Most floods are bad news — but not in ancient Egypt! Every summer, the Nile River rose and spilled over its banks. The Egyptians were not scared. They cheered! They knew the flood was coming, and they counted on it every single year.
When the water went back down, it left behind a layer of soft, black mud called silt. This mud was packed with everything plants need to grow. Egyptians called their land Kemet, which means 'the black land,' because of this rich dark soil.
In the black soil, farmers grew wheat for bread, barley, beans, onions, and melons. The dry desert beyond was called 'the red land.' Nothing grew there. So the flood was truly a gift — it turned a strip of desert into a garden!
1. How did Egyptians feel when the Nile flooded? Why?
2. What is silt?
3. Why did Egyptians call their land 'the black land'?
Number these steps 1 to 4 to show the order of the Nile's yearly cycle.
| Step | Order (1–4) |
|---|---|
| Farmers plant seeds in the rich black soil | |
| The Nile rises and floods the land | |
| Farmers harvest wheat and vegetables | |
| The water goes down and leaves silt behind |
1. Every year the Nile would over its banks.
2. The rich mud left behind by the flood is called .
3. Egyptians called the rich soil near the river 'the land.'
4. The dry desert was called 'the land.'
5. planted wheat, barley, and beans in the soil.
Draw two pictures: the green 'black land' full of crops near the river, and the dry 'red land' desert.
1. Why was the Nile flood good news instead of bad news?
2. What foods did Egyptian farmers grow? Name at least two.
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| Why the flood helped Egypt | YES / NOT YET |
| What silt is | YES / NOT YET |