Research of Settlement
Many know of the Egyptian times where the pharaohs
ruled, the pyramids were being built to bury the countries rulers, and the
hieroglyphics were written all over the walls of the structures and pyramids. However,
what caused for the success of this civilization had to do with geographical
aspects of the country and what resources were available to them. Around 6000
B.C. is when the first signs of early settlement were noted and continued to
advance until around 3000 B.C. when the first dynasty of Egypt was established (Gascoigne,
n.d.). The earliest settlers, according to Gascoigne (n.d.), were
hunter-gatherers but then shifted towards agriculture due to the environments
that the land had.
The earliest settlers of Egypt were drawn to the Nile River, and that is why most of the settlements were located near the river; the Nile was the center and source of survival for them (History World, n.d.). A water source is always essential to civilizations and settlements in order to thrive, especially for food, animals, and agriculture, which is what these people lived off of during these times. The Nile provided that for them due to the flooding of the river every year and deposition of soil (History World, n.d.). They were also drawn to the landscape of Egypt. The Nile River provided them with a water source so they could plant crops and produce food to survive, but the desert landscape gave them the type of land where crop growing is productive. The wet and flat lands (near the Nile of course) enabled them to grow productive crops such as papyrus, wheat, and barley (Frey, Bergez, & Joseph, 2004).
With the Nile River came many resources that helped characterize the Egyptian culture from the times of early settlement. As mentioned earlier, the Nile flooded every year, depositing rich soil that allowed for the growth of crops such as wheat, barley, and especially papyrus (Frey, Bergez, & Joseph, 2004). The crops provided the settlers with a productive source of food; however, papyrus was a crop that was essential to the early settlers and Egyptian culture. The Egyptian people used this coarse plant as a source of paper, which allowed them to establish a system of written communication: hieroglyphics (Rymer, n.d.). The settlers also had plentiful access to stone including limestone, quartzite, granite, and copper (Rymer, n.d.). These resources were also essential to the Egyptian culture. Limestone was used to build the pyramids that held the rulers of their civilization (Dunn, n.d.). Without the access of these stone resources, the Egyptians could not have possibly been able to build such structures. Essentially, the Nile was the most used resource by the early settlers that provided them with other resources such as stone and the ability to grow certain crops. And eventually, these resources caused the early people of Egypt to settle in the area and establish what most know as the Egyptian culture in ancient times.
As time went on, the history of the early settlement started to shape the Egyptian society. In 3100 B.C., the first dynasty was created (Archaic period) with King Menes along with hieroglyphic writing on papyrus and the King ideology (HISTORY, n.d.). The villages were small and the economy was based upon the farming along the Nile River (HISTORY, n.d.). Then, with the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 B.C.), the ruling of the pharaohs began, the pyramids were being built, and the country lived a period of prosperity, peace, and power (HISTORY, n.d.). Just like many other countries, Egypt had succession of rulers, wars, and conflicts. However, “The conquest of Egypt by the Arabs in the seventh century A.D. and the introduction of Islam would do away with the last outward aspects of ancient Egyptian culture and propel the country towards its modern incarnation” (HISTORY, n.d.).
As suggested by the author of Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond, geography has a major impact on how the course of history has played out (2005). Different environments have different resources that allow for certain people to thrive and for others to not. The type of resources available in Egypt proves this because, as mentioned before, the Nile River allowed for the settlers of Egypt to grow crops and have a source of water. The deserts also provided them with a natural protective barrier from unwanted intruders (Frey, Bergez, & Joseph, 2004). The climate is hot and very dry and having to cross the vast deserts of Egypt would be a brutal task without water. Egypt is also located in the Mediterranean zone where most civilizations seem to settle and thrive. So ultimately, the convenience of having the Nile located in between two deserts is a geographical factor that affected the location and success of settlement like Jared Diamond had suggested.
