HIST 201 WESTERN THOUGHT AND CULTURE I (Before Scientific Revolution) ASSIGNMENT 2 FINAL ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
During the archaic period, Egypt was one of the world's most potent and ambiguous
civilizations. For centuries they drew the attention of their contemporaries and influenced
incredible developments. Ancient Egypt was constructing infrastructures and introducing great
inventions during the stone age era. A great example of this was the irrigation facilities found
along the Nile River.1 They were able to rely on the land around them and had little outside
influence from other cultures. This essay will show the geographical, political, and social impact
on Egyptian culture and their achievements by looking at the intellectual and artistic successes.
Egypt's regions consisted of two areas linked by the Nile, and upper Egypt was more
secluded of the two.2 They were a single kingdom around 3100 B.C.E.3 The geographical
features of Egypt were critical for the survival of their population in the desert. The Nile River
had a fundamental impact on the developments in ancient Egypt.4
It was the heart of their land,
and it provided fertile ground to the Egyptians, which provided the growth of their civilization.5
The Nile River provided renewable arable land for expanded farming which created constant,
dependable food sources for the greater community and provided necessary water for distribution
to other regions in the desert.6 They were able to build a stable and robust economy because of
this. The Egyptians used the Nile River as a highway allowing for transport, communication, and
trade within the valley, which provided a unified population.7 The river promoted their selfsufficient ability by offering fertile land and many stones to be used in construction.8 Egyptians
strategically developed in a geographical area that would allow for the optimal survival of their