When we look at cultural history, we see the impact of geographical elements such as environment, climate and landforms on human actions, production-consumption and settlement styles, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly. Perhaps the most striking example of this situation is seen in the formation of the Egyptian Civilization. I think it would not be a wrong statement if we say that the Egyptian Civilization owes its existence to the Nile River. In fact, when we look at the history of the Near East, we see that most of the civilizations that left large or lasting traces were formed in or near large river beds, and the main settlements grew in these areas. For example, Mesopotamian cultures were shaped in the Euphrates and Tigris Basins. The famous ancient historian Herodotus says that Egypt is a gift of the Nile to the Egyptians.
In terms of culture and geography, Egypt and the Nile are perhaps the best examples of this direct interaction between other river basin cultures established in the world. In fact, the source of the Nile extends as far away as Lake Victoria in modern-day Uganda. The White Nile originating from here joins the Blue Nile, which originates from Ethiopia, in Sudan. After this long journey, after a journey of approximately 1050 km in the middle of the desert called the Valley, it divides into various branches and flows into the Mediterranean for approximately 160 km. It ends in the long Delta region. The source of Black Soil, which is considered the source of the abundance of the Nile here, comes from the Blue Nile originating from Ethiopia. The Egyptian Civilization owes its existence to the Nile River.
The Nile created an oasis for the Egyptians among the endless deserts. Egypt is an oasis unique to the Sahara. The creation of arable lands thanks to the Nile, and then the transition to controllable, that is, artificial irrigation systems, that is, the control of the Nile, caused the Egyptian Civilization to become even richer and more exalted. Here we can base the necessity of being an oasis on three basic points; A suitable soil structure, water and of course manpower to control them. The coming together of these three basic elements under appropriate conditions in the chronological process and the establishment of the system for the process to work started the civilization process. We have stated that one of the basic elements of this cycle is water source. This basic water source was created by the Nile and the springs that gave life to the Nile. As we mentioned above, the Nile originates from Abyssinia/Ethiopia. Monsoon rains, which continue throughout the year, meet the main water needs of the Nile.
Meanwhile, the amount of water it receives from sources in Sudan is another important source of the Nile. In fact, this water system causes floods starting from July, which is perhaps the hottest month in Egypt and when the drought of the desert is felt the most, and lasts until September. During these dates, the Nile water is at its highest level, Nile floods occur and the alluviums it brings create fertile agricultural areas. In fact, these areas, which initially turned into swamps due to floods, were dried with the help of artificial channels and turned into areas where grain production could be made. Thus, Nile floods were brought under control. In these fertile lands along both banks of the Nile, legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, as well as wheat and barley, were grown. There were vegetables in the orchards created in the same area and fruit trees in the same areas. The most preferred was probably the date palm tree.
