Lesson 7: Geography & the Early Settlement of Egypt, Kush, & Canaan
How did geography affect early settlement in Egypt, Kush, and Canaan?
How did geography affect early settlement in Egypt, Kush, and Canaan?
Surrounded by deserts to the East and the West, ancient Egypt did not look like a great place to settle. However, the Nile River brought a thin strip of fertile land to the region. Just like in Mesopotamia with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, floods brought fertile silt to the land for farming. The Nile River created an entire valley of fertile land that made farming a possibility for the region. Within the Nile River Valley rose one of the most powerful ancient civilizations in history, the Egyptians.
Summary:
Environmental Factors Three important environmental factors are water, topography, and vegetation. These factors greatly affected where ancient people settled.
Early Settlement of Egypt and Kush In Egypt and Kush, most people farmed in the fertile Nile River valley. The Nile River provided fresh water in an area that was mostly desert. The topography of the Nile River valley made the land good for farming. The valley also supported useful vegetation like reeds and papyrus.
Early Settlement of Canaan In Canaan, the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee were important sources of fresh water. Much of the land, however, was too hot, dry, or hilly for farming. As a result, many people, including the ancient Israelites, were herders rather than farmers. Herders were nomads who moved from place to place to find grasslands where their animals could graze.