket could be lowered into the canal and filled with water. Then the bucket could be rotated around to the area in need of water.
What was the gift of the Nile?
Remember ‘The Gift of the Nile’ mentioned earlier? When the flood waters began to recede in October, it left behind that rich black soil which was rich in nutrients and ideal for farming. Egyptians would spend October through February ploughing the soil either by hand or by using a light plow tied to the horns of cattle. Seeds for grain, wheat, barley, corn and other vegetables and fruit would be sown and then watered and cared for until the harvest.
What animals walked over the fields to push the seeds into the ground?
They had hand ploughs or larger ones that were pulled by oxen. Seeds were then sown into the newly ploughed soil. Goats and other animals then walked over the fields to push the seeds into the ground.
Why was farming important in ancient Egypt?
One of the reasons why the Ancient Egyptian civilization was so successful was the fact that they were able to farm the fertile soil around the Nile and produce their own food and cloth.
What animals were raised in Egypt?
Fruit and vegetables were harvested when they ripened. Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, goats, and oxen were raised by farmers for their meat, milk, hides and also to help with Egyptian farming. This article is part of our larger selection of posts about Egypt in the ancient world.
How was grain cut?
Grain was cut using a sickle. The cut grain was then tied into bundles and carried away.
When was the Aswan Dam built?
The first Aswan dam was opened in 1902 but it proved to be insufficient and had to be raised twice in 1907–1912 and 1929–1933. In 1960 work began on a second dam, the Aswan High Dam which, since its opening in 1970 has prevented further floods.
When does the Nile flood in Egypt?
During the early summer months the mountain region of Ethiopia experiences periods of heavy monsoon rainfall which increase the water level of the Nile causing it to flood in Egypt between June and September. The Egyptians call this the inundation.
What was the origin of agriculture in Egypt?
A study of the Egyptian history underscores the ancient origins of agriculture; cultivation and irrigation technology and the horticultural arts were all practiced. The ancient Egyptian agriculture provided the resources to enable the construction of vast public works and temples and the basic inspiration to progress from mathematics to chemistry and from medicine to metallurgy. Despite advances in technology, the Egyptian culture became increasingly conservative and traditional, so that continued advances were thwarted. Progress was hampered by the restraints of a rigid society first run by an uneasy alliance between nobles and priests and when racked by internal instability, deteriorating to a stagnant theocracy. The decline was evident about 1000 BCE and Egypt succumbed to pressures from invading cultures: Phoenician, Libyan, Ethiopian, Assyrian, Persian, the armies of Alexander, Roman legions, and Arabian. After the fifteenth century, Egypt was controlled by the Ottoman Turks and later influenced by the colonial power of France and England. These ancient relics, ignored for thousands of years, should be an inspiration to restore the glory in innovation, art, and agriculture that was the hallmark of ancient Egypt.
What were the crops of ancient Egypt?
The chief ancient grain crops, used for bread and beer, were barley and various wheats including the diploid einkorn (AA genome), the tetraploid emmer and durum wheats (AABB), and the hexaploid spelt and bread wheats (AABBDD). One of the ancient cereals of Egypt classified as Triticum turgidum (AABB) now marketed as Kamut® has recently been introduced to the United States. The vegetable crops of ancient Egypt included a number of root crops, leafy salad crops, legumes, and various cucurbits. The ancient root crops such as the pungent alliums, garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (A. cepa), as well as radi sh ( Raphanus sativum) continue to be very popular in modern Egypt. Among the leafy salad crops were lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum). There were a number of pulses such as cowpea (Vigna sinensis), faba (broad) bean (Vicia faba), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), and lentils (Lens culinaris). The cucurbits included cucumber ( Cucurbita sativa), melons and gourds (Cucumis melo), and later watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). The fruit crops of Egypt were expanded throughout the centuries (Table 1). The date and doum palm as well as the sycomore fig are considered predynastic Egyptian fruits although the sycomore is not indigenous. The jujube, fig, and grape have been known since the Old Kingdom (Table 1); the carob and pomegranate were introduced in the Middle Kingdom; the olive and apple appear in the new Kingdom; and the peach and pear date to the Greco-Roman period. Table 1 Evidence for fruit crops in Egypt (Source: Adapted from Darby et al., 1976)
What did the Pharaohs bring back?
