Egypt is of the countries in Africa and the Middle East. The ancient name for Egypt is Kemet meaning ‘black land’. It had obtained its name owing to the fertile black soil found on the plains of the Nile river which flows through Egypt.
Egypt is also known for its historical monuments like the Giza pyramid complex and even the Egyptian civilization holds a lot of importance. Egypt is a country which has political and cultural significance for the Middle East. Egypt derived its English name from various sources like the French word Egypte, from Latin Aegyptus and ancient Greek Aigyptos.
It can be very rightly said that one of the fundamental reasons that attributed Egypt to flourish was the fertile black soil along the Nile river which flowed through Egypt. Farming in Ancient Egypt was a significant activity carried on by the ancient Egyptians. During that time, many farmers were experts in cultivating wheat, vegetables, a variety of fruits and onions.
Farming Tools
Other items of farming included barley, flax, leeks, garlic, beans, grapes, figs, etc. Wheat was used for making bread, barley for beer and Flax was integral for textile fiber. Papyrus reeds which grew naturally on Nile river were used making sandals, boats, paper, mats, and baskets.
Farming in Ancient Egypt was carried out in all the seasons, except when it flooded. During floods people avoided farming. During floods, farmers utilized the free time in making tools and taking care of their animals. After the water level had reduced, farmers plowed the soil with the help of oxen and the seeds were pushed into the soil with the aid of animals like a goat.
Animals like goats, cattle oxen, pigs, ducks, etc were kept by the Egyptian people for their milk, meat and using them in farming (Farming in Ancient Egypt). Some farmers worked on the fields of the wealthy class and in exchange of their services were provided with food, clothing, and shelter.
There were another category of farmers who rented the fields and in turn gave some portion of their earnings to the landowner. In the ancient Egypt, irrigation was classified into a catch basin, shaduf and dikes.Shaduf was functional in the high-lying regions. The different types of irrigation helped in amplifying both the quality and quantity of crops thus making Egypt a prosperous nation.
