Ancient Egypt for Kids
Gifts of the Nile

The Nile is still the longest river in the world! The Nile is shaped like a lotus flower, the design seen in ancient Egyptian art, math, and hieroglyphics. It is the only river in the world that runs south to north. That is because the Nile begins in the mountains in the south and flows downhill, ending 4,000 miles later at the Mediterranean Sea. In ancient times, the Nile River ran down the middle of ancient Egypt. Without the Nile, the ancient Egypt we study today would not have existed.

Each spring, snow on the mountains would melt. The Nile River would flood. When the 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 flooding of the Nile was everything to the ancient Egyptians.

The Nile provided other gifts to the ancient Egyptians.

• Papyrus was a weed that grew wildly in the rich soil along the banks of the Nile River. It grew about 10 feet high. It was used to make everything!  The ancient Egyptians used papyrus to make paper, baskets, sandals, mats, rope, blankets, tables, chairs, mattresses, medicine, perfume, food, and clothes. Truly, papyrus was an important "Gift of the Nile". 

•  The Nile River provided water for cooking and bathing.

• Fish and waterfowl were plentiful.

• Wild vegetables could be found in the rich soil of the banks along with bird eggs.

• Trade. The Nile allowed the ancient Egyptians to trade between towns and cities that lined the river by boat, and provided access to other ancient cultures via travel across the Mediterranean Sea.

Egypt is located in the middle of a desert. But thanks to the annual flooding of the Nile River, and its many gifts, the ancient Egyptians were happy with their life along the Nile.

What happened on years when the Nile did not flood? Or when the river flood waters were so high that water flooded homes and town? Too little flooding or too much of it both caused problems for the ancient Egyptians. Famine, disease, political unrest would follow. Fortunately, those years were not common. The ancient Egyptians were sure that their prayers and charms and spells all worked to keep the Nile providing all its many gifts.

The Gift of the Nile (video)

Papyrus - Boats, Books, Baskets, and more

Facts about the Nile River for kids (cartoon videos, songs and more)

Geography - The Nile

Farming in Ancient Egypt

Shadoofs & Nilometers

Interactive Quiz about Ancient Egypt (with answers)