Pharaohs were sophisticated horticulturally. From foreign campaigns they brought back exotic trees and plants to be grown in their palace or temple gardens (Fig. 10). Queen Hatshepsut organized a plant expedition delivering living myrrh trees from Punt (northeastern Africa) for the terraced gardens of her temple at Deir el-Bahri in 1500 BCE (Fig. 10b). Her nephew Thothmes III (1450 BCE) had the curious plants brought from Syria carved upon the walls of the temple of Amun in Karnak (Fig. 10c) from which iris can be recognized. Rameses III (1198-1166 BCE) made “great vineyards; walks shaded by all kinds of sweet fruit trees, a sacred way splendid with flowers from all countries, with lotus and papyrus as numerous as the sand” (Huxley, 1978, 1998).
What are the tools of agriculture?
The basic tools of agriculture, the ax, the hoe, and the plow, are independent Egyptian inventions. The prototype hoe can be seen as a modification of a forked branch, while the more developed form has a hafted wooden blade (Fig. 4a, b). The plow was at first a modification of the hoe, originally drawn through the ground, perhaps first by a man with a rope, but by the Old Kingdom by a pair of oxen (Fig. 4c, d). Later metal plowshares were added. In the New Kingdom handles were lashed by ladderlike cross pieces and the shaft was bound to a double yoke over the oxen’s horns (Fig. 4d).
What are the Egyptian gardens?
The Egyptian gardens are the forerunners of our present-day formal gardens which use plants as architectural elements. Because there was essentially no natural landscape, the Egyptians created one based on straight lines and symmetry.
How were grapes preserved?
Grapes were preserved by drying. Raisins became favorite foods in cooking, were considered to have medicinal properties, and were at one time used as a drying aid in embalming.
What did the Nile Valley dictate?
The Nile valley dictated the agriculture of ancient Egypt. Long stretches of flat lands were bordered by perpendicular mountains and inundated by constant rhythmic seasonal flooding. Egypt gave the world the first hydraulic engineering and systematic irrigation (Fig. 3). The Nile rises and falls with regularity, rising in July (canals were opened August 22), and continues to rise until the middle of October, and then rapidly subsides. Crops were sown in November and harvested in April and May (Singer et al., 1954). Basin irrigation, the
How did the Egyptians use the Nile River?
To make the best use of the waters of the Nile river, the Egyptians developed systems of irrigation. Irrigation allowed the Egyptians to use the Nile’s waters for a variety of purposes. Notably, irrigation granted them greater control over their agricultural practices. Floodwaters were diverted away from certain areas, such as cities and gardens, to keep them from flooding. Irrigation was also used to provide drinking water to Egyptians. Despite the fact that irrigation was crucial to their agricultural success, there were no statewide regulations on water control. Rather, irrigation was the responsibility of local farmers. However, the earliest and most famous reference to irrigation in Egyptian archaeology has been found on the mace head of the Scorpion King, which has been roughly dated to about 3100 BC. The mace head depicts the king cutting into a ditch that is part of a grid of basin irrigation. The association of the high ranking king with irrigation highlights the importance of irrigation and agriculture to their society.
Why was the Nile River important to ancient Egypt?
The civilization of ancient Egypt was indebted to the Nile River and its dependable seasonal flooding. The river’s predictability and fertile soil allowed the Egyptians to build an empire on the basis of great agricultural wealth. Egyptians are credited as being one of the first groups of people to practice agriculture on a large scale.
What did the Egyptians eat?
The Egyptians grew a variety of crops for consumption, including grains, vegetables and fruits. However, their diets revolved around several staple crops, especially cereals and barley. Other major grains grown included einkorn wheat and emmer wheat, grown to make bread.
What was the ancient Egyptian agriculture?
