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
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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.
