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Ancient Egypt: Difference between revisions
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===Natural Resources=== | ===Natural Resources=== | ||
'''summary''' | |||
* ancient Egypt had bountiful resources, principally | |||
** Nile river: | |||
*** provided water and silt for agriculture | |||
*** natural plants, especially papyrus (used for paper, baskets, boats) and flax (used for textiles and ropes) | |||
** salts, used for embalming, and gypsum, used for plaster | |||
** copper, gold | |||
*** used for | |||
click EXPAND for details: | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | |||
* Nile for fishing, irrigation, movement | * Nile for fishing, irrigation, movement | ||
* silt carried by Nile replenishes the soil annually | * silt carried by Nile replenishes the soil annually | ||
* Nile Delta = extremely productive, fertile land that required irrigation for large scale farming | * Nile Delta = extremely productive, fertile land that required irrigation for large scale farming | ||
* papyrus: for building, boats, and paper | * Nile = one of the greatest agricultural regions of the ancient world | ||
* core crops included: | |||
** flax: for linen cloth and vegetable oil | |||
** grains, such as wheat and barley | |||
** fruits, such as figs, and melons and assorted vegetables | |||
** papyrus: for building, boats, and paper | |||
* many animals living along Nile | |||
'''mining''' | |||
* sandstone | |||
* limestone: abundant from mountains along Nile; soft stone can be cut with bronze tools | * limestone: abundant from mountains along Nile; soft stone can be cut with bronze tools | ||
** | ** good article on Limestone that can be used with students: [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/material.htm Building Materials of the Pyramids Builders] | ||
** for literary connection see the poem, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Praise_of_Limestone "In Praise of Limestone" by W. H. Auden, 1948]) Very complicated and difficult, but it's an interesting reference, as Auden discussed limestone as being | ** for literary connection see the poem, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Praise_of_Limestone "In Praise of Limestone" by W. H. Auden, 1948]) Very complicated and difficult, but it's an interesting reference, as Auden discussed limestone as being | ||
* abundant minerals in mountains, especially to southeast of Egypt, including copper, gold | * abundant minerals in mountains, especially to southeast of Egypt, including copper, gold, lead | ||
* Sinai provided copper | * Sinai provided copper, lead, turquoise | ||
** see [http://members.multimania.nl/fredwevers/sinai.htm The land of Sinai: Location and Natural Resources] | ** see [http://members.multimania.nl/fredwevers/sinai.htm The land of Sinai: Location and Natural Resources] | ||
* | * Wadi Natrun | ||
** | ** a natural depression west of the Nile Delta with desert, minerals, and salty lakes and marshes that was an important source for: | ||
** | *** natron (for embalming) | ||
*** gypsum (for plaster) | |||
* Wadi Hammamat, desert region east of Thebes (Upper Egypt) | |||
** principal mining region, supplying: | |||
*** basalts, quartz, gold, and sandstone | |||
* '''resources that Egypt lacked and/or imported:''' | |||
** lacked wood, and imported it from Lebanon and Asia Minor via the Phoenicians | |||
** imported minerals, metals, gems, dyes, and other goods from across the Mediterranean Sea region, the Middle East, Indus (India), and Nubia, Punt, and the Red Sea. | |||
* sources | * sources | ||
** [http://www.historylink101.net/egypt_1/a-natural_resources.htm Natural Resources in Ancient Egypt] | ** [http://www.historylink101.net/egypt_1/a-natural_resources.htm Natural Resources in Ancient Egypt] | ||
**[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Egypt Geography of Egypt] (wikipedia) | **[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Egypt Geography of Egypt] (wikipedia) | ||
** [http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/egypt/farming.htm farming in ancient Egypt] - useful for students | ** [http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/egypt/farming.htm farming in ancient Egypt] - useful for students | ||
</div> | |||
==Etymology/ Word Origins== | ==Etymology/ Word Origins== | ||