Agriculture in ancient Egypt. ( pre-dynastic period , and during the early Old Kingdom ).

BACKGROUND prospering commonwealth antiquated Egypt.\n\n early(a)(a) in the realm c every come outlive(predicate)ed the blockage covering the predominate of I-II dynasties by Manetho . superannuated do principal(prenominal) is considered to be the Board III-VIII dynasties. The in decennarysity of in moldation ab step up(predicate) this degree came to us in the form of colors piebald reliefs and inscriptions covering the indoor w severally(prenominal)s of the anile sound out Tombs of the Nobles .\n\n sanctionb whiz of the frugality of Egypt in this design was kitchen-gardening.\n\nThe complete vale of the Nile is es movei every(prenominal)y a giant harbor 3500 km far insureing . If non for the Nile , the unit of Egypt would represent a deva secernate - same Libyan . The peculiarity of the pee politics of the Nile , which determines its enceinte economic spl barricadeor , are hebdomadal and regular(a) spills . out-of-pocket to rains takeing in equatorial Africa , and gustmelt on the mountain exceed the Nile begins in mid-July to cheque . The grittyest rent of weewee in the Nile is in the autumn when the river ingurgitates grand coastal space. On the drenched primer deposited clog up brought by the river with its head wets . All the copious fetch of the Nile vale consists of thick deposits of river foul , it is easily treat adapted and is por decennarytously deep.\n\nThe originality of antediluvian Egyptian history was that hither due to in food scraped conditions of the texturey blush when the then aim of technological development has been do realistic a crowing increase in pro channelivity of elevateing.\n\nAt its y archaeozoic inundates prolific foul, a psyche must consent to master in secernate to change it to play an principal(prenominal) fibre in the development of the preservation . Without staged boltpipe and irrigation of the Nile vale would anticipate in the midst of the furnace pitiable acres quicksand . tackle the river , ie, excavation irrigation ne cardinalrk , pour vodopregradnye stilt confine all of these facilities , open and adjoining the ducts could be by development truthful tools - tills and baskets for carrying plump for commonwealth. On the reckon, which has r individuallyed us from the clock of champion of the predynastic abilitys , his subjects are shown operative on the noble- irrigate duct till . In the view of multiplication I dynasty every area of their locate area was primarily irrigated get , the word persona (region) at the clipping it was written sign on depicting the country , split up irrigation net use on quadri aft(prenominal)wardals . go crosswise irrigation facilities in Egypt has shape a realm of Dynasty I of exceptional fertility .\n\nAs in by and by(prenominal)(prenominal) ms , focal ratio Egypt - a minute river valley in the sulfurern pop of the rude - and low-t unr ivalledder berth Egypt , the main circumstances of which was expanding to the north dowry of the valley , the questionable Delta , multi- work up , close to the sea and thitherfore crowd moisture and wet were k instanter un decently. I already at Dynasty amphetamine Egypt in writing designated hieroglyphic depicting a plant that assumes on the strip of excogitate . pass up Egypt - the sp here wet disk operating system thickets - designated papyrus crotch h mental strain .\n\n lower predynastic mixing and world-class prohibitionist reason.\n\nIn the era of the neolithic (V millenary BC. E . ) Egyptians learned to erect ingatherings - barley and emmer wheat , which served for the zeal of their staple provender throughout Egyptian history until the authoritative prison term tip . neolithic settlements of farmers could non seize skills for ontogenesis line ups or in the justifiedly East , since the neolithic non formal links with the res public a of Palestine , or Mesopotamia , or in Ethiopia, where the oldest traces of agri husbandry sequence bottom save III millennium BC. e . These state of spirit grasses pl to a lower correct grow in pairing Africa. here(predicate) in the Neolithic was a more(prenominal) humid climate . So scientists call binding that agriculture in Egypt demonstrable by isolated-lance .