Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday, 17 May 2017 / No comments
The methods employed by the ancient Egyptians to develop their agriculture
Introduction
Ancient Egypt is well known for
its association with the Nile River, though the Nile passes through other
countries in the East and Northern parts of Africa. The Nile was instrumental
in the development of different agricultural practices of the ancient Egyptians.
The various agricultural practices devised by the Egyptians are discussed
below.
THE METHODS
Silting
One of the major features of the
Nile River is its perennial flooding at both banks of the river. This flooding deposited
silt on a large track of otherwise dry lands bordering both banks of the Nile.
The silt that is deposited moistened the land and made it conducive for farming
activities. The Egyptians embarked on extensive cultivation of crops after each
flooding season.
Employing the help of animals
Another method used by the
ancient Egyptians to develop their agriculture was the use of animals in the
preparation of their lands before planting. The animals were used to plough the
lands so that the top soil can be loosened for easy cultivation. One particular
animal that was mainly used was the oxen.
Use of manpower for irrigation
In the early days of agricultural
activity in Egypt, the Egyptians manually fetched the water with containers from
the Nile and directly poured it into the canals that were constructed to carry the
water to where it was needed. Though this was laborious, it was the only means
available at the time. This method was further improved with the invention of
the “shaduf” the reduce the drudgery.
The use the of the “Shaduf”
The ingenuity of the Egyptians
drove them to develop simple machines to carry water to the farmlands faster
than was hitherto the case. One machine they invented was called the “shaduf”.
It was made up of a pole, a pivot and bucket or buckets, depending on the
design. As the pole turned on the pivot, the bucket is dipped into the water to
be filled and as the pole continued to turn, the buckets, filled with water are
drawn out to be poured into the canal and the water carried away. This
technology improved water supply to the farmlands to enhance agricultural
activity.
Limiting farming activity to the
Nile Valley
At either sides of the Nile were
desert plateaus. This area was not suitable for intensive farming. For this
reason, the ancient Egyptians, limited their major agricultural activities to
the Nile valley. The desert plateaus were also used but they required the right
amount of water to be able to do so. This was where the technology of the “shaduf”
and canals were greatly needed and therefore employed.
Fishing
Agricultural activity in Egypt
was also developed through fishing. It was one of the major agricultural activities
that they engaged in. The Egyptians developed fishing implements such as the
hook and line which were used in fishing in the Nile.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. Describe how the ancient
Egyptians made use of the Nile for agricultural purposes.
