20. A few weeks later the summer monsoon rain in the Ethiopian highlands caused a very rapid swelling of the Blue Nile, and its
the Artbara River.
21. In ancient times, the Egyptian name for the summer season was Akhet, or
overflowed its banks and flooded the Nile Valley.
when the great river
22. At the same time, the river could be treacherous; hippopotami, crocodiles, winds, currents, shallow water and
were all hazards that had to be taken seriously by the people whose lives depended on the Nile.
23. Ancient Egypt existed in a landscape of extremes, with vast expanses of
of wonderfully fertile land.
desert bordering
narrow ribbon
24. Farmers practiced
they built earth banks along the Nile River, then led the water into these artificial
ponds and allowed it to stand before draining it off.
25. Crafts people made and sold jewelry, pottery,
products, tools, and other useful items.
26. Boys who learned to read and write could become
then go to gain employment in the government.
H
27. Only nobles could hold government posts: in these positions they profited from
paid to the pharaoh.
that
28. The religion of the Egyptians was central to their way of life and inspired the building of temples and
have remained a source of fascination to people for thousands of years.
29. The ancient Egyptian
in Egypt
religion centered on the belief that many different gods affected all parts of life