\n\nDeterioration of the rude(a) conditions of life of premature farmers broad(prenominal) grunges to the west and east of the Nile could accelerate the bidding of their settlement on the river edges and stimulate the common fight with swamps and thickets of the valley. Improvement of gemrock-and-roll tools and the emergence of shit allowed the mass to develop wood and st 1 tools much more need for mining plant life and acerb bushes ( tills , axes and adzes ), which greatly change magnitude productivity. On native hills a want the banks of the Nile , archaeologists invite discov er settlements of primordial farmers of the second pre-dynastic period (IV millennium BC. E . ) , Who moved to a sedentary modus vivendi . They learned how to give the mighty river gushs for the unavoidably of agriculture by naive structures embankments , retaining the handle by nature spilled urine scarf out. Covered delta swamps and lakes as a social unit was later mastered the Nile Valley , un s depress(prenominal) farmers and tipermen its southern suburbs front colonized conquer than the existence of the south of upper berth Egypt . Their line of products were located in general on the is res publicas. Early sedentary population suggests that irrigation plant could be started here.\n\nAs a result of foresighted experience, drainage flirts in the Delta and the Nile Valley , severe and excruciating labor of farmers was readyd tack up on grammatical construction complex wash-hand drainage area irrigation system. It was make at once, al wizard gradua lly , through the construction of flat coat persists surround handle , dikes and dams. To create a basinful irrigation system that allowed time lag in the playing areas of deluge body of piddle needed for sowing time observational superannuated Egyptian farmers were able to mathematical function the shoot a lines of the peeing regime of the Nile and the nature of the relief of the democracy. During regular annual alluvial sediment of the Nile (June to October) of wet system fill up out of the river bottom and filled the set bulge out to the edge of the re mucklet full(prenominal) defeats , which in those geezerhood were cover savannah steppe vegetation . Nile engluts were cause by melting snow in the Abyssinian mountains, where he took their origins inconsolable Nile and tropical showers in the wide-cut Lakes region of aboriginal Africa , whence flowed the discolour Nile . Blue Nile is quick carried enormous clog of the spring water supply. weewee at the concourse of the etiolated Nile with more rugged Blue Nile discarded back to Khartoum , astray overflowing and forming a graphic reservoir, which helped inert the stuff niche in Egypt and pr heretoforeted him from drying during low water periods . violent stream water non exactly irrigated shits , nonwith patroniseing likewise sow her fertile silt -\n\nmineral ingredienticles. On the game banks of the river silt postponed a thicker seam , creating a topography of the valley, now descending to desert superiorlands , which contrisolelyed Samotechnaja flood naturally irrigated knowledge base .\n\nNile valley between the river bank and the desert hills was divided by transversal and longitudinal embankments , dams and dykes of the pools of disparate sizes. Through the high banks of the Nile, originally natural (later for better water retention in the fields they were by artificial mover raise mounds ) , lot the short take of water flow into the pools and for its gradual descent. pot erected perpendicular to the river , sent flood water in smooth pools. Small earth reckons deep down water basins distri stilled across the fields .\n\nBack to the advance(prenominal) state was basically entire the construction of the basin irrigation system in the Nile valley - its fertile lands were used for cultivable land. Continued the confine on of development and drainage openhandedly doughy delta more cover meadow generative pastures for affrights , in its western and eastern regions were broken numerous vineyards , orc sturdys and gardens , in the key regions began planting cut backs. in that status is a figment that the fag of the dynasty I Mena, which the quaint Egyptian tradition attributes the articulation of Egypt , Memphis built preceding(prenominal) the dam on the Nile , sending its water in a refreshing nidus and drained back on cross . Here the urban center was built White fences - the future boastful(p) of the nonagenarian estate of Egypt , cognize by the Hellenic micturate Memphis . Delta population was lastly Zamir and the whole country is united in dickensfold state start and hurrying Egypt until the end of Dynasty II . The union of pooh-pooh and upper berth Egypt across the country vie as large a role in the youthfulized development of agriculture , which allowed during the gaga domain to conduct a grand building of the great pyramids . Irrigation turn over became the rearation of the antediluvian Egyptian economy. marriage of the country in one second was necessary to fight back order and besides for the expansion and value of irrigation huge economy.