Erin
Bumgarner
Honors 141
9/5/02
THE EFFECTS OF THE NILE ON THE EGYPTIAN KINGDOM
I. PROVIDED NATURAL DEFENSE
a) East, west = deserts
b) South = cataracts
c) North = swamps
d) Interesting Fact: American Colonies' geography = Egyptian geography
II. PROVIDED ECONOMIC POWER
a) Trade
b) Transportation
c) Food surplus
i. Nile flooded once a year (provided silt)
ii. Harvest many times a year
iii. Wheat, papyrus
d) Interesting Facts:
i. Economic Power = "personal property of Roman emperor"
ii. Italy couldn't feed Rome, imported food
iii. America's wealth source = Egypt's wealth source = food
iv. Interest Rate of Rome after conquering Egypt plummeted
III. PROVIDED POWER TO THE PHAROAH
a. International economic power
b. Pharoah was a god- "Horus Incarnate"
c. Peaceful kingdom- "utopia"
d. Interesting Facts:
i. Pharoah was never blamed
ii. Egyptians rebelled against Persians because no god was provided
References
Bowman, Alan. Egypt after the Pharoahs. Los Angeles: University
of
California Press, 1986.
James, TGH. An Introduction to Ancient Egypt. New York: British
Museum
Publications, 1979.
Summary:
J.C. Armstrong Honors 141
Report Summary September 8, 2002
The Nile River had an effect on Egyptian Kingdom in several different
ways. The Nile provided an almost impenetrable natural defense to
the ancient Egyptian Kingdom. The Nile also allowed Egypt to become
an economic power by creating food surpluses from multiple harvests
after the annual flooding. Finally, the Nile enhanced the Pharaoh's
power domestically, by giving him or her status of a god, and by
giving him or her international authority to control food trade
to foreign lands.
The Egyptian Kingdom was well guarded by natural defense borders
on all sides. The eastern and western borders were deserts, which
were too large and hot for any ancient army to attempt to cross.
In the south, cataracts or rapids were impassable to any ship. The
swamps in the north provided similar defenses to enemy ships.
The Nile also gave the Egyptian Kingdom economic wealth. Transportation
of food up and down the Nile was relatively easy, so trade flourished.
The Nile flooded annually, which inundated, or provided silt, to
the soil. The rich soil allowed multiple harvests and created a
food surplus in key crops such as wheat and papyrus. That food surplus
became a key part of the Roman economy. Italy was unable to feed
all of Rome, so food had to be imported from Egypt. Egypt's food
surplus, along with other types of wealth, contributed to Rome's
interest rate falling from 12% to 4% immediately after Egypt was
conquered by Rome.
The Nile also increased the Pharaoh's power. The Pharaoh had international
economic power by controlling the food trade. The economic and political
stability in Egypt created passive, loyal peasants. Pharaoh became
a blameless God. Pharaoh was able to take credit for good growing
seasons yet if there was a poor harvest, the peasants were blamed.
The Pharaoh's role as "Horus Incarnate" was very important
to the Egyptian people. In fact, the Egyptians rebelled against
the Persians because they offered no such God.