Environmental Factors of Early Civilizations

Egypt, Kush and Canaan Environmental Factors Physical Features of Canaan Environmental Factors and Human Settlement in Canaan --Egyptians and Kushites settled near the Nile River.
--Egyptians lived along the northern part
--Kushites lived in the south
--ancient Israelites settled in Canaan along the coast
of the Mediterranean Sea Environmental Factors and
Human Settlement in Egypt and Kush --favored settlement near the Nile River
--every summer, the river overflowed its banks
--soaked the ground for several weeks, as the water level decreases, a thin layer of silt was left behind
--silt is perfect for farming
--abundant wildlife in the Nile region (fish, ducks, geese, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, and ostriches)
--topography of the river valley encouraged settlement
--useful plants included reeds and papyrus
--baskets, roofs, rope and paper
--grew wheat and barley Physical Features of Egypt
and Kush --Nile River is the most important
--created a long, fertile valley that ended in a
marshy delta where the river emptied into the
Mediterranean Sea
--Bordered by the Libyan Desert to the west and the
Nubian Desert to the east
--formed a natural barrier
--To the north was the Mediterranean Sea
--To the east was the Red Sea --includes plains, valleys, hills, mountains, deserts and bodies of water
--to the west is the Mediterranean Sea
--to the north is the Lebanon Mountains
--the Jordan River flowed from a mountain range through the middle of Canaan, going south through the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea
--the the east is the Syrian Desert
--in the southwestern part of Canaan is the Negev Desert --Water is a key factor
--water for farming and the Mediterranean Sea enabled traders from many lands to visit Canaan
--Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake
--Dead Sea was a salt water sea and the area around it was hot and dry, unsuitable for farming
--Jordan River is main source of fresh water but did not flood regularly like the Nile
--Varied topography, farmers found it easiest to live on the Mediterranean's coastal plains and near the Jordan River.
--many became herders rather than farmers (sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, and camels)
--herders were nomads and some herded cattle and camels in the Negev and Syrian deserts
--Canaan's hot and dry climate discouraged plant life and it was most plentiful near the Jordan River