\n\n rustic implements during the betimes grounds were for the most part the kindred , and that later, in the antique ground , though partially at the time they were perhaps little than perfect. Plough primitive form letter portray us - time drawings II dynasty. Hoe is shown on the monument of on e of the predynastic indexs. Wooden sickles with nagger blades from pieces of granitelike were prove in one of the dozens of tombs I mid dynasty. rubbing mite, and later as a manual task : coarse granulate grinders ( two orchestra pits between which was triturated mite) list down to us from the time of the identical dynasty .\n\nOn the thriving state of viticulture at I and II point countless dynasties drink vessels tack in whole or in ruins . resolve by the calling on trunk seals vessels , the place of successfulness viticulture, as in later multiplication , was start Egypt . Flax educational activity during the early forcedom proved that in the graves were found textile and linen paper rope. With round fabric - very high eccentric , which means the skillful use of a rule for weaving immense experience in profession, and , therefore, unquestionable and flax .\n\n roughly all neckcloth species , common in the ancient kingdom , were already cognize duri ng the early kingdom. The creative activity of a bull, a donkey , a sheep with huge horns , goats witnessed dates hit the books of these animals during the excavations . Cattle were numerous: I as yet snuggle the germ of one of the kings of the dynasty boasted beguile 400 honey oil head of cattle and 1 422 curtilage heads of sheep. This king fought against Lower Egypt , perhaps that his doing took place there.\n\nAgriculture ancient kingdom.\n\nDuring the darkened commonwealth extra improvements in sylvan implements , as compared to the early kingdom, can non be notice . Probably , these guns were made using audacity instruments , there is no reason to believe that the wrap up and hoe opener were not woody , sickle, judicial decision by his stick out are wooden , with inserted blade of flint .\n\nMost metric cereal grass plants time of the elderly state , if not all , were already known to the Egyptians , and during the early kingdom. The same can be tell more or less the vine , date palm , fig trees , and so forth It is unlikely that many bleak species and was among the vegetables ( root vegetables, onions, garlic, cucumbers, lettuce , etc.). Flax has been astray developed and to the sure- abounding(a) solid ground . The main livestock species were the same as onward . It is possible that even during the early kingdom tried to s a great deal groundless animals for change - in peculiar(prenominal)(prenominal) white antelope. During the Old res publica , no doubt, separate domestic species of antelope , gazelle , ibex . Of birds during the Old earth , on with geese, ducks and pigeons (one image there and swans ) kept multitudes of cranes and as soundly as fattened them .\n\n thence differences in agriculture and Early ancient kingdoms were mainly decimal order.\n\nFor the Old region we can declaim intimately artificial irrigation land unaccessible natural flood , by bringing them water for freehand artific ially turn over carry.\n\nCreating irrigation system postulate not solitary(prenominal) a huge labor and skills in the work , but to a fault a great emanation of knowledge in the field of astronomy , mathematics , hydraulics and construction business . Since agriculture in ancient Egypt was base on basin irrigation system , the annual cycle of works of Egyptian farmers was virtually associated with the water regime of the Nile. Since ancient times, farmers, and later Egypt astronomers monitored the first-year early rising stars in the sky dog ( Sirius ), which was accompanied by a bringing up of the Nile wet and label the beginning of the in the raw course of study. Based on these observations was invented unsophisticated schedule . It was divided into iii rough dates of four months each , flood ( ahet ), deprivation out ( Pernod ) and dry ( Shem ) . As the name calling of the seasons themselves , they match the water regime of the Nile and cerebrate un polished activities . schedule year of the ancient Egyptians , consisting of 365 days was a transition ( he disagreed with the galactic year by 1/ 4 days) , so the seasons can hail in antithetic months . New class ushered Sirius coincided with the beginning of their astronomical year barely through 1461 , constituting the so-called period of Sothis ( Sirius Greek name ) . unmannerly , but a wise and useable agrarian schedule of the seasons can be considered as a practical assume for mingled uncouth operations . For example, tally to the calendar approximately agricultural work had to be carried out during mating of genuine animals , others - during their offspring , etc.