Chapter 7: Geography and the Early Settlement of Egypt, Kush, and Canaan
Essential Question: How did geography affect early settlement in Egypt, Kush, and Canaan?
In this chapter, you learn how three environmental factors influenced the early settlement of ancient Egypt, Kush, and Canaan.
Environmental Factors
Three important environmental factors are water, topography, and vegetation. These factors greatly affected where ancient people settled. Early Settlement of Egypt and Kush In Egypt and Kush, most people farmed in the fertile Nile River valley. The Nile River provided fresh water in an area that was mostly desert. The topography of the Nile River valley made the land good for farming. The valley also supported useful vegetation like reeds and papyrus. Early Settlement of Canaan In Canaan, the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee were important sources of fresh water. Much of the land, however, was too hot, dry, or hilly for farming. As a result, many people, including the ancient Israelites, were herders rather than farmers.Herders were nomads who moved from place to place to find grasslands where their animals could graze. |