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Geography of Northern Africa. Chapter 3 Lesson 1. The Nile Valley. Nile river flows South to North, from Lake Victoria and the Mountains to Mediterranean Sea Cuts through Sahara Desert, which was once a rich savanna, but in 5000 BC began to dry up World’s longest river
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Geography of Northern Africa Chapter 3 Lesson 1
The Nile Valley • Nile river flows South to North, from Lake Victoria and the Mountains to Mediterranean Sea • Cuts through Sahara Desert, which was once a rich savanna, but in 5000 BC began to dry up • World’s longest river • Floods brought water and rich soil • Lower Egypt (Nile delta) and Upper Egypt (South) • Delta – low land formed at mouth of rivers, silt deposits • Rich soil along the river, in the valley
Black Land, Red Land • Heavy rains near source of the Nile caused floods • Rich silt left behind=fertilizer • Silt is dark, made the land look black – Kemet • 1972 – Aswan Dam changed way of life • Dry barren Sahara Desert=red lands
Farming in the Nile River Valley • Wealthy owned most farmland • Farmers rented land from them, paying them with part of the crop (wheat, barley, onions, lettuce, beans) • Raised cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs • Beef was mostly for the wealthy • Birds and fish more common • Flax plant and Sheep’s wool for clothing • Leather used for containers, sacks, shoes • Some plants used for sandals, boxes, table tops