Chapter 7 Geography and the
Early
Settlement of Egypt, Kush, and
Canaan
Hebrews
Egyptians
Kushites
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
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
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 sun
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
–
–
•
•
Easiest to live in coastal plains
and near Jordan
Hilly land difficult for crops
–
Wet, fertile plains near sea were
farmed
Allowed traders from many lands
to visit
freshwater lake
plentiful fish
fertile land
Dead Sea
–
–
•
•
Sea of Galilee
–
–
–
•
– Topography
Salty
surrounding land is hot, dry, and
unsuitable for farming
Jordan River
–
–
provided hunting, fishing, and
farming
did not flood regularly
•
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.