Ancient Egypt for Kids
Geography

The ancient Egyptians were not isolated from other cultures, but they were protected. On either side of the Nile, beyond the rich soil, was desert. Mountains rose in the south. To the north was the vast Mediterranean Sea. The geography of Egypt greatly affected the unique culture these ancient people created thousands of years ago.  The ancient Egyptian civilization developed along the lower Nile River to the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile opened access in and out of ancient Egypt. The Nile River and their natural barriers all helped to develop a culture uniquely Egyptian.

Without the Nile River, all of Egypt would be a desert. The Nile is the longest river in the world. It is shaped like a lotus flower, the design seen in ancient Egyptian art, math, and hieroglyphics. It runs south to north, beginning in the mountains in the south and ending 4,000 miles later at the Mediterranean Sea. Each spring, when snow on the mountains would melt, the Nile River would flood. This was a very good thing. When the flood waters receded, they left behind fertile soil. Crops could easily be grown in this black, rich soil. The ancient Egyptians called this soil the "The Gift of the Nile".

The Nile provided other gifts to the ancient Egyptians. Papyrus, used for everything, grew wildly along its banks. It provided water for cooking and bathing. Fish and waterfowl were plentiful. Wild vegetables could be found, along with bird eggs. Egypt is located in the middle of a desert. But life along the Nile was splendid.

Geography of Ancient Egypt (interactive map, video)

Geography Story - the black land - the banks of the Nile, and the red land - the barrier desert

Ancient Egypt Maps

The Nile River

Powerpoints - ancient Egypt geography

Five Themes of Ancient Egypt Geography  These are questions we created about Ancient Egypt that we believe you might find on a homework assignment, a unit quiz or an exam. Test yourself. See if you remember the answer (or guess the answer), then click the "Show Answer" button under each question to see if you are right!