In the history of Ancient Egypt, the Early Kingdom is a period that covers the reign of I-II dynasties. As for the Old Kingdom, it is represented by the rule of the III-IV dynasties. At the same time, the main part of the information relating to this period has reached modern people in the form of inscriptions and reliefs (painted with paints). They cover the walls of the inner chambers of the tombs of the nobles of Ancient Egypt.
Agriculture in Ancient Egypt: history
Agriculture in that period was the backbone of the economy. Agriculture in ancient Egypt was considered especially important for the development of the country. This was due to the level of technological progress and the peculiarities of natural conditions. Thus, farmers in ancient Egypt had a huge potential for productivity growth. People had a need to develop the annual floods of the river. This could play an important role in the development of the economy. What would the Nile Valley look like if there were no artificial irrigation and drainage? It would be a swampy low in the midst of quicksand.
Development in the Neolithic Age
Ancientagricultural tribes did not have the opportunity to borrow the skills of growing grain crops in Western Asia. Also, they 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 date back to the 3rd millennium BC. e. Perhaps wild cereal crops could be in North Africa. During the Neolithic era, this country was characterized by humid climatic conditions. Thus, scientists can conclude that the ancient farmers in Egypt developed their activities in an independent way.
Major drivers
Farmers in Ancient Egypt faced the deterioration of natural conditions, which, of course, affected their lives. These are the highlands east and west of the Nile. This factor may indicate that the ancient farmers in Egypt were forced to quickly settle along the banks of the river and fight with the thickets of the valley and swamps. Stone tools were improved, and copper tools also appeared. Thanks to this, the ancient farmers in Egypt were able to make many devices from stone and wood that were necessary for the corresponding work and cutting down thickets (axes, adzes, hoes). As a result, labor productivity has increased significantly. Along the banks of the Nile, on natural hills, archaeologists have been able to find settlements of early farmers that date back to the second pre-dynastic period. They switched to settledLifestyle. Ancient farmers in Egypt learned to use the floods of the mighty river for their needs. They built primitive ramparts that kept spilled waters in the fields.
Further development
The complex system of pools did not appear immediately. It was the result of painful and hard work, as well as the accumulated experience of drainage activities 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 rapidly. In order to create systems of irrigation basins, observant representatives of this craft used the features of the country's relief and the specifics of the water regime of the river. The Nile flooded every year. These are regular occurrences from June to October. The flood came out of the bed of the Nile and flooded the banks to the most desert highlands. These territories at that time were distinguished by savanna-steppe vegetation.
Features of tools
In the Early Kingdom they were essentially the same as in the Ancient. As for the last period, it is possible that the tools were somewhat more advanced. Many different devices were invented by the people who inhabited Ancient Egypt. Agriculture developed and contributed to the creation of new tools. A primitive plow is depicted on writing-drawings that date back to the times of the II dynasty. On the monument to the kinghoe is shown. In one of the tombs dating back to the middle of the 1st dynasty, dozens of wooden sickles were found with inserted blades made of pieces of flint. As for the grinding of grain, it was done manually. Coarse graters have also been preserved. They consisted of two stones, between which grain was ground. Most of the cereal plants that were during the Old Kingdom remained known to the Egyptians in the Early period. This also applies to the fig tree, the date palm, the vine, and so on. Among the vegetables, too, there were hardly any new types (lettuce, cucumbers, garlic, onions, root vegetables, and so on).
Features of creating an irrigation system
It is known that flax growing 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, in-depth knowledge in the field of construction, hydraulics, mathematics and astronomy was needed. 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.
Invention of the agricultural calendar
Farmers (later astronomers) have been observing the first early sunrise of the star Sirius since ancient times. This marked the beginning of the new year and accompanied the rise of the Nile. Based on these observations, the Egyptians were able to invent an agricultural calendar. It is fully consistent with the water regime of the Nile. Names of timesyears reflected the essence of agricultural work.
Organizational moments
Workers were free to dispose of their land. Donations, sales and bequests were allowed. One nobleman could have several stewards. They, in turn, were the chief managers of the farms. During sowing and reaping, work teams worked on the fields. Judging by the surviving images, they consisted exclusively of men. The wind was a woman's work. If the nobleman was a nomarch, and there were not enough reapers, then he could attract "royal" people to help his personal detachments. We are talking about community farmers. The fields were also worked by slaves.
