Ancient farmers in Egypt. Ancient Egypt: Farming

In the history of Ancient Egypt, the Early Kingdom is a period that covers the reign of the I-II dynasties. As for the Old Kingdom, it is represented by the rule of the III-IV dynasties. At the same time, most of the information relating to this period reached modern people in the form of inscriptions and reliefs (painted with colors). They cover the walls of the inner chambers of the tombs of the nobles of Ancient Egypt.

Agriculture in Ancient Egypt: History

Agriculture at that time was the basis of the economy. Agriculture in ancient Egypt was considered particularly important for the development of the country. This was due to the level of technical progress and peculiarities of natural conditions. Thus, farmers in ancient Egypt had a huge potential for productivity growth. People needed to develop annual river spills. This could play a crucial role in the development of the economy. What would the Nile Valley be, if it were not for its artificial irrigation and drainage? It would be a marshy low in the midst of quicksand.

Development in the Neolithic Age

The oldest agricultural tribes did not have the opportunity to borrow skills for growing grain crops in the Near East. They also did not interact with the population of Mesopotamia, Palestine and Ethiopia. This could play an important role in the development of the economy of the Old Kingdom. In Ethiopia, the first traces of agriculture are dated to the 3rd millennium BC. E. Perhaps, wild-growing cereals could be in North Africa. For this country in the Neolithic period, humid climatic conditions were characteristic. Thus, scientists can conclude that the ancient farmers in Egypt developed their activities in an independent way.

The main stimulating factors

Farmers in Ancient Egypt were faced with deterioration of natural conditions, which, of course, affected their lives. It is about the highlands to the east and west of the Nile. This factor may indicate that the ancient farmers in Egypt were forced to quickly settle on the banks of the river and fight with thickets of the valley and swamps. Improved stone tools, as well as appeared copper tools. Thanks to this, the ancient farmers in Egypt were able to produce from stone and wood a variety of adaptations that were necessary for proper work and cutting down the thickets (axes, adzes, hoes). Due to this, labor productivity has significantly increased. Along the banks of the Nile on natural hills, archeologists succeeded in discovering the settlements of early farmers, which date back to the second pre-dynastic period. They moved to a settled way of life. Ancient farmers in Egypt have learned to use the floods of a mighty river for their needs. They built primitive ramparts, which kept the flooded waters in the fields.

Further development

A complex system of swimming pools did not appear immediately. It was the result of painful and hard work, as well as the accumulated experience of drainage measures in the valley and delta of the Nile. The formation of this system proceeded in stages. Gradually, dams, dams, ramparts and so on were built. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that the Nile provided all of Ancient Egypt. Agriculture continued to develop actively. In order to create irrigation basin systems, the observant representatives of this craft used the features of the country's relief and the specifics of the river's water regime. The Nile flooded every year. This is a regular occurrence from June to October. The flood came out of the bed of the Nile and flooded the shore to the most desolate highlands. These territories at that time were distinguished by savanna-steppe vegetation.

Features of tools

In the Early Kingdom they were, in essence, the same as in the Ancient. As for the last period, then, perhaps, the guns were somewhat more perfect. A lot of different adaptations were invented by people who inhabited ancient Egypt. Agriculture has developed and contributed to the creation of new tools. The plow of the primitive species is depicted on the writing-drawings, which refer to the times of the II dynasty. A hoe is shown on the monument to the tsar. In one of the tombs belonging to the middle of the first dynasty, dozens of wooden sickles were found, having inserts of flint pieces of flint. As for grinding grain, it was produced manually. Coarse graters have also been preserved. They consisted of two stones, between which the grain was ground. Most of the corn plants that were during the Old Kingdom remained known to the Egyptians and in the Early period. This also applies to the fig tree, date palm, grapevine and other. Among the vegetables, too, there were hardly any new species (lettuce, cucumbers, garlic, onions, root vegetables and so on).

Features of the irrigation system

It is known that flax cultivation was quite developed even before the time of the Old Kingdom. As for the creation of the irrigation system, it required exceptional skills and great work. In addition, we needed in-depth knowledge in the field of construction, hydraulics, mathematics and astronomy. As mentioned earlier, agriculture was completely based on the basin irrigation system. Accordingly, the annual cycle of workers depended on the water regime of the Nile.

The invention of the agricultural calendar

Farmers (later and astronomers) from ancient times observed the first early sunrise of the star of Sirius. This marked the beginning of the new year and accompanied the uplift of the waters of the Nile. Based on these observations, the Egyptians were able to invent an agricultural calendar. It fully corresponds to the water regime of the Nile. The names of the seasons reflected the essence of agricultural work.

Organizational moments

The workers were free to dispose of their land. There was a gift, a sale and a will. One nobleman could have several housekeepers. They, in turn, were the main managers of the farms. In the fields during sowing and reaping the workers' detachments worked. Judging from the surviving images, they consisted exclusively of men. Breeze was a woman's work. If the nobleman was a nomarch, and the reapers were not enough, then to help his personal detachments he could attract "royal" people. We are talking about farmer-community members. The fields were also processed by slaves.