Egyptian Egyptian AgricultureAgriculture

Irrigation

• Inundation (flood) run-off provided most water

• 2/3 of land drained naturally by inundation

• Other channels used Shaduf

Harvest

• 20 000 – 34 000 acres of cultivated land

• Harvest usually before inundation (May-June)

• Everyone (except rich/servants) harvested – havesting ‘teams’ travelled between rich estates

• 1.5-2.5 million tons of wheat each harvest

Crops

• Emmer, wheat, barley (for bread & beer), ‘pekha’ (unknown grain), flax (rope and cloth)

• Papyrus (paper, boats, ropes, mats)

• Kiki/castor oil

Seasonal Crops

Summer Autumn Winter Spring

•Figs,

•plums,

•watermelon,

•lettuce, •Colocynth (apple/cucumber),

•leeks,

•melons,

•tiger nuts,

•cucumber,

•fenugreek

•Melons,

•tiger nuts,

•fenugreek,

•dates,

•pomegranates,

•grapes,

•cumin,

•ziziphus,

•carob

•Carob,

•lettuce,

•garlic,

•celery,

•radishes,

•lentils,

•cumin,

•coriander,

•peas

•Garlic,

•celery,

•radishes,

•lentils,

•cumin,

•peas,

•fava beans,

•onions,

•chick peas

Animal Husbandry

• Cattle – well suited to Khmet– Horned oxen, hornless

oxen, long horned oxen (wild)

• Sheep – black and ‘light’• Goats – eaten widely by

all classes– Skin used as water

containers and floats

• Horses – for the rich only – and never used for carrying goods or ploughing– Initially used for chariots– War chariot and hunting steed

• Beasts of Burden– Donkey– Oxen for ploughing

• Fish – from rivers, ponds and water features

Other:

• Ferrets – (anti-rodent)

• Cats – pets (as well as doves, falcons, monkeys, ducks, geese)

• Dogs – used for hunting or guarding– Not used as pets