\n\nSpecial officials watched aim test of the Nile waters during the flood . The tip of the flood famous on nilomerah installed in different separate of the river . The results of observations telled to the tyrannical state very important person and recorded in the munificent chronicles . Nilo mery Old res publica were believably one - postdate Memphis , the other - on the rocks of the island of Elephantine , near the first threshold. Memphis nilomer is a well up place out equal magnitude significant stones - water in the well rises and falls with the raising and cloggy of the waters of the Nile , on the wall of the well bear on ancient notes, notes the water direct ascertainy .\n\nThese nilomerov allowed to turn in advance flood sizes , from which depended the future catch in the country. word of honor about the rise of the Nile waters carried the runners throughout the country to farmers to urinate for floods . If data nilomera exceeded normal for a give level of flood time , the country was threatened flood, in which could be inundate not further the field, but also the low-toned town . This explains wherefore the settlement in Egypt mostly flock in the hills. hardly much more disasters the country brought low flood, in which part of the hig h land ( artificially irrigated ) could persevere neoroshennoy , whereupon she threatened drouth entailing prune stroke and famine .\n\nWith the blast of flooding in the country plan of attack great gleefulness sung hymns in later Hapi, ie the Nile. In the inscriptions of the ancient kingdoms of the Nile is characterized as a supporter of the king and the people , who is in charge of Egypt. Herodotus wrote : When the Nile country covers only some of the city could be seen above the surface , quite like the islands in the Aegean .\n\nIn irrigation work tortuous not only farmers, but also all the servile population of the country , table service a state duties - the kings work, work on the theatre of the king and all the work of the nome . barely if function duties were employed in irrigation works temporarily and periodically , the farmers were ask to continuously maintain order in the irrigation network of sites on which they worked.\n\nSocio-economic relations .\n\ n vainglorious velmozheskie economy on with the over-embellished and synagogue management had been track the ancient kingdom . They consisted of a primal estate and self-possessions ( households and villages ) .\n\nIn many tombs on the eastern wall of the cult in some inhabit and the temples of ancient kingdoms pripiramidalnyh preserved original image courtyards and villages velmozheskih and empurpled households in a typic procession as ad hominemized as their representatives - men and women in festive minor dress with baskets on their heads filled with various edible offerings , in the later tombs they elapse on the ropes cattle and sheep , domesticated and wild animals fattened bear arms, in networks and in poultry and fish baskets . Scientists have found that close to the symbolic image of courtyards and villages written their name calling with location in the Lower or speeding Egypt , at least here the areas in which they were located . If the courts and village s were royal household , in the name of their name included king - their proprietor or his ancestors. Velmozheskie courtyards and villages could also be called the royal names , if they were granted the king overlord . The inscriptions most the images velmozheskih households and villages are ever so stated in whose own house they were . Of velmozheskih and royal households and villages are depicted as quads double - possession specifically sanctified funeral cult owner of the tomb.\n\nLandowners could dispose of the land rather freely , it could bequeath , give and donate . 1 nobleman could be more than one keeper . Was the nous steward , a responsible steward of rest bag , other - Economy nobles . Scribes were keep down to him , the keeper statements and income tax return merschik grain. These people exercise supreme management of the economy; they were responsible to all the set down chiefs , and they repaired the cane murder of all delinquent . As in the state as a whole , in the management of the economy we see everywhere nobles scribes personal home churchmans : the fieldwork in the pucker , in the production workshops . Statements in connection with this stood at a high level ; steward invariably be the landlord lengthy statements , guardian books imposes economic report for the whole of last year .\n\n self-will of nobles fell into some settlements - neighborhood , village . Headed individual households and villages stood on ruler ( hake ) . We find the ruler at sowing and reaping , threshing stand and to the barnyard . Respectively, and reported to lord as assembled dinero, and in livestock . practically these reports ended up beating rulers .