Ancient Egyptian agriculture. Ploughing with a yoke of horned cattle in ancient Egypt. Painting from the burial chamber of Sennedjem, c. 1200 BC. The civilization of ancient Egypt was indebted to the Nile River and its dependable seasonal flooding.
What were the fruits of the Egyptian civilization?
Fruits were a common motif of Egyptian artwork , suggesting that their growth was also a major focus of agricultural efforts as the civilization’s agricultural technology developed. Unlike cereals and pulses, fruit required more demanding and complex agricultural techniques, including the use of irrigation systems, cloning, propagation and training. While the first fruits cultivated by the Egyptians were likely indigenous, such as the palm date and sorghum, more fruits were introduced as other cultural influences were introduced. Grapes and watermelon were found throughout predynastic Egyptian sites, as were the sycamore fig, dom palm and Christ’s thorn. The carob, olive, apple and pomegranate were introduced to Egyptians during the New Kingdom. Later, during the Greco-Roman period peaches and pears were also introduced.
What were the first fruits of the Egyptians?
While the first fruits cultivated by the Egyptians were likely indigenous, such as the palm date and sorghum, more fruits were introduced as other cultural influences were introduced. Grapes and watermelon were found throughout predynastic Egyptian sites, as were the sycamore fig, dom palm and Christ’s thorn.
What was the Egyptian system of water management?
Egyptians developed and utilized a form of water management known as basin irrigation. This practice allowed them to control the rise and fall of the river to best suit their agricultural needs. A crisscross network of earthen walls was formed in a field of crops that would be flooded by the river.
Overview
The civilization of ancient Egypt was indebted to the Nile River and its dependable seasonal flooding. The river’s predictability and fertile soil allowed the Egyptians to build an empire on the basis of great agricultural wealth. Egyptians are credited as being one of the first groups of people to practice agriculture on a large scale. This was possible because of the ingenuity of the Egyptians as they developed basin irrigation. Their farming practices allowed them to grow stapl…
Beginnings of agriculture
To the west of Nile valley, eastern Sahara was the home of several Neolithic cultures. During the African humid period, this was the area with rich vegetation, and the human population in the Sahara had increased considerably by about 8000 years BC. They lived by hunting and fishing in the local lakes, and by gathering wild cereals of the Sahara, that were abundant. The cereals such as brachiaria, sorghum and urochloa were an important source of food.
Farming systems
The civilization of ancient Egypt developed in the arid climate of northern Africa. This region is distinguished by the Arabian and Libyan deserts, and the River Nile. The Nile is the longest river in the world, flowing northward from Lake Victoria and eventually emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile has two main tributaries: the Blue Nile which originates in Ethiopia, and the White Nile that flows from Uganda. While the White Nile is considered to be longer and easier to traverse, t…
Crops grown
The Egyptians grew a variety of crops for consumption, including grains, vegetables and fruits. However, their diets revolved around several staple crops, especially cereals and barley. Other major grains grown included einkorn wheat and emmer wheat, grown to make bread. Other staples for the majority of the population included beans, lentils, and later chickpeas and fava beans. Root crops, such as onions, garlic and radishes were grown, along with salad crops, such as lettuce and p…
Livestock
Ancient Egyptian cattle were of four principal different types: long-horned, short-horned, polled and zebuine. The earliest evidence for cattle in Egypt is from the Faiyum region, dating back to the fifth millennium BC. In the New Kingdom, hump-backed zebuine cattle from Syria were introduced to Egypt, and seem to have replaced earlier types.
Manmade incubators, called Egyptian egg ovens, date back to the 4th century BC and were used t…
Religion and agriculture
In ancient Egypt, religion was a highly important aspect of daily life. Many of the Egyptians’ religious observances were centered on their observations of the environment, the Nile, and agriculture. They used religion as a way to explain natural phenomena, such as the cyclical flooding of the Nile and agricultural yields.
Although the Nile was directly responsible for either good or bad fortune experienced by the Egy…
See also
• Land reform in ancient Egypt
• Badari culture
Bibliography
• Jared Diamond, Guns, germs and steel. A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years, 1997.