The Essential Nile :: History

Many features of civilization have evolved over time to become what onecommonly thinks of as "civilized society." The tuition of government andwriting in the classical civilization of Egypt can be credited to thereliability of the Nile River. The Nile was a source of unification andcentralization in the Egyptian society, helping in the development of governmentand writing with the growth of surpluses.     The Nile River, because of its predictable cycles, "unified andcentered" the Egyptian society. Because of its predictability , the Nile"created a stable agri civilisation." All the Egyptians needed to do was to "putseeds in the mud, have pigs trample the seeds down into the ground, and when thetime came, harvest the crop." Essentially, the river was important to the well-being of the cities, and was a vital source for irrigation. Not only did theriver stick out a steady flow of water, its flooding also provided fertile silt.Plant ed in this fertile soil, crops grew abundantly and allowed for thefacilitation and development of surpluses.     Beginning about 5000 B.C.E., farming had already been instituted alongthe banks of the Nile. But it wasnt until later (3200 B.C.E.) that realagricultural advances occurred. Encouraged by the stability of their farming,the Egyptians were able to develop surpluses in the area. This abundance (whichallowed for the evolution and advancement of culture because it encouraged morepeople to specialize in crafts other than farming) take to a division of labor,and then to social stratification. The improvement of agricultural methods alsoled to the enlargement of cities. This enlargement then led to the need forbureaucracy and administration, and eventually toward the advent of writing.