Chapter 7 Geography and the Early

Settlement of Egypt, Kush, and Canaan

Egyptians

Kushites

Hebrews

Why did these people settle

where they did?

Introduction• 3 Civilizations from Africa and

southwestern Asia– Egyptian Civilization

• Settled along the Nile River

• Lasted 3100 BCE - 350 CE

– Kush civilization• Settled in Egypt along

the southern part of the Nile

• Lasted 2000 BCE - 350 CE

– Hebrew civilization• Settled in Canaan• Lasted 1800 BCE - 70 CE

• Significance of Location– Environmental factors

• water• topography (the shape

of the land)• vegetation (plant life)

– Geography• rivers• mountains• valleys• deserts• climate• soil fertility

Environmental Factors and Early Human Settlement

Most important element in early human settlement• Sanitation

• Fresh drinking water• need water to bathe

and wash things• Source of food

• Catch fish• Hunt water birds and

other animals• Grow crops

• Transportation• rivers used as

highways• visit relatives• trade goods

Water

Environmental Factors and Early Human Settlement

• Plains and valleys• good location for farming• excellent for growing crops

• Mountains and deserts• Less friendly• difficult to cross• farming difficult• less water

Topography

Environmental Factors and Early Human Settlement

• Effect of physical features• mild weather, regular rain and fresh water

are good for plant life• areas around rivers and lakes - green and

lush• mountains usually covered in trees• deserts - dry and hot, little vegetation

• How vegetation influenced settlement• plants are a source of food• useful products made out of plants

• medicine• baskets• rope• tools• paper

• trees provide shade from the sunVege

tatio

n

Environmental Factors and the Early Settlement of Egypt and Kush

• Physical Features of Egypt and Kush– Nile River

• long fertile valley• marshy delta by the Mediterranean Sea

– Libyan, Arabian, and Nubian Desert• hot and dry• natural barrier to protect people

– Mediterranean Sea• rich in fish• waterway that linked ancient Egypt to other civilizations

– Red Sea• climate was hot and dry• surrounded by desert

Environmental Factors and Human Settlement in Egypt and Kush

– water• natural irrigation and

fertilization– regular flooding left rich

soil for crops• fish to catch• animals to hunt

– geese– hippos– crocodiles– giraffes– ostriches

– topography• southern end of Nile - narrow

valleys and hills• wide areas of flat land around

deep river bends• north - wide plains were

covered by Nile flooding

– vegetation• plentiful• Useful plants

– reeds» baskets» roofs

– papyrus» ropes» paper

• crops– wheat– barley

Environmental Factors and the Early Settlement of Canaan

• Physical Features of Canaan– West - coastal plains bordering the Mediterranean– North - Lebanon Mountains rise steeply from coast

• Southern part of this range becomes the lower hills of Galilee

– Jordan River flows through middle of Canaan• Flows through Sea and Galilee and ends at the Dead

Sea• Land around river valley includes hills, grassy slopes

and mountains

– East - hot, dry Syrian Desert– Southwest - Negev Desert

Environmental Factors and the Early Settlement of Canaan

• Environmental Factors and Human Settlement in Canaan

– Water• Mediterranean Sea

– Wet, fertile plains near sea were farmed

– Allowed traders from many lands to visit

• Sea of Galilee– freshwater lake– plentiful fish – fertile land

• Dead Sea– Salty– surrounding land is hot, dry,

and unsuitable for farming

• Jordan River– provided hunting, fishing,

and farming– did not flood regularly

– Topography• Easiest to live in coastal plains and

near Jordan• Hilly land difficult for crops

– People were herders instead of farmers

» Herders were nomads» Nomads wander from place

to place in search of good land for their animals to graze - no permanent home

» Tended flocks of sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, and camels

• Mountains hardest area to settle– Some nomads herd cattle and

camels in the Negev and Syrian Deserts

– Vegetation• Most plentiful near the Jordan

River• Some light forests• Grasslands common

Summary

• What are the 3 Environmental Factors that determine where early civilizations settled?

• How did topography differ in Egypt and Kush versus Canaan?

• What are the role of Nomads in Canaan?

Assignment:

• You have read two texts and watched a video describing the topography of Ancient Egypt. All 3 include information about traveling in Egypt.

• “Chapter 7 – Geography and Early Settlement of Egypt, Kush, and Canaan”

• “Egyptian Trade” Article• “Five Facts about Ancient Egypt – Geography for Kids” • Take on the role of a trader in Ancient Egypt. Make an entry in

your travel journal that tells what you have experienced in your travels and the dangers you may have encountered that day.