The Influence of the Nile

The role of the Nile River is a major component in the archaeology of ancient Egypt, as its dynamic nature and impact on soil fertility were so pervasive both over the course of this ancient society, and throughout the lives of its people. The Nile River had a profound influence within the sociocultural, political, and economic contexts of the riverine society in ancient Egypt (Hassan, 1997) and its effects were formative on a variety of levels. The fertile floodplains the Nile River produced through its annual flooding were instrumental in the growth of ancient Egyptian society, as it enabled increased population and subsequently maintained a relatively large population (Hassan, 1997). This prosperity in farming, facilitated by the Nile’s inundation, served as an economic foundation in pharaonic Egypt and the food grown by farmers fed the nation at all socioeconomic levels (Bard, 2015). Hassan (1997) notes the effect of the Nile River on ancient Egypt’s sociopolitical landscape, suggesting that the anxiety surrounding the unpredictability of the Nile’s floods was likely a factor in shaping the political and ideological structures in ancient Egypt society and its desire for stability. This interaction between fluctuations in flooding and political power was also evident during periods of low floods, which led to famine and subsequent societal unrest (Bard, 2015).  The connectivity between nomes and national capitals, aided by navigation along the Nile, contributed to a political structure that supported the Pharaoh, as resources paid to royal stores were put towards temples and monuments that conveyed political and ideological meanings (Hassan, 1997). Finally, the flood cycle and following growing periods served as a basis for the seasons in the organization of their civil calendar, and thus had a foundational effect on matters of the state (Bard, 2015). From these numerous interactions, it is fascinating how the Nile River and its associated floodplain processes were so influential within the context of ancient Egyptian culture.

As the Nile River is integral in the archaeological scholarship of ancient Egypt, it also presents certain challenges for excavation efforts in its modern milieu. The importance of the Nile River for settlement patterns and economics in today’s society is still very strong. Modern building activities have taken place in the floodplain region over ancient sites and both man-made interventions (e.g., the Aswan High Dam) and natural shifts of the Nile (Hassan, 1997) inhibit access to such sites. There is also the interesting matter of differential preservation, in that the archaeological evidence from temples and mortuary complexes are more likely to have survived than material from villages and cities (Bard, 2015). Therefore, this creates an obstacle in uncovering what non-royal and non-elite life was like in ancient Egypt.

Bard, Kathryn. The Environmental Background to Pharaonic Civilization: Geography, Environment, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. In: Bard, Kathryn. An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Hoboken: New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015;47-67.

Hassan, Fekri. 1997. The Dynamics of a Riverine Civilization: A Geoarchaeological Perspective on the Nile Valley, Egypt. World Archaeology 29(1):51-74.

One thought on “The Influence of the Nile

  1. I have always been fascinated with topics that relate to the environmental impact on societies. I find it interesting that ancient societies build their way of life around the land they live on. This topic is very relevant to today’s world as well. Lately, our beachfront states have been preparing and adapting to the hurricanes sweeping through their homes. Of course, Egypt does not have hurricanes, but their floods cause detrimental damage to their life as the hurricanes do to our lives today. With the knowledge of not being able to control the flood, they instead created technology to allow them to predict the flooding as well as to keep track of when the flood season is upon them. They turned this once devastating season into something they can work to their advantage. Allowing their agricultural technologies to expand and sustain a much larger diverse population. This development allows the Egyptian Dynasties to flourish and expand- allowing more free time for people to explore other disciplines and expand their knowledge. The Nile allowed for easy transportation through most parts, connecting Nome’s and allowing the power of the Pharaoh to flow throughout the region. With this reach the Pharaohs can easily collect from the Nome’s or to even call the Nomarchs forward to pay their respects to him. In all, I thought you made an interesting discussion of the impact the Nile had on Ancient Egypt. It is very insightful as to how the Egyptian used their location to their advantage.

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