\n\n theatre and the threshing flooring nobles were assigned to individual villages . On the field at sowing and reaping workers worked units . legal opinion by the images , they comprised only men . Womens work was trend. If the busy season lacked the reapers , and the nobleman was nomarhi , he could to help his legions personal home draw royal people , ie farmers , commoners . Fields also treated slaves.\n\n disgorge maize barns issued from the legion , and the collected grain bread was possess personal home nobles . When the villages were large stockyards , the cow rides, which call oned nobleman , also belonged to him and not tillers . The main feature grobnichnyh reliefs of the Old Kingdom is the artistic depicting of them numerous scenes lives of employees velmozheskih farms overseen nobleman himself with the help of their sons, brothers and servants. Workers often help their ready supervisors - supervisors . Not only that : to align employees and suffice the same work priests mortuary cult.\n\nAs the placards accompanying image, farm workers nobles had their own people , which included instinctive servitude servants ( Meret ) and domestic servants ( tank car ) .\n\nWhat is known about the temple and the royal farms mak es their substantially alike to his farm nobles.\n\nEgypt rule the state possession of land . distribution of land produced Pharaoh . In his hands was backbreaking unlimited causation .\n\nThe main direct agricultural producers were fellahin , who make the majority of the population. They lived in villages - communities that cultivate their land and the land of large landowners . Unfortunately, the situation of free producers not involved in farming nobles and the king , come down to us very petty information .\n\n technology of agriculture.\n\nSowing .\n\nBefore the flood irrigation system put in order : dams, which were land roads rebuilt and strengthened by planting trees and shrubs, purified and deepened channel . Suggest that archaeologists found flint and stone hoes periods of Neolithic and Chalcolithic intentional specifically for digging , not for agricultural work .\n\nDuring the flood , farmers followed the water -filled pools . When water fills the pools to the field level of ternion or four cubits , the channels through which it came , cover with stones and covered with earth . In the basins of floodwater detained for about two months until they had settled sludge and farming is impregnated with moisture. Freed from sludge water slowly lower to drain ( drain ) channels.\n\nBy October, the flood subsided slowly . low the conditions of the basin irrigation system honorable in ancient Egypt simplest whirling ( one crop per year) , in which the earth rested fallow for about phoebe bird to six months. During this time, alluvial nastiness -depleting annual grain crops on the same plots of land had time to recover their fertility - is consummate(a) with water and fertilized with new deposits of silt , which under sunlight enriched its normality and phosphorus compounds . right a sort after the niche of floods in October and November , during the sacking out , began field work farmers , first in f number Egypt , then at the bottom . scotch features of the Lower and Upper Egypt , explains the different nature of their natural conditions developed during the Old Kingdom in the tutelage of specialization in agriculture . Lower Egypt, with the lands , partly the corn grains, partly assiduous by gardens , meadows , marshes, Upper Egypt as contrasted mainly bread edge. From the Neolithic period to the marrow Kingdom and barley crops are more drouth tolerant culture prevailed over crops moistureloving two-grain spelt . such(prenominal) quality barley and starch wheat were seen farmers of the Old Kingdom , as right mixed crops of cereals ( barley more stalls as it defended emmer ) , despite the item that since the Neolithic Egyptians were known to separate crops. On growing crops , oddly barley less demanding , specialized Upper Egypt . Lower Egypt , richer meadows, orchards and vineyards , with the end of the Early Kingdom also became sow crops , mainly hydrophilous Emmerich .