Why Was the Nile River Important for the Rise of Successful States in North Africa - Essay Example

? Why was the Nile River important for the rise of successful s in North Africa? Many people describe river Nile as a unique river. Upon the mentioning of River Nile, what comes into the mind is the Egyptian civilization. Most of the history of Nile River has a connection to Egyptian civilization. Were it, not for river Nile, there would not be the rise of successful states in North Africa and particularly Egypt. The river originates1 from the Blue Nile and White Nile tributaries originating from Ethiopian highlands and Lake Victoria respectively. The river flows in the northern direction for about 2000 kilometers through the Sahara. Nile River is 10 kilometers wide and supports thousands of people in strips of arable land. The river Nile valley can be regarded as a narrow and long oasis where human beings live, thanks to the river. It is the longest river so far in the world. There are several ways through which Nile River was crucial for the rise of successful states in North Africa. This paper will discuss the importance of river Nile in the rise of successful states in Northern Africa. First, due to River Nile, the people living on both banks of the river can be able to produce abundant harvests. There was a myth of the miracle in river Nile. The annual flooding of the river was much beneficial to farmers along the river. Annual flooding was advantageous to the farmers around the river as there was silt deposit after the flooding. When the river flooded, it left nutrients to the farms which were essential for growing healthy crops. The river was rising in the summer from the rains in Ethiopian highlands and central Africa between September and October. The flooding was recurrent, and farmers could predict the seasons of agriculture (Erik & Reynolds, 2012). The deposits of silt left by the river enriched the soil. This land was referred to as the fertile land. The flooding of the river could not be seen as life threatening but life enhancing. Unlike the flooding of Mesopotamia Rivers, Nile’s flooding could be predicted and used to be gradual. Although an organized irrigation system was still necessary, the villages along the Nile River made an effort without state interventions. Abundant supply of the food was one of the factors that led to civilization. The civilization in Egypt was rural with a majority of small population centers located along the narrow band of river Nile. The river splits 2into two branches before emptying into Mediterranean Sea. River Nile forms a delta which is a triangular shaped territory, commonly referred to as the Lower Egypt. The river created a large area; several miles wide at the banks. The created area was capable of producing plenty of harvests. The most famous cities in Egypt developed at the delta of river Nile. Up to date, a large population of people in Egypt is crowded at the banks of river Nile. The surplus food, grown along river Nile, led to prosperity of cities. Trade was established between cities, and leading trade items included agricultural products, fish, goats, sheep and cattle (Keim, 2009). The flooding enabled the Egyptians to grow wheat, beans, barley, lentils, leeks, peas, and onions. They were also able to grow fruits such as figs, dates, grapes and melons. This is an indication that the Egyptians were able to enjoy bread, wine and beer in abundance. The presence of fish in river Nile improved the food security along the river. The other reason as to why Nile River was vital for the rise of successful states in North Africa is that it served as a unifying factor. It was used as a means of transport along the cities near the river. In the ancient times, using river Nile was one of the fastest ways of travelling through the land. The river helped to make transport and communication along the states developed in North Africa. The winds originating from the north helped to push the sail boats south. Most travelers headed downstream. When people were travelling downstream, they used paddles or long poles to propel their boats in the water (Erik & Reynolds 2012, p.111). There are natural barriers 3along the river Nile that make it secure. The barriers include deserts in the east and west, the cataracts found on the south of Nile, and the Mediterranean Sea at the north. These features made the area along river Nile secure hence transport along the river used to be secure in a way. These barriers were only effective when combined with fortifications at strategic locations. Movement along the river was fast during the flooding periods. If one wanted to travel to Memphis from Thebes (approximately 500 miles), it only took two weeks during the flooding season, and more than two months when waters were low. Barges and boats constantly travelled between the various centers (Erik & Reynolds, 2012). They transported people, grains and other commodities in acute and good times. More harbors were constructed along the river; to cater for increasing sizes and number of travelling vessels. For example, a harbor was constructed at Medinet Hatu near Thebes; it was built by Amenhotep. The people who lived along the river were unable to tame it at times; although they tried to minimize its devastating effects. The factors did not prevent the development of trade along the states formed along the river. There is evidence of early trade between some cities in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The civilization in Egypt witnessed a remarkable degree of continuity in more than one thousand years. Apart from playing unifying economic roles at the basin, river Nile has had a significant influence in the establishment of many economic activities and various social systems. Many historians argued that the basis of any civilization along the river is vital; it created endless links to the environment. These links have created and recreated all elementary relationships with water, soil, and endemic diseases throughout its history. The Nile valley has had and still has more than one civilization based upon the endless and vital repeated links with the river. The diversity found on the geographical areas, cultures and ethnic groups along river Nile cannot be said to belong to a single destiny or coherent succession of time phases, despite the fact that all the inhabitants shared a common river (Erik & Reynolds, 2012). 