In addition, Diamond’s diffusion of goods and ideas theory is support by the early settlement of Egypt (2005). The Nile River itself was a huge reason for the diffusion of goods and ideas because it was a method of transportation. In fact, the reason for Egypt’s prosperity and accomplishments during the Old Kingdom and not the Archaic period is because of Diamond’s theory of diffusion of goods and ideas. The people of the Archaic period had not discovered what made Egypt so prosperous during the Old Kingdom, possibly because they had not traveled down the Nile to discover gold and limestone and other resources. The Nile extended across all of Egypt, which allowed goods and ideas to be discovered and spread across the entire country. This form of transportation would also help the economic future of the country as well.
Overall, all of the resources that drew and supported early settlement in present day Egypt support and illustrate theories from Diamond’s book Guns, Germs and Steel (2005). Geography and environmental settings do have a tremendous impact on the history of the world because certain factors help certain settlements and civilizations to flourish or get ahead of others. The reason for Egypt’s success was because of the Nile River and the resources that flourished along the Nile. They had land to grow crops such as wheat and barley, which can be grown in large amounts and do not require much labor. They also had a major water source really close to home and could grow papyrus in the river and use it to have written communication. The climate and desert landscape was another factor for the success and early settlement of the country. Eventually, these resources caused for the building of the great pyramids and the prosperity of the country, which leads to modern day Egyptian civilization. Geography and environment will continue to affect Egypt as well as the rest of the world.
The earliest settlers of Egypt were drawn to the Nile River, and that is why most of the settlements were located near the river; the Nile was the center and source of survival for them (History World, n.d.). A water source is always essential to civilizations and settlements in order to thrive, especially for food, animals, and agriculture, which is what these people lived off of during these times. The Nile provided that for them due to the flooding of the river every year and deposition of soil (History World, n.d.). They were also drawn to the landscape of Egypt. The Nile River provided them with a water source so they could plant crops and produce food to survive, but the desert landscape gave them the type of land where crop growing is productive. The wet and flat lands (near the Nile of course) enabled them to grow productive crops such as papyrus, wheat, and barley (Frey, Bergez, & Joseph, 2004).
With the Nile River came many resources that helped characterize the Egyptian culture from the times of early settlement. As mentioned earlier, the Nile flooded every year, depositing rich soil that allowed for the growth of crops such as wheat, barley, and especially papyrus (Frey, Bergez, & Joseph, 2004). The crops provided the settlers with a productive source of food; however, papyrus was a crop that was essential to the early settlers and Egyptian culture. The Egyptian people used this coarse plant as a source of paper, which allowed them to establish a system of written communication: hieroglyphics (Rymer, n.d.). The settlers also had plentiful access to stone including limestone, quartzite, granite, and copper (Rymer, n.d.). These resources were also essential to the Egyptian culture. Limestone was used to build the pyramids that held the rulers of their civilization (Dunn, n.d.). Without the access of these stone resources, the Egyptians could not have possibly been able to build such structures. Essentially, the Nile was the most used resource by the early settlers that provided them with other resources such as stone and the ability to grow certain crops. And eventually, these resources caused the early people of Egypt to settle in the area and establish what most know as the Egyptian culture in ancient times.
As time went on, the history of the early settlement started to shape the Egyptian society. In 3100 B.C., the first dynasty was created (Archaic period) with King Menes along with hieroglyphic writing on papyrus and the King ideology (HISTORY, n.d.). The villages were small and the economy was based upon the farming along the Nile River (HISTORY, n.d.). Then, with the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 B.C.), the ruling of the pharaohs began, the pyramids were being built, and the country lived a period of prosperity, peace, and power (HISTORY, n.d.). Just like many other countries, Egypt had succession of rulers, wars, and conflicts. However, “The conquest of Egypt by the Arabs in the seventh century A.D. and the introduction of Islam would do away with the last outward aspects of ancient Egyptian culture and propel the country towards its modern incarnation” (HISTORY, n.d.).
