Why Was the Nile River Important for the Rise of Successful States in Essay

Why Was the Nile River Important for the Rise of Successful States in North Africa - Essay Example Most of the history of Nile River has a connection to Egyptian civilization. Were it, not for river Nile, there would not be the rise of successful states in North Africa and particularly Egypt. The river originates1 from the Blue Nile and White Nile tributaries originating from Ethiopian highlands and Lake Victoria respectively. The river flows in the northern direction for about 2000 kilometers through the Sahara. Nile River is 10 kilometers wide and supports thousands of people in strips of arable land. The river Nile valley can be regarded as a narrow and long oasis where human beings live, thanks to the river. It is the longest river so far in the world. There are several ways through which Nile River was crucial for the rise of successful states in North Africa. This paper will discuss the importance of river Nile in the rise of successful states in Northern Africa. First, due to River Nile, the people living on both banks of the river can be able to produce abundant harvests. There was a myth of the miracle in river Nile. The annual flooding of the river was much beneficial to farmers along the river. Annual flooding was advantageous to the farmers around the river as there was silt deposit after the flooding. When the river flooded, it left nutrients to the farms which were essential for growing healthy crops. The river was rising in the summer from the rains in Ethiopian highlands and central Africa between September and October. The flooding was recurrent, and farmers could predict the seasons of agriculture (Erik & Reynolds,  2012). The deposits of silt left by the river enriched the soil. This land was referred to as the fertile land. The flooding of the river could not be seen as life threatening but life enhancing. Unlike the flooding of Mesopotamia Rivers, Nile’s flooding could be predicted and used to be gradual. Although an organized irrigation system was still necessary, the villages along the Nile River made an effort without state i nterventions. Abundant supply of the food was one of the factors that led to civilization. The civilization in Egypt was rural with a majority of small population centers located along the narrow band of river Nile. The river splits 2into two branches before emptying into Mediterranean Sea. River Nile forms a delta which is a triangular shaped territory, commonly referred to as the Lower Egypt. The river created a large area; several miles wide at the banks. The created area was capable of producing plenty of harvests. The most famous cities in Egypt developed at the delta of river Nile. Up to date, a large population of people in Egypt is crowded at the banks of river Nile. The surplus food, grown along river Nile, led to prosperity of cities. Trade was established between cities, and leading trade items included agricultural products, fish, goats, sheep and cattle (Keim, 2009). The flooding enabled the Egyptians to grow wheat, beans, barley, lentils, leeks, peas, and onions. They were also able to grow fruits such as figs, dates, grapes and melons. This is an indication that the Egyptians were able to enjoy bread, wine and beer in abundance. The presence of fish in river Nile improved the food security along the river. The other reason as to why Nile River was vital for the rise of successful states in North Africa is that it served as a unifying factor. It was used as a means of transport along the cities near the river. In the ancient times, using river Nile was one of the fastest ways of travelling through the land. The river helped to make transport and communication along the states developed in North Africa. The winds originating from the north helped to push the sail boats south. Most travelers headed downstream. When people were travelling downstream, they used paddles or long poles