Ancient Egypt: Difference between revisions

→‎Nile River: creating subsections for Nile
(adding sirius the dog star)
(→‎Nile River: creating subsections for Nile)
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===Nile River===
===Nile River===
'''summary'''
==== summary ====
* Nile Valley = ancient Egypt
* Nile Valley = ancient Egypt
* Egypt was accurately described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus as "The Gift of the Nile"
* Egypt was accurately described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus as "The Gift of the Nile"
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* Egypt = final 800 miles of the Nile as it runs northward to Mediterranean Sea
* Egypt = final 800 miles of the Nile as it runs northward to Mediterranean Sea
* longest river in the world: 4150 miles long!
* longest river in the world: 4150 miles long!
==== Nile geographic details ====
* Click EXPAND for [Nile River] characteristics and details:
* Click EXPAND for [Nile River] characteristics and details:
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*** June monsoon rains in Ethiopia = floods that bring silt downstream
*** June monsoon rains in Ethiopia = floods that bring silt downstream
*** see Google Earth coordinates for Blue Nile source region >> todo
*** see Google Earth coordinates for Blue Nile source region >> todo
* Nile Flooding
==== Nile Flooding ====
** length of river = long, slow flooding season in Egypt
** length of river = long, slow flooding season in Egypt
** the Nile floods slowly:  
** the Nile floods slowly:  
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**** stays high September
**** stays high September
**** slowly recedes in October
**** slowly recedes in October
** Nile floods = predictable
==== characteristics of the Nile flooding ====
* Nile floods = predictable
** Nile floods = calm
** Nile floods = calm
** floods bring silt
** floods bring silt
** flood plains = farmland, but have to be re-organized every year
** flood plains = farmland, but have to be re-organized every year
** Nile process formed Egyptian seasons of three, 4 month cycles:
* Nile process formed Egyptian seasons of three, 4 month cycles:
*** ''Akhet'' = flooding
** ''Akhet'' = flooding
**** during flooding season, farmers were displaced and could serve as laborers for large projects such as pyramids and temples
*** during flooding season, farmers were displaced and could serve as laborers for large projects such as pyramids and temples
**** also during flooding season, shipment of stone and other goods by boat more extensive due to wider river flow
*** also during flooding season, shipment of stone and other goods by boat more extensive due to wider river flow
**** for example, location of the pyramids = just beyond the flood plain
*** for example, location of the pyramids = just beyond the flood plain
**** during high flood period, Nile depth = 25-33 ft deep and current was more rapid = quicker movement
*** during high flood period, Nile depth = 25-33 ft deep and current was more rapid = quicker movement
*** ''Peret'' = growing season
** ''Peret'' = growing season
*** ''Shemu'' = harvest season (no rain)
** ''Shemu'' = harvest season (no rain)
** the star, Sirius, announces the arrival off the floods
==== appearance of the star Sirius marks flooding season ====
*** also known as the "dog star"
* the star, Sirius, announces the arrival off the floods
*** brightest start in the night sky
** also known as the "dog star"
*** when Sirius appears on the horizon after disappearing during the winter (blocked from earth's view by the sun)
** brightest start in the night sky
*** it marks the flooding season
** when Sirius appears on the horizon after disappearing during the winter (blocked from earth's view by the sun)
**** note the Greeks called the summer months the "dog days" when Sirius appears
** it marks the flooding season
* periods of drought
*** note the Greeks called the summer months the "dog days" when Sirius appears
** larger climate patterns led to times of weakened river flow and less flooding
==== periods of drought ====
** = periods of famine & political upheaval
* larger climate patterns led to times of weakened river flow and less flooding
** most important example = end of Old Kingdom and into the Middle Kingdom  
* = periods of famine & political upheaval
* Fayoum Oasis & Lake Moeris  
* most important example = end of Old Kingdom and into the Middle Kingdom  
** a basin in the desert to the west of the Nile in the upper part of Upper Egypt  
==== Fayoum Oasis & Lake Moeris ====
** Nile floods fed the lake over time
* a basin in the desert to the west of the Nile in the upper part of Upper Egypt  
*** fed by the Nile and eventually connected to the Nile by Middle Kingdom pharaohs who improved irrigation in response to low flooding
* Nile floods fed the lake over time
*** Middle Kingdom c. 2300 BC the lake was widened and the canal connecting it to the Nile deepened
** fed by the Nile and eventually connected to the Nile by Middle Kingdom pharaohs who improved irrigation in response to low flooding
*** the lake served as reservoir for dry periods
** Middle Kingdom c. 2300 BC the lake was widened and the canal connecting it to the Nile deepened
** Egypt's most important oasis  
** the lake served as reservoir for dry periods
** principal Neolithic site (early agriculture)
* Egypt's most important oasis  
*** has archeological evidence of earliest farming in Egypt
* principal Neolithic site (early agriculture)
** has archeological evidence of earliest farming in Egypt
** site of the city Crocodilopolis (Greek name) or "Faiyum" (Arabic name)  
** site of the city Crocodilopolis (Greek name) or "Faiyum" (Arabic name)  
** oases and water sources plenty by digging wells in lowlands alongside the Nile
** oases and water sources plenty by digging wells in lowlands alongside the Nile
*** see [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/fayoumhistory.htm by The History of the Fayoum Oasis] by Jimmy Dunn, TourEgypt.net
*** see [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/fayoumhistory.htm by The History of the Fayoum Oasis] by Jimmy Dunn, TourEgypt.net
* Aswan Dam  
==== Aswan Dam ====
** completed in 1970, built to control flooding
* completed in 1970, built to control flooding
** located at "first cataract" >> = the northernmost waterfall
* located at "first cataract" >> = the northernmost waterfall
* sources:
==== sources ====
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Nile Nile River wikipedia article]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Nile Nile River wikipedia article]
** [http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag05012001-magf4a.htm The Nile River by Marie Parsons, Touregypt.net]
* [http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag05012001-magf4a.htm The Nile River by Marie Parsons, Touregypt.net]
** [https://news.psu.edu/story/140715/2002/09/01/research/waters-nile The Waters of the Nile, PennState Online] - article about archaeological work at Hierakonpolis with information about the water table at the dig site
* [https://news.psu.edu/story/140715/2002/09/01/research/waters-nile The Waters of the Nile, PennState Online] - article about archaeological work at Hierakonpolis with information about the water table at the dig site
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===Isolation===
===Isolation===