Geography of Ancient Egypt

By: Maelea Radford, Hannah Tan, and Josh Cate

The Land

Egypt is located in the northeastern corner of Africa, but its easternmost region, the Sinai Peninsula, is part of Asia. To the west and south, Egypt shares borders with the African countries of Libya and Sudan.The Mediterranean Sea washes Egypt's northern shore, and the Sinai Peninsula is also bordered by the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Ancient Egyptian Deserts

The landscape of ancient Egypt was made up mostly of vast, barren deserts, but there was also fertile soil and a water source.

'Red Land'

The 'Red Land' was the desert that surrounded Egypt from two sides.It was so vast and barren that it was able to protect Egypt from its neighbor countries and crossed out any attempts of armies invading from either of those areas.

'Black Land'

The Black Land was the area that the Nile River's floods covered. It was called 'Black Land' bacause of the black-colored silt that washed up onto the surrounding land after a flood. This was the only farmable land in ancient Egypt since land not near the Nile was totally dry.

Nile River in Ancient EgyptThe Nile River was important to Ancient Egypt for many reasons.  It was (and is) over 4160 miles long.  Its original name was "Ar"( which meant "black") because of the black soil/mud left on the banks after the annual flood.

 Nile River "Slithers"

The Nile is like a snake. It slithers through some of the driest deserts. Around the Nile is where most life is and you couldn't survive on your own in the desert.  

The Nile as a Source of Life

Without the Nile, Ancient Egypt would not have existed.  Rain was rare in Egypt, so floods were almost the only source of water to help crops live and grow.  When heavy rain came to Ethiopia in the summers, it sent water to the Nile, and the mud it made along the way was the reason for the fertile soil. 

Nile River Flooding

Every year, the snow in the Mountains of East Africa melts, sending lots of water that overflows the banks of the Nile. The river carries bits of soil and plant life called silt. The silt is left behind once the flood is over. It helps make the soil around it very rich.

The Nile Delta:  Fertile Land

Several different type of crops were grown by the Egyptians such as: barley, rice, corn, beans, wheat, and citrus fruits.   

The Nile River Delta

The Nile River Delta was a source of protection to Ancient Egypt. It was a source of protection because it only had marshy and swampy land, so ships couldn't cut through the delta to Ancient Egypt. The water was also very shallow. 

Large cities are part of the Nile Delta

Cairo, Egypt's capital, is one of the largest cities and is also at the base of the Nile Delta.   Alexandria is the second largest city in the Nile Delta, it was founded by Alexander the Great.   Both of these cities are trading areas and are important to Egypt.

Fun Facts

-Ancient Egypt was only stretched along the Nile River. It was 1000 miles long from bottom to top, but only 5 miles across. Egypt's borders were much larger, though.-Ancient Egyptians built Pyramids to house their important deceased people.