How Did The Nile River Affect Ancient Egypt's Civilization

The civilization of Ancient Egypt was an extremely complex civilization, but remained organized throughout its many years due to the Nile River greatly impacting the land, as well as the people who lived there. The geography of Egypt, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile River, and the deserts that surrounded them played a large role in the way Ancient Egypt functioned. Each aspect of Ancient Egypt was significantly affected by the Nile River, and would have been very different if it had been a lake rather than a river. This is shown in every part of Ancient Egypt’s culture, from the way their government and economy functioned, to the Egyptians’ religious beliefs. Polity is undeniably one of the most important aspects of any civilization,

This was important to the civilization because it gave everyone a purpose. The Nile River provided for nearly everyone in Ancient Egypt as it flowed through the land from the South to the North. This allowed people from each social standing to have access to the water. If the Nile had been a lake, the social status of many would have been greatly impacted. With only so much land around the lake to inhabit, the wealthier citizens would have ended up with a large quantity of water, and the less wealthy would not be provided with enough to sustain their families. The next way Egypt’s polity was affected by the Nile River is through their military. If Egypt fought with another country, they would capture prisoners of war as slaves for their country. Slaves were an important part of the Egyptian government because they served as the base of the social structure, and were known for serving pharaohs and royal families. If the Nile River had been a lake, it would decrease the amount of natural borders between Egypt and enemy countries, making it more difficult to capture slaves and fight back during war. Another important component of Ancient Egypt’s government is how early in life Egyptians tended to