While the people of the Fertile Crescent were farming and fighting, a beautiful civilization
grew along the upper part of the Nile River in Lower Egypt. These were the Egyptians, a
people with unique customs and impressive architecture.
Perhaps no other nation owes more to a river than Egypt. The Nile made life in the dry
desert possible. In fact, the entire country is sometimes called "the gift of the Nile." The
Nile River Valley is practically rainless-without the river there would be no water; without
water, there would be no life. Each year the Nile floods in a very predictable way, leaving
behind silt, which is rich and fertile soil. Farmers figured this out early, and were able to use
the river to grow and irrigate their crops. The river was also used for travel, and most of
Egyptian life took place along it. It was so important to the early civilization that all of
ancient Egypt's cities were built at its side. The vast majority of the population of modern
Egypt still lives right along the banks of the Nile today.
The formation of the Egyptian civilization was made possible by