GKE1 Task 1
Task One: Geography and the Development/Diffusion of Human Societies
Lori Fabre’
Part A:
The Nile River is a significant geographical feature that contributed to the development of
Egyptian society. According to (Sooma, 2013a), Egypt was an early river civilization, and had to adapt their culture to seasonal flooding of the Nile River. The Nile River flows through Central
Africa to the Mediterranean and is formed by the joining of Blue Nile and the White Nile. It is a gentle river that picks up nourishing silt on its path. In the spring, during a flood, the river deposits this rich silt and makes the land fertile where the harvest of wheat, barley, and emmer amongst other crops (Orlin, 2007, p. 40). The Egyptian calendar was dictated by this predictable flood and its subsequent recession, and a civilization was consequently formed. According to
Orlin, (2007, p. 40) inundation season was comprised of intense agricultural work. It lasted three months from July to October, and consisted of: a month of actual flood, a month of receding flood, and a month of seeding new fields. The other nine months were used as a state labor force, firstly by the nomarchy, and lastly by the pharaohs. These rulers not only maintained war and peace, they also the dictated who received the grain supply, providing a sense of ownership of the land. This, in effect, forced the establishment of government and allowed the formation of the administration of irrigation supervisors, agricultural inspectors, and tax collectors (Orlin, 2007,
p. 40-41). The entire Egyptian civilization was formed and thrived from the existence of one geographical factor, the Nile River.
Part B:
Egyptian religion was one of the earliest religions and has been diffused throughout history into many modern societies. One example of this diffusion can be seen in the view of afterlife in
Egyptian religion. According to Encyclopedia Britannica online, (2013, p. 1) Egyptian religious beliefs and practices were closely
Lori Fabre’
Part A:
The Nile River is a significant geographical feature that contributed to the development of
Egyptian society. According to (Sooma, 2013a), Egypt was an early river civilization, and had to adapt their culture to seasonal flooding of the Nile River. The Nile River flows through Central
Africa to the Mediterranean and is formed by the joining of Blue Nile and the White Nile. It is a gentle river that picks up nourishing silt on its path. In the spring, during a flood, the river deposits this rich silt and makes the land fertile where the harvest of wheat, barley, and emmer amongst other crops (Orlin, 2007, p. 40). The Egyptian calendar was dictated by this predictable flood and its subsequent recession, and a civilization was consequently formed. According to
Orlin, (2007, p. 40) inundation season was comprised of intense agricultural work. It lasted three months from July to October, and consisted of: a month of actual flood, a month of receding flood, and a month of seeding new fields. The other nine months were used as a state labor force, firstly by the nomarchy, and lastly by the pharaohs. These rulers not only maintained war and peace, they also the dictated who received the grain supply, providing a sense of ownership of the land. This, in effect, forced the establishment of government and allowed the formation of the administration of irrigation supervisors, agricultural inspectors, and tax collectors (Orlin, 2007,
p. 40-41). The entire Egyptian civilization was formed and thrived from the existence of one geographical factor, the Nile River.
Part B:
Egyptian religion was one of the earliest religions and has been diffused throughout history into many modern societies. One example of this diffusion can be seen in the view of afterlife in
Egyptian religion. According to Encyclopedia Britannica online, (2013, p. 1) Egyptian religious beliefs and practices were closely