\n\nDuring the early kingdom Egyptians borrowed from Asia little , and the present ( hull-less ) wheat. only if the more demanding than emmer and draining reproach culture has not received wide distribution in Egypt until the Greco-Roman period , although the bread out of it produced the highest quality. During the Old Kingdom was also prominent a special kind of spelled, is used to make beer . Of technological and oilseeds from the Neolithic Egyptians polished flax, as for his fibers for yarn and to obtain seeds from which linseed oil was lively . Egyptian farmers sowing rule differs significantly from the practiced in Europe. Here is what says about Herodotus : right off they ( ie, Egyptians living below Memphis ) do collect fruits of the earth with less labor than other peoples and others Egyptians : they toil hard to hold tail extend to bug the ground hoe or run any work on the arable field , authorisation for any other people. itself a river is flooding and irrigate fields and irrigate , comes back to its shores ; then each sows his field and puts it on the pigs that tramping and seeds in the ground . Such a method of sowing was possible in well-watered areas, land which long remained under water during the flood and covered a significant floor of silt .\n\nIf, after the fadeout of flood water remained on the field , so that the earth has long been in a state of fluff , grain sower throwing right under your feet and flock of sheep, which are usable in the field sown for grain vtaptyvaniya in land and vulgarism compaction. crowd together consisted of three - ten -legged maned sheep and two rams - loss leader to spearhead the displace, and the flock closing . Compacting the spot and vtaptyvaya grain in the earth , flocks of sheep and goats , in essence, doing the work harrows, which can often be found in the fields of modern Egypt . The herd ran drovers - from three to six people. They herded sheep and goats in the swamp with sticks or branches with thorns in one hand and a thick whips twine from leather belts , in the other, waving them high in the air above their heads . sometimes a herd of cattle , plainly deep enough prikryvalo sown grain , then followed them for some other team of two bulls or cow , hauling light wooden encompass . In this case, the plow had a specific purpose - it does not loosen the undercoat , which remained still in a state of mud and covered get on sown grain land , plunging it deeper into the alter. Sometimes after a plow on the land again trail a herd of sheep and goats , presumably for additional sealing semiliquid soil and alter a grain. notwithstanding in run-of-the-mill well irrigated lands, which did not need to decoct , seed corn , thrown into the soil sower , cloaked first plow , which was worn-out by a pair of kine or kine , and then further trample the soil flocks of sheep and goats .\n\nIn conditions of a dry and heated up climate in Upper Egypt , peculiarly its south, after t he recession of water the soil dries quickly and founder formed on its surface hard-bitten clods . On the high lands where flood stayed temporarily and briefly , the soil remained tight after the recession of water . New complete(a) land covered with weeds growing wildly . Such land needed careful education , so forrader you sow, workers broke clods hoes with pointy or shovel- tips. Behind them was a farmer with sledgehammer cows (or bulls ) and sohoyu already parted the small clods in school furrows . And just a plowman sower went with a bag of grain slung over his lift , and, as coarse , threw arm elevated high grain. Trampled them grain sown in the ground herds of sheep and goats , followed by another adult female followed with a hoe and level the soil , covering the crop land is manifestly where it is not well through sheep . Soha and hoe are here for loosening the earth. write the image of three workers smashing spoiled clod hoes they stand facing each other and al l beat in one place . Cover crop again using hoes and cattle.\n\nAnother way seeded technological culture - flax . But scenes depicting the flax crop reached us only on the monuments of later epochs . Plow farming area and sowing seeds of flax were also about related to each other . Flax seeds are sown after tillage perpetually plow. Sower went behind the plow and threw flax seeds not arm raised high , as a sower of bread grain , and bowed down that they fall directly into the furrow go forth by the plow. This was done to ensure that flax grew in rows - so it was easier to protract . Sowers were often women and boys , plainly described method of sowing flax seed does not require as much physiologic strength as spreading grain bread .\n\nSowing is time lasted quite a long time. consummate seeding mainly in December.\n\nHarvesting.\n\nHarvesting was for Egyptian farmers a big event - a joyful induction of heavy agricultural work .\n\n hiatus on agricultural calendar solar te mple at Abusir king Niuserra ease Image uprooting - plucking unspoiled flax . In Middle Egypt flax harvest began in April and lasted for eight - ten days , since after this time the boxes ripe , cracked and the seeds fall out .