As suggested by the author of Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond, geography has a major impact on how the course of history has played out (2005). Different environments have different resources that allow for certain people to thrive and for others to not. The type of resources available in Egypt proves this because, as mentioned before, the Nile River allowed for the settlers of Egypt to grow crops and have a source of water. The deserts also provided them with a natural protective barrier from unwanted intruders (Frey, Bergez, & Joseph, 2004). The climate is hot and very dry and having to cross the vast deserts of Egypt would be a brutal task without water. Egypt is also located in the Mediterranean zone where most civilizations seem to settle and thrive. So ultimately, the convenience of having the Nile located in between two deserts is a geographical factor that affected the location and success of settlement like Jared Diamond had suggested.
In addition, Diamond’s diffusion of goods and ideas theory is support by the early settlement of Egypt (2005). The Nile River itself was a huge reason for the diffusion of goods and ideas because it was a method of transportation. In fact, the reason for Egypt’s prosperity and accomplishments during the Old Kingdom and not the Archaic period is because of Diamond’s theory of diffusion of goods and ideas. The people of the Archaic period had not discovered what made Egypt so prosperous during the Old Kingdom, possibly because they had not traveled down the Nile to discover gold and limestone and other resources. The Nile extended across all of Egypt, which allowed goods and ideas to be discovered and spread across the entire country. This form of transportation would also help the economic future of the country as well.
Overall, all of the resources that drew and supported early settlement in present day Egypt support and illustrate theories from Diamond’s book Guns, Germs and Steel (2005). Geography and environmental settings do have a tremendous impact on the history of the world because certain factors help certain settlements and civilizations to flourish or get ahead of others. The reason for Egypt’s success was because of the Nile River and the resources that flourished along the Nile. They had land to grow crops such as wheat and barley, which can be grown in large amounts and do not require much labor. They also had a major water source really close to home and could grow papyrus in the river and use it to have written communication. The climate and desert landscape was another factor for the success and early settlement of the country. Eventually, these resources caused for the building of the great pyramids and the prosperity of the country, which leads to modern day Egyptian civilization. Geography and environment will continue to affect Egypt as well as the rest of the world.
References
Diamond, J. (2005). Guns, germs and steel: The fate of human societies. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Dunn, J. (n.d.). Building materials of the pyramid builders. Tour Egypt. Retrieved from http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/material.htm
Frey, W., Bergez, J., & Joseph, A. (2004). Geography and the early settlement of Egypt, Kush, and Canaan. History alive: The ancient world (Chapter 7). Retrieved from http://www.riverdell.org/cms/lib05/NJ01001380/Centricity/Domain/187/ch_7_and_8_Geography_and_early_settlements_of_Egypt,_Kush_and_Canaan.pdf
Gascoigne, B. (n.d.). History of Egypt. Retrieved from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa28
HISTORY. (n.d.). Ancient Egypt. HISTORY. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/ancient-egypt
History World. (n.d.). History of Egypt. History World. Retrieved from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa28
Rymer, E. (n.d.). Natural resources in ancient Egypt. History Link 101. Retrieved from http://historylink101.com/n/egypt_1/a-natural_resources.htm
Dunn, J. (n.d.). Building materials of the pyramid builders. Tour Egypt. Retrieved from http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/material.htm
Frey, W., Bergez, J., & Joseph, A. (2004). Geography and the early settlement of Egypt, Kush, and Canaan. History alive: The ancient world (Chapter 7). Retrieved from http://www.riverdell.org/cms/lib05/NJ01001380/Centricity/Domain/187/ch_7_and_8_Geography_and_early_settlements_of_Egypt,_Kush_and_Canaan.pdf
Gascoigne, B. (n.d.). History of Egypt. Retrieved from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa28
HISTORY. (n.d.). Ancient Egypt. HISTORY. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/ancient-egypt
History World. (n.d.). History of Egypt. History World. Retrieved from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa28
Rymer, E. (n.d.). Natural resources in ancient Egypt. History Link 101. Retrieved from http://historylink101.com/n/egypt_1/a-natural_resources.htm