Nile River

Located in Africa is the longest river on earth. It measures 4,132 miles and is called the Nile River. The word "Nile" originated with a Greek work, Neilos, and also an Egyptian word that means "valley" or "great river." In ancient Egypt, the river was called "Ar" or "Aur" which means black. This name stood for the rich, black soil that was a result of the flood waters that would nourish the soil along the banks of the Nile. Although the Nile River is usually associated with the country of Egypt, only 22% of the river actually runs through the country.

Many infamous people have traveled along the waters of the Nile River. This includes Antony and Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Alexander the Great, Ramses II, King Tut and Caesar. There are many amazing sites along the way, including Aswan, Luxor, Esna, Kom Ombo and Edfu.

The river winds its way through the deserts of Egypt, creating a green fertile valley. The banks of the Nile are where the early Egyptians lived and farmed. They used the soil in to produce food for themselves and their livestock. In fact, ancient Egypt could not have existed without the resources they gained from the River Nile. Because of the desert and lack of rainfall, the river became a key component to their survival.

Between the months of June and September every year, the Ethiopian highlands produce heavy summer rains. The Egyptians used the word "akhet" to describe the flooding, which translated means inundation. This would send a torrent of water onto the banks of the Nile. The floods would leave rich thick mud, also called black silt, that was especially fertile soil for growing a harvest for the Egyptians. Until the Aswan Dam was built in 1960, the floods were uncontrolled. This was especially helpful when the huge flood came in 1970.

Growing along the banks of the Nile River were reeds, also called papyrus. The English word "paper" comes from the word "papyrus." This was an Egyptian word that meant "that which belongs to the house," referring to the bureaucracy of ancient Egypt. These reeds were used by the Egyptians to make mattresses, chairs, boats, mats, sandals and baskets. Paper, however, was found to be the important use of the plant leaves. As the Egyptians moved into the written word, they found papyrus to be a better medium than stone. Papyrus is thin, strong, easy to carry, durable and light weight. It may have been used as early as 4,000 BC and was a medium for Egyptian writing for thousands of years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6466837

Posted in: Acient Egypt