4 As one travels to the north of Africa, the climate turns to be progressively more arid, and the importance of the river is seen as it becomes the only life-sustaining feature. River Nile played a crucial role in the history and kingdom of Kush. The kingdom of Kush extended into a number of diverse climatic conditions that offered different potentials for agriculture. There was homogeneity in the lifestyles of individuals who lived along the banks of river Nile. Some historians noted that even if it is not true for the whole of Egypt, it is true that most Egyptians embraced the delta culture, which is known as Lower Egypt. Regarding the Egyptian accounts, Diodorus Siculus indicated that, at the beginning of the universe, men came into existence in Egypt both because of the nature of river Nile and the climatic conditions of the land. He thought this way because the land produced much life and abundant supply of food. Apart from having practical purposes, river Nile had a profound spiritual influence. Many people along the river were obsessed with the concept of cosmic order. The cosmic order was personified by Ma’at, who was a goddess in charge of overseeing order and justice. Most of the activities had a place and cycle and no one was immune from this. The lives of people from Egypt were measured against the movement of sun and the cycles of river Nile. They had a god known as Re, who symbolized the daily cycle. The god was transported in a boat across the sky. In the cosmic events, the significance of objects such as barques, boats and the river itself were seen. The Osiris god was closely associated with river Nile, although Hapi was described as the highest god of river Nile. The flooding of Nile and the new life it brought to the people were symbolized by Isis meeting all of Osiris parts. They were celebrated each spring at the festive of new land (Keim, 2009). 5 River Nile attracted many people to settle along its banks for various reasons. Tribes of hunters from the nearby plateaus migrated and settled along the Nile valley. They gave up hunting and gathering as their main economic activity and started cultivating on the rich soils along river Nile. During the low season, when the river receded after the rainy seasons, these people constructed dykes, tanks, and canals so as to store water and irrigate the land. The Shadoof method of irrigation was invented to lift water from the tanks. This invention helped to initiate smooth agricultural operations (Keim, 2009). There were also other agricultural inventions such as the use of wooden ploughs, sickles and ox-driven machines. The number of villages grew at the banks of river Nile. Every village was occupied by a certain tribe, and all tribes belonged to Hamitic race, which is a subset of Caucasian race. Each of these tribes was led by a chieftain who ensured a favorable condition for his people to enhance agriculture along the river. They also ensured a favorable condition for crafts like carpentry, metal working, stonemasonry, weaving and pottery. The chieftain also led his people in conquering their neighbors. After some years of existence, the small tribal kingdoms merged and formed two large kingdoms. In 4000 B.C., there was the Lower Egypt (around the delta) and the Upper Egypt. In 3400 B.C., the two kingdoms united, under Menes, to form one kingdom. River Nile served as a physical unifying factor in upper and Lower Egypt; kingship served to unite the two areas politically. The old kingdom in Egypt comprised the third out of six dynasties in Egypt. The kingdom lasted from 2686 to 2181 BC. This was the period of splendor and prosperity which led to the construction of the largest6 and greatest pyramids in the history of Egypt. Memphis, located at the south of delta, served as the capital of the old kingdom in Egypt (Keim, 2009). There was a group of merchants and artisans who emerged along river Nile. The merchants were engaged in trade activities up and down river Nile and nearby towns and village markets. Some of them also engaged in international trade. The kings sent these merchants to Syria and Crete to obtain wood among other trade items. On the other hand, expeditions moved into Nubia kingdom via Nile to obtain trade items. There was a high standard of craftsmanship displayed by Egyptian artists. They produced a variety of products such as stone dishes, painted boxes made of clay, silver, gold, wooden furniture, copper containers and tools, ropes and papers made of papyrus and linen clothing. However, most of the people along river Nile worked on agricultural farms (Keim, 2009). 7In conclusion, the role played by Nile River in the rise of successful states in North Africa cannot be ignored. It is evident that people living on both banks of the river were able to produce abundant harvests. This was one step towards civilization. Agriculture along river Nile was promoted by the flooding of the river annually. The annual flooding of the river was much beneficial to farmers along the river as there were fertile soils deposited after the floods. The other importance of Nile is that it was used as a means of transport along the cities near the river. In the ancient times, using river Nile was one of the fastest ways of travelling through the land. Apart from having practical purposes, river Nile had a profound spiritual influence on the people living around it. The river attracted trade activities among merchants from different parts of the world. Works Cited Erik, Gilbert & Reynolds, Jonathan. Africa in World History: From Prehistory to the Present (3rd Ed.).  Pearson. 2012. Keim, Curtis. Mistaking Africa: curiosities and inventions of the American mind. Colorado: Westview